THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com
October 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Photo by Sheryl Drost
Final Farewell pages 6&7
Station GossipBy Sheryl Drost
Rumor has it a certain song was sang by firefighters as they responded to the dryer fire on Lollipop Dr.Seems the 5-hour drink didn’t quite work the way it was advertised for the girls in the administration office trying to overcome the 3 O’clock slump. Seems it didn’t do anything for Colleen but give her a headache. But Kelly said it kept her going for longer than 5 hours, but at least she got a lot of housework done that night.
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Plane pull for Special OlympicsPhotos by Charlotte Alms
Several Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters teamed up with some Rockton Firefighters and took 3rd Place in the 5th Annual Plane Pull at O’Hare Airport on Sept. 21. The Plane Pull features the ultimate tug-of-war competition, as teams of up to 20 battle a UPS Airbus A300, weighing more than 190,000 lbs. Each team raises a minimum of $1,000 to participate (only $50 per person for a team of 20).This year it was as a record-breaking success, as 64 teams participated and more than $135,000 was raised for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois!
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters Ryan Sarver, Nate Sarver, Brett Parrish, David Leslie, Tom Lake, Ramona Baldoni-Lake, Ryan Alms, Patrick Trollop, Justin Mayton and Brandon Beilfuss teamed up with firefighters from Rockton Fire.
The team took 3rd place in 9.65 seconds.
Patrick Trollop working out by lifting weights before the plane pull.
Hitchin a ride . . .
I wanna be just like my dad!
“Night Out at the Firehouses” Birthdays
October5th Eric Wilkins7th Brandon Tietz13th Ryan Messinger ‘30th’15th Ryan Alms17th Chuck Hansel22nd Brandon Beilfuss23rd David Pautsch26th Tom Aaker29th Sue Null31st Bob Stark
November1st Don Shoevlin Jerry McCormick ‘40th’3rd Joe Quast8th Harry Wagner ‘60th’10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green14th Ken Kelley16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr
Total Calls for 2013 2005
Firehouse Scene The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.
Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost
The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month @www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl:[email protected]
From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
As I sit here thinking about this month’s content, I can’t help but find my mind wondering. This upcoming weekend, I will have the honor of walking my youngest daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. I have mixed emotions of joy, happiness and sadness. The joy of her finding that Mr. Right, the happiness of them together and the sadness of her (the baby)
leaving the roost. Congratulations to Laura and our new son-in-law Will. I wish them all the love and happiness in their years together.
On a sad note, this past month we lost Deputy Chief Ike Schoonover. I would like to pass on our prayers and condolences to his family, who is also a part of our family. D/C Schoonover will surely be missed but never forgotten. The outpouring of support on behalf of the firefighters to his family and the final tribute to a well-respected man was superb. Thank you to all the members of this outstanding department for their show of support and professionalism.
Thank you to everyone that stopped and visited us at the Fall Festival. It was a weekend of enjoyment and some excitement. Congratulations to the winners of our raffle!
Well we hosted another successful “Crunch Time Symposium” the last weekend of September. Lt. Huffman and his staff did an outstanding job. The learning opportunities were endless as was the networking with peers. I am sure he is already working on next years event.
As everyone knows, October is Fire Prevention Month. Our Fire Prevention Division, I and the firefighters, have been performing fire drills in all of our schools. They are all doing an excellent job. The staff at all of the schools have our children’s safety first I can assure you. Hats off to Captain Alms, Chuck Schoonover, Ken Kelley, Ken Krause and Stan Dean for an excellent job.
We have just completed our annual open house. This year we shook it up a bit and hosted a “Night at the Firehouse” on Tuesday Oct. 8th. Station #2 and #3 both hosted the event from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. The station Captains were responsible for the successful implementation and programs. The demonstration and activities were excellent as usual. A hearty thank you to all the children from Kinnikinnick and Harlem school districts who participated in the coloring contest. Great job.
On November 2 we are hosting the annual “Stateline Firefighters Memorial”. It will be held at the Roscoe United Methodist Church with a memorial service beginning at 6:00 P.M. This is open to the public and I invite everyone to attend.
These are just a few examples that show not only the dedication that all of our firefighters have but also the passion for what they do. These individuals also responded to requests for our services when they were needed.
Remember to check out our website, www.harlemroscoefire.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals, and the calls we might have been on. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance. And remember during the construction project my office is at station #3.
Construction UpdateBy Chief Don Shoevlin
The progress of our construction project continues to be moving along extremely well. Since my update last month, the interior wall framing has been completed in the renovation portion with drywall installed. Insulation has been applied and installed in a majority of the building. The wall on the south side addition has the stone and brick completed with work beginning on the east side as well as the west. The trades continue to work diligently on this project with attention to detail under the supervision of the construction site manager. They inform me it is not uncommon to see 25 – 35 workers on the site daily right now. We continue on schedule if not a little ahead.
Response to calls from this station continues to go smoothly and in a timely manner. The firefighters and dispatchers are to be thanked for this. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Brick is up on the south side and the corner is taking shape.
The east and north side are now enclosed.
Inside framing is done and drywalling has begun.
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Jerry McCormick - 40th Harry Wagner - 60th November 1st November 8th
Coloring Contest Winners:
Olson 1st Gr. 1st-Lily Elbert, 2nd-Jaren Montoya, 3rd-Joshua Watkins. 2nd Grade, 1st-Madilyn Rich, 2nd-Xander Kullens, 3rd-Anistyn Brummett.
Ralston 1st Gr. 1st-Alvina Muaremi, 2nd-Mitchell Dirksen, 3rd-Preston Fadness. 2nd Gr. 1st-Angelica Soltes, 2nd-Nina Strocchial, 3rd-Madison Engelkes.
Ledgewood 1st Gr. 1st-Broden Folz, 2nd- Evelyn Zibell, 3rd- Kory Barnett.
Stone Creek 2nd Gr. 1st-Claire Dowler, 2nd Arianna McLamont, 3rd-Carlie Mincolla.
Prairie Hill 1st Gr. 1st-Hayden Gruenberg, 2nd-Ashley Hevrin. 2nd Gr. 1st-McKenna Gibson, 2nd-Anthony Hamilton, 3rd-Caitlyn Eitmortas.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Garage FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a garage fire on Plymouth Place on Sept. 14. Firefighters were able to protect the nearby home from damage as they attacked the fire in the garage. The garage was heavily damaged and the contents, including a vehicle, were destroyed by the fire. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire seems to be electrical.
Harlem-Roscoe hosted the 3rd annual Crunch Time Extrication Learning Symposium & Challenge at the training facility at Harlem-Roscoe Station # 3 on Sept. 27-29.
Crunch Time chairman Lt. Mike Huffman said, “Ten teams of six firefighters from fire departments from IL and WI participated in the 3-day event.” Mike said Friday night was classroom then Saturday consisted of hands-on-training on 50 vehicles supplied by Erickson Auto Sales. Teams were trained in Incident Command, stabilization, EMS, knowledge and usage of tools and most important, teamwork and communication.
Then Sunday consisted of a TERC (Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee) Extrication Challenge. This is where teams are given a mock motor vehicle accident in a limited and unlimited pit for which they used the techniques from Saturday’s classes. The limited pit consisted of all hand tools such as reciprocating saws and air chisels etc. The unlimited pit consisted of all hand tools and hydraulics.
The teams included IL fire departments, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, North Park Fire Protection District and Byron Fire Department Teams 1&2 and WI teams, DeForest Area Fire & EMS Teams 1&2, Town Of Madison Fire Department, Oregon Area Fire & EMS, Maple Bluff Fire Department and Blooming Grove Fire Department.
Mike said the event was a success, but more important was the knowledge the firefighters took back to their communities.
A huge Thank You to all that taught, judged, and helped to make this year’s Crunch Time a big success!
Winners of the Extrication Competition were:
Limited Pit: 1st Place - Maple Bluff Fire Department, WI. 2nd Place, North Park Fire Prot. Dist., IL, 3rd Place – Oregon Area Fire & EMS, WI.
Unlimited Pit: 1st Place – North Park Fire Prot. Dist., IL, 2nd Place – Byron Fire Department, IL, 3rd Place DeForest Area Fire & EMS, WI
Overall: 1st – North Park Fire Prot. Dist. IL, 2nd Place – Byron Fire Department Team #1, and 3rd Place - DeForest Area Fire & EMS, WI
Crunch Time Snapshots Photos by Marcia Soppe
BUGLE ALARMMonthly article written by a Harlem-Roscoe Fire Officer.
Fire Prevention WeekBy Lt. Steve Shoevlin
Fire Prevention Week has always reminded me of a book I have read multiple times, “To Sleep With the Angels, The Story of a Fire.”
It is a book about a fire that started in the basement of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School in Chicago on December 1st 1958. This was an elementary school that taught approximately 1,600 children.
The school was a two story structure that was built in the early 1900s, that had been remodeled a few times prior to the fire. At the time the school was legally in compliance with fire safety laws. However, there was only one fire escape, no sprinklers, no automatic fire alarm, no smoke/heat detectors, no alarm connected to the fire department, no fire resistant stairwells and no fire-safe doors from the stairwells to the second floor. There were also no fire alarm switches in the north wing and only two throughout the school. Fire extinguishers were mounted 7 feet from the floor and the ceilings were 12 feet high causing the second floor windows to be 25 feet high to the ground.
With all of these flaws adding up, this led to a tragedy. However, it also led to a majority of the school codes that are still in effect today. There was a grandfathering clause that had allowed the school to pass its inspection only a couple of weeks prior to the fire. Within a year after the tragedy over 16,000 older school building were brought up to code.
Some of the changes that were required were fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, self closing exit doors that swing outward, window egress heights, one hour rated fire walls, emergency lighting and fire doors at all stairwell. This also led to the requirement of schools having fire drills more frequently.
Fire departments nationwide are heavily involved with school safety and HRFD is not any different. We are involved in school fire drills and point out any flaws or areas that we see need to be worked on. I am privileged to have been part of numerous of these drills, and have been able to educate not only the children but also the adults about the importance of fire safety.
Lt.Steve Shoevlin poses with a class from Willowbrook Middle School after their tour of the fire station.
Fire Prevention Division Keeps Busy in OctoberPhotos by Sheryl Drost
Fire Prevention Week may be one week long in October, but fire prevention is practiced year-round here at Harlem-Roscoe. Capt. Ryan Alms heads up the Fire Prevention Division and they along with the help of firefighters, have performed fire drills at every school in the fire district during Fire Prevention Week. Then there are the fire safety talks and fire station tours all through October. Station One may be under construction, but Station Two and Three are both available for station tours. Call 815-623-7867.
Capt. Ryan Alms poses with students from Ledgewood School.
Firefighter Rob Lukowski goes over some basic first aid with a group of students from Ralston School during their visit to Station Two.
Firefighter Josh Hoffland helps a Ralston School student see how heavy an air pack that firefighters wear is during their visit to Station Two.
Dryer Fire Photo by Sheryl DrostFirefighters responded to Lollipop Ln. on Sept. 18 for a report of a basement fire. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the home and were able to quickly locate a dryer on fire. Damage from the fire was contained to the basement.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Chimney FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefighters responded to a report of a working house fire on Chicory St. in Machesney Park on Sept. 15. Firefighters found fire around a fireplace chimney stack and roof area and made an aggressive attack to extinguish it. No one was injured and the fire seems to be caused by bird nesting material in the fireplace chase being too close to the hot fireplace chimney stack.
Car Fire Photo by Marcia Soppe
Firefighters finish extinguishing a car on fire off Talcott Drive on Oct. 4.
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
09/23/13 Hwy 173 10/05/13 I-90
09/28/13 Hononegah Rd. & Baneberry Rd. 10/03/13 Hwy 251
09/07/13 Hwy 173
Accidents Photos by Chief Shoevlin, Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
09/05/13 I-90 09/06/13 Hwy 173 & Forest Hills Rd.
09/25/13 Belvidere Rd. & Hwy 173
2013 Group Photo
Fall Festival Snapshots by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
A Final FarewellBy Harlem-Roscoe Fire Photographer Sheryl Drost
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters are mourning the loss of one of our own. Deputy Chief Richard “Ike” Schoonover (77) passed away on Sept. 9th after a short battle with cancer. DC Schoonover served with Harlem-Roscoe for almost 36 years having joined the department on Dec.7, 1977. He rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief and received the Loves Park VFW Firefighter of the Year
Award in 1988. HRFD Fire Chief Don Shoevlin says, “It is hard to replace an individual with the commitment that Deputy Chief Schoonover had. His wit, knowledge, experience, commitment and dedication will truly be missed, but never forgotten.”
I interviewed DC Schoonover in 2005 for a ‘Times Rekindled article’ that ran in the August of 2005 edition of the department’s newsletter. He told me he didn’t remember his first call but his most memorable call would be forever embedded in his mind. “It still makes my hair stand up!” Ike remembered. “We pulled up to a scene of a house on fire and the whole house blows up with parts of it landing not 10-feet from the truck!” Ike chuckled when he told about driving to a call on Gleasman in a snowstorm with Oscar Presley in the officer seat. He said you couldn’t see the road and the wind was blowing snow all over. Well, Oscar kept asking him, “Can’t you go any faster? Can’t we go any faster?” and Ike said he finally sped up only to do a complete 360 on the curve. Ike says after that Oscar said, “I think you better slow down a little!” Then the story I have heard so many times was the house fire where brakes froze up on four of the engines. The fire was out by midnight, but Ike was under those trucks for hours in -22 degree temperatures! He finally had them towed into the station at 4am and it was 7am before he had them thawed out. Well, Ike said that wasn’t going to happen again and he sent all four truck in to have air dryers put on the brakes. He said, “Boy did the trustees raise heck when they got the bill for $400 for each truck!”
Also during that interview in 2005, I asked Ike how the department had changed. He responded, “I was hired on as a mechanic and the department had five trucks and only two were running. It took me two weeks, but I got all five up and running. Now we have 22 trucks to keep running.” He said he spends anywhere from 20-40 hours a week working on the trucks. He says the trucks are more computerized now; they have more electronics, and can sometimes be a maintenance nightmare. But a lot of the changes are good and due to NFPA rules, and are safety oriented. “Although” Ike says, “Engine 704 is a 1985, just a basic truck with no frills. But that truck will pump right alongside and just as good as the brand new ones we have in this station.”
Now most people today knew Ike as the head mechanic at Harlem-Roscoe that kept the current department’s fleet of 30 up and running. But throughout his career with Harlem-Roscoe, he was so much more and touched so many lives. Ike was a firefighter, served six years as an EMT and was a training officer for many years. He was an officer, a friend, a mentor, a story teller, and oh, what a tool box of knowledge he was. He was known as ‘Grumpy’ when the guys messed up, but on the flip-side, as his former firefighters say, he was “the firefighter’s chief”. They say he not only trained
them in firefighting and in life, but he fought right alongside them and always had their backs. His wife Diane said there were many times that their family plans were interrupted because as Ike would put it, “I have to keep the trucks safe for the men to drive.”
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon L. Alder
HRFD Firefighter and fellow mechanic, Mark Soppe said, “Ike, you taught me more than anyone can imagine, in maintenance and in life. Thursday nights will not be the same without you my friend. There will always be a seat in the maintenance bay and in my heart.”
HRFD Battalion Chief Tom Aaker said, “This was one of the best people I will have ever known. He worked every day, even after he retired. He was at the fire station everyday to check on things, work on things or just hang around for a cup of coffee. He was a bear when you did wrong and he was a gentle “grandpa” when he talked to my kids. Having him in any part of your life was a compliment to you. If you knew him you should deem yourself lucky. He is someone that everyone should strive to be like. He also was the final word. If he said it, it was law; people had that much respect for him. He didn’t think he was that good and didn’t act like he was. He didn’t need to act. He forgot more than I will ever learn and had more ways to fix things than I had to break them. I can only strive to be the man he was. Ike, I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye to you... you were a great person and thanks for being a part of my life. I’m sorry I kept putting diesel in the grass rig that takes gasoline; I know that was a pain in the butt to fix.... I will miss you during the dinner. You always helped me decide whether the roast beef was thick enough for a serving and always let me know if it was (tasted) good enough to serve. Thanks for being the person you are, you will be truly missed. RIP”
Former HRFD Firefighter Lance Keltner , “I am very proud to say that Ike was one of my mentors growing up around the firehouse in Roscoe. I think he took pride in all of us that were under his wing at one time or another. He taught me how to reach down and find the passion inside me to get the job done no matter how big or hard it was. I remember many calls where I was on the crew with him and to this day, I look back and think how did we knock that down. …He taught me how to get it done no matter how the odds were stacked against you.
Former HRFD Firefighter Dennis Seeley, “…He always stood behind us, even when we were wrong, knowing we would learn from our mistakes. We all looked up to him, as a mentor, a boss, and a friend. Even though he is no longer with us physically, the values he instilled will live on in all of us. He didn’t preach the brotherhood of man, he lived it.
Former HRFD Firefighter and current Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson, “Dick was truly a great man and I’m proud to have been a part of his life. Dick played a very intricate part of my firefighting career and I grew into the person I am today because of his guidance and leadership.”
“A sad day in the Fire Service!”
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
A Final FarewellBy Harlem-Roscoe Fire Photographer Sheryl Drost
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters are mourning the loss of one of our own. Deputy Chief Richard “Ike” Schoonover (77) passed away on Sept. 9th after a short battle with cancer. DC Schoonover served with Harlem-Roscoe for almost 36 years having joined the department on Dec.7, 1977. He rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief and received the Loves Park VFW Firefighter of the Year
Award in 1988. HRFD Fire Chief Don Shoevlin says, “It is hard to replace an individual with the commitment that Deputy Chief Schoonover had. His wit, knowledge, experience, commitment and dedication will truly be missed, but never forgotten.”
I interviewed DC Schoonover in 2005 for a ‘Times Rekindled article’ that ran in the August of 2005 edition of the department’s newsletter. He told me he didn’t remember his first call but his most memorable call would be forever embedded in his mind. “It still makes my hair stand up!” Ike remembered. “We pulled up to a scene of a house on fire and the whole house blows up with parts of it landing not 10-feet from the truck!” Ike chuckled when he told about driving to a call on Gleasman in a snowstorm with Oscar Presley in the officer seat. He said you couldn’t see the road and the wind was blowing snow all over. Well, Oscar kept asking him, “Can’t you go any faster? Can’t we go any faster?” and Ike said he finally sped up only to do a complete 360 on the curve. Ike says after that Oscar said, “I think you better slow down a little!” Then the story I have heard so many times was the house fire where brakes froze up on four of the engines. The fire was out by midnight, but Ike was under those trucks for hours in -22 degree temperatures! He finally had them towed into the station at 4am and it was 7am before he had them thawed out. Well, Ike said that wasn’t going to happen again and he sent all four truck in to have air dryers put on the brakes. He said, “Boy did the trustees raise heck when they got the bill for $400 for each truck!”
Also during that interview in 2005, I asked Ike how the department had changed. He responded, “I was hired on as a mechanic and the department had five trucks and only two were running. It took me two weeks, but I got all five up and running. Now we have 22 trucks to keep running.” He said he spends anywhere from 20-40 hours a week working on the trucks. He says the trucks are more computerized now; they have more electronics, and can sometimes be a maintenance nightmare. But a lot of the changes are good and due to NFPA rules, and are safety oriented. “Although” Ike says, “Engine 704 is a 1985, just a basic truck with no frills. But that truck will pump right alongside and just as good as the brand new ones we have in this station.”
Now most people today knew Ike as the head mechanic at Harlem-Roscoe that kept the current department’s fleet of 30 up and running. But throughout his career with Harlem-Roscoe, he was so much more and touched so many lives. Ike was a firefighter, served six years as an EMT and was a training officer for many years. He was an officer, a friend, a mentor, a story teller, and oh, what a tool box of knowledge he was. He was known as ‘Grumpy’ when the guys messed up, but on the flip-side, as his former firefighters say, he was “the firefighter’s chief”. They say he not only trained
them in firefighting and in life, but he fought right alongside them and always had their backs. His wife Diane said there were many times that their family plans were interrupted because as Ike would put it, “I have to keep the trucks safe for the men to drive.”
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon L. Alder
HRFD Firefighter and fellow mechanic, Mark Soppe said, “Ike, you taught me more than anyone can imagine, in maintenance and in life. Thursday nights will not be the same without you my friend. There will always be a seat in the maintenance bay and in my heart.”
HRFD Battalion Chief Tom Aaker said, “This was one of the best people I will have ever known. He worked every day, even after he retired. He was at the fire station everyday to check on things, work on things or just hang around for a cup of coffee. He was a bear when you did wrong and he was a gentle “grandpa” when he talked to my kids. Having him in any part of your life was a compliment to you. If you knew him you should deem yourself lucky. He is someone that everyone should strive to be like. He also was the final word. If he said it, it was law; people had that much respect for him. He didn’t think he was that good and didn’t act like he was. He didn’t need to act. He forgot more than I will ever learn and had more ways to fix things than I had to break them. I can only strive to be the man he was. Ike, I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye to you... you were a great person and thanks for being a part of my life. I’m sorry I kept putting diesel in the grass rig that takes gasoline; I know that was a pain in the butt to fix.... I will miss you during the dinner. You always helped me decide whether the roast beef was thick enough for a serving and always let me know if it was (tasted) good enough to serve. Thanks for being the person you are, you will be truly missed. RIP”
Former HRFD Firefighter Lance Keltner , “I am very proud to say that Ike was one of my mentors growing up around the firehouse in Roscoe. I think he took pride in all of us that were under his wing at one time or another. He taught me how to reach down and find the passion inside me to get the job done no matter how big or hard it was. I remember many calls where I was on the crew with him and to this day, I look back and think how did we knock that down. …He taught me how to get it done no matter how the odds were stacked against you.
Former HRFD Firefighter Dennis Seeley, “…He always stood behind us, even when we were wrong, knowing we would learn from our mistakes. We all looked up to him, as a mentor, a boss, and a friend. Even though he is no longer with us physically, the values he instilled will live on in all of us. He didn’t preach the brotherhood of man, he lived it.
Former HRFD Firefighter and current Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson, “Dick was truly a great man and I’m proud to have been a part of his life. Dick played a very intricate part of my firefighting career and I grew into the person I am today because of his guidance and leadership.”
“A sad day in the Fire Service!”
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
09/23/13 Hwy 173 10/05/13 I-90
09/28/13 Hononegah Rd. & Baneberry Rd. 10/03/13 Hwy 251
09/07/13 Hwy 173
Accidents Photos by Chief Shoevlin, Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
09/05/13 I-90 09/06/13 Hwy 173 & Forest Hills Rd.
09/25/13 Belvidere Rd. & Hwy 173
2013 Group Photo
Fall Festival Snapshots by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
BUGLE ALARMMonthly article written by a Harlem-Roscoe Fire Officer.
Fire Prevention WeekBy Lt. Steve Shoevlin
Fire Prevention Week has always reminded me of a book I have read multiple times, “To Sleep With the Angels, The Story of a Fire.”
It is a book about a fire that started in the basement of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School in Chicago on December 1st 1958. This was an elementary school that taught approximately 1,600 children.
The school was a two story structure that was built in the early 1900s, that had been remodeled a few times prior to the fire. At the time the school was legally in compliance with fire safety laws. However, there was only one fire escape, no sprinklers, no automatic fire alarm, no smoke/heat detectors, no alarm connected to the fire department, no fire resistant stairwells and no fire-safe doors from the stairwells to the second floor. There were also no fire alarm switches in the north wing and only two throughout the school. Fire extinguishers were mounted 7 feet from the floor and the ceilings were 12 feet high causing the second floor windows to be 25 feet high to the ground.
With all of these flaws adding up, this led to a tragedy. However, it also led to a majority of the school codes that are still in effect today. There was a grandfathering clause that had allowed the school to pass its inspection only a couple of weeks prior to the fire. Within a year after the tragedy over 16,000 older school building were brought up to code.
Some of the changes that were required were fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, self closing exit doors that swing outward, window egress heights, one hour rated fire walls, emergency lighting and fire doors at all stairwell. This also led to the requirement of schools having fire drills more frequently.
Fire departments nationwide are heavily involved with school safety and HRFD is not any different. We are involved in school fire drills and point out any flaws or areas that we see need to be worked on. I am privileged to have been part of numerous of these drills, and have been able to educate not only the children but also the adults about the importance of fire safety.
Lt.Steve Shoevlin poses with a class from Willowbrook Middle School after their tour of the fire station.
Fire Prevention Division Keeps Busy in OctoberPhotos by Sheryl Drost
Fire Prevention Week may be one week long in October, but fire prevention is practiced year-round here at Harlem-Roscoe. Capt. Ryan Alms heads up the Fire Prevention Division and they along with the help of firefighters, have performed fire drills at every school in the fire district during Fire Prevention Week. Then there are the fire safety talks and fire station tours all through October. Station One may be under construction, but Station Two and Three are both available for station tours. Call 815-623-7867.
Capt. Ryan Alms poses with students from Ledgewood School.
Firefighter Rob Lukowski goes over some basic first aid with a group of students from Ralston School during their visit to Station Two.
Firefighter Josh Hoffland helps a Ralston School student see how heavy an air pack that firefighters wear is during their visit to Station Two.
Dryer Fire Photo by Sheryl DrostFirefighters responded to Lollipop Ln. on Sept. 18 for a report of a basement fire. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the home and were able to quickly locate a dryer on fire. Damage from the fire was contained to the basement.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Chimney FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefighters responded to a report of a working house fire on Chicory St. in Machesney Park on Sept. 15. Firefighters found fire around a fireplace chimney stack and roof area and made an aggressive attack to extinguish it. No one was injured and the fire seems to be caused by bird nesting material in the fireplace chase being too close to the hot fireplace chimney stack.
Car Fire Photo by Marcia Soppe
Firefighters finish extinguishing a car on fire off Talcott Drive on Oct. 4.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Garage FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a garage fire on Plymouth Place on Sept. 14. Firefighters were able to protect the nearby home from damage as they attacked the fire in the garage. The garage was heavily damaged and the contents, including a vehicle, were destroyed by the fire. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire seems to be electrical.
Harlem-Roscoe hosted the 3rd annual Crunch Time Extrication Learning Symposium & Challenge at the training facility at Harlem-Roscoe Station # 3 on Sept. 27-29.
Crunch Time chairman Lt. Mike Huffman said, “Ten teams of six firefighters from fire departments from IL and WI participated in the 3-day event.” Mike said Friday night was classroom then Saturday consisted of hands-on-training on 50 vehicles supplied by Erickson Auto Sales. Teams were trained in Incident Command, stabilization, EMS, knowledge and usage of tools and most important, teamwork and communication.
Then Sunday consisted of a TERC (Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee) Extrication Challenge. This is where teams are given a mock motor vehicle accident in a limited and unlimited pit for which they used the techniques from Saturday’s classes. The limited pit consisted of all hand tools such as reciprocating saws and air chisels etc. The unlimited pit consisted of all hand tools and hydraulics.
The teams included IL fire departments, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, North Park Fire Protection District and Byron Fire Department Teams 1&2 and WI teams, DeForest Area Fire & EMS Teams 1&2, Town Of Madison Fire Department, Oregon Area Fire & EMS, Maple Bluff Fire Department and Blooming Grove Fire Department.
Mike said the event was a success, but more important was the knowledge the firefighters took back to their communities.
A huge Thank You to all that taught, judged, and helped to make this year’s Crunch Time a big success!
Winners of the Extrication Competition were:
Limited Pit: 1st Place - Maple Bluff Fire Department, WI. 2nd Place, North Park Fire Prot. Dist., IL, 3rd Place – Oregon Area Fire & EMS, WI.
Unlimited Pit: 1st Place – North Park Fire Prot. Dist., IL, 2nd Place – Byron Fire Department, IL, 3rd Place DeForest Area Fire & EMS, WI
Overall: 1st – North Park Fire Prot. Dist. IL, 2nd Place – Byron Fire Department Team #1, and 3rd Place - DeForest Area Fire & EMS, WI
Crunch Time Snapshots Photos by Marcia Soppe
“Night Out at the Firehouses” Birthdays
October5th Eric Wilkins7th Brandon Tietz13th Ryan Messinger ‘30th’15th Ryan Alms17th Chuck Hansel22nd Brandon Beilfuss23rd David Pautsch26th Tom Aaker29th Sue Null31st Bob Stark
November1st Don Shoevlin Jerry McCormick ‘40th’3rd Joe Quast8th Harry Wagner ‘60th’10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green14th Ken Kelley16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr
Total Calls for 2013 2005
Firehouse Scene The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.
Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost
The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month @www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl:[email protected]
From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
As I sit here thinking about this month’s content, I can’t help but find my mind wondering. This upcoming weekend, I will have the honor of walking my youngest daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. I have mixed emotions of joy, happiness and sadness. The joy of her finding that Mr. Right, the happiness of them together and the sadness of her (the baby)
leaving the roost. Congratulations to Laura and our new son-in-law Will. I wish them all the love and happiness in their years together.
On a sad note, this past month we lost Deputy Chief Ike Schoonover. I would like to pass on our prayers and condolences to his family, who is also a part of our family. D/C Schoonover will surely be missed but never forgotten. The outpouring of support on behalf of the firefighters to his family and the final tribute to a well-respected man was superb. Thank you to all the members of this outstanding department for their show of support and professionalism.
Thank you to everyone that stopped and visited us at the Fall Festival. It was a weekend of enjoyment and some excitement. Congratulations to the winners of our raffle!
Well we hosted another successful “Crunch Time Symposium” the last weekend of September. Lt. Huffman and his staff did an outstanding job. The learning opportunities were endless as was the networking with peers. I am sure he is already working on next years event.
As everyone knows, October is Fire Prevention Month. Our Fire Prevention Division, I and the firefighters, have been performing fire drills in all of our schools. They are all doing an excellent job. The staff at all of the schools have our children’s safety first I can assure you. Hats off to Captain Alms, Chuck Schoonover, Ken Kelley, Ken Krause and Stan Dean for an excellent job.
We have just completed our annual open house. This year we shook it up a bit and hosted a “Night at the Firehouse” on Tuesday Oct. 8th. Station #2 and #3 both hosted the event from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. The station Captains were responsible for the successful implementation and programs. The demonstration and activities were excellent as usual. A hearty thank you to all the children from Kinnikinnick and Harlem school districts who participated in the coloring contest. Great job.
On November 2 we are hosting the annual “Stateline Firefighters Memorial”. It will be held at the Roscoe United Methodist Church with a memorial service beginning at 6:00 P.M. This is open to the public and I invite everyone to attend.
These are just a few examples that show not only the dedication that all of our firefighters have but also the passion for what they do. These individuals also responded to requests for our services when they were needed.
Remember to check out our website, www.harlemroscoefire.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals, and the calls we might have been on. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance. And remember during the construction project my office is at station #3.
Construction UpdateBy Chief Don Shoevlin
The progress of our construction project continues to be moving along extremely well. Since my update last month, the interior wall framing has been completed in the renovation portion with drywall installed. Insulation has been applied and installed in a majority of the building. The wall on the south side addition has the stone and brick completed with work beginning on the east side as well as the west. The trades continue to work diligently on this project with attention to detail under the supervision of the construction site manager. They inform me it is not uncommon to see 25 – 35 workers on the site daily right now. We continue on schedule if not a little ahead.
Response to calls from this station continues to go smoothly and in a timely manner. The firefighters and dispatchers are to be thanked for this. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Brick is up on the south side and the corner is taking shape.
The east and north side are now enclosed.
Inside framing is done and drywalling has begun.
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Jerry McCormick - 40th Harry Wagner - 60th November 1st November 8th
Coloring Contest Winners:
Olson 1st Gr. 1st-Lily Elbert, 2nd-Jaren Montoya, 3rd-Joshua Watkins. 2nd Grade, 1st-Madilyn Rich, 2nd-Xander Kullens, 3rd-Anistyn Brummett.
Ralston 1st Gr. 1st-Alvina Muaremi, 2nd-Mitchell Dirksen, 3rd-Preston Fadness. 2nd Gr. 1st-Angelica Soltes, 2nd-Nina Strocchial, 3rd-Madison Engelkes.
Ledgewood 1st Gr. 1st-Broden Folz, 2nd- Evelyn Zibell, 3rd- Kory Barnett.
Stone Creek 2nd Gr. 1st-Claire Dowler, 2nd Arianna McLamont, 3rd-Carlie Mincolla.
Prairie Hill 1st Gr. 1st-Hayden Gruenberg, 2nd-Ashley Hevrin. 2nd Gr. 1st-McKenna Gibson, 2nd-Anthony Hamilton, 3rd-Caitlyn Eitmortas.
THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com
October 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Photo by Sheryl Drost
Final Farewell pages 6&7
Station GossipBy Sheryl Drost
Rumor has it a certain song was sang by firefighters as they responded to the dryer fire on Lollipop Dr.Seems the 5-hour drink didn’t quite work the way it was advertised for the girls in the administration office trying to overcome the 3 O’clock slump. Seems it didn’t do anything for Colleen but give her a headache. But Kelly said it kept her going for longer than 5 hours, but at least she got a lot of housework done that night.
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Plane pull for Special OlympicsPhotos by Charlotte Alms
Several Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters teamed up with some Rockton Firefighters and took 3rd Place in the 5th Annual Plane Pull at O’Hare Airport on Sept. 21. The Plane Pull features the ultimate tug-of-war competition, as teams of up to 20 battle a UPS Airbus A300, weighing more than 190,000 lbs. Each team raises a minimum of $1,000 to participate (only $50 per person for a team of 20).This year it was as a record-breaking success, as 64 teams participated and more than $135,000 was raised for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois!
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters Ryan Sarver, Nate Sarver, Brett Parrish, David Leslie, Tom Lake, Ramona Baldoni-Lake, Ryan Alms, Patrick Trollop, Justin Mayton and Brandon Beilfuss teamed up with firefighters from Rockton Fire.
The team took 3rd place in 9.65 seconds.
Patrick Trollop working out by lifting weights before the plane pull.
Hitchin a ride . . .
I wanna be just like my dad!
