the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Station FunniesI don’t know why some months are just funnier than the others...but enjoy...
PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com
November 2010 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Large Shed Destroyed by FireSee page 3
Photo by Sheryl Drost
Why photographers are usually not in the pictures!
Lesson #1 - Watch where you point your hose!
We clean them anyway we can.!
How many balloons does it take . . . ? .
Have you ever taken a close look at the Chief’s phone?
Mickey Moose?
On scene dryer!
From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
Did everyone change their batteries? With the change to standard time, we would like to remind everyone to change your smoke alarm and CO detector batteries as well.
Thank you to all of the personnel on the Harlem Roscoe Fire Department for another successful Open House. It was held at Station #2 and was well attended.
Captain Alms and the staff did an excellent job. It appeared as everyone enjoyed themselves and learned plenty of safety tips. We gave away over 50 smoke detectors. Thank you to all that participated.
We have the Senior Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner on Thursday November 18. It is at our Headquarters Station in Roscoe from 11:30am until 1:00pm. We assist the Roscoe Lion’s Club in this great event. December will bring our annual Christmas Food Drive. We will be accepting non-perishable food donations at all of our fi re stations. Also starting in December will be our “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign for the holidays. More information forthcoming in the December newsletter.
It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. As we enter the holiday season, let us all take time to appreciate the importance of family and friends. I wish everyone in our district, our fi refi ghters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.
We are taking application for volunteer fi refi ghters. We will have an orientation meeting in December with class starting in January. Anyone interested, stop by our Headquarters Station on Main Street in Roscoe to fi ll out an application.
Remember to check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.comto 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.
17th Annual Stateline Fallen Firefi ghter’s MemorialPhotos by Tammy Shoevlin
Several Harlem-Roscoe Fire Offi cers, Firefi ghters, Honor Guard, and Chaplains participated in the 17th Annual Stateline Firefi ghter’s Memorial Service. This year Edgerton WI hosted the memorial. Three retired honorees from Harlem-Roscoe Fire were Fire Chief Jack Brown, Firefi ghters Don Rogers and Wally Ryerson.
The American fl ag was raised between two aerial trucks for the fi refi ghters and fi re vehicles in the silent procession to go under.
Chief Shoevlin participated in the ceremony by reading the name of the honorees.
The children and grandchildren of honorees, Fire Chief Jack Brown and Firefi ghter Wally Ryerson accepted a rose and fl ag in honor of their family member.
Firefi ghters stood at attention and saluted the family members as they left the ceremony. (above, Melba, wife of Don Rogers)
The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Times RekindledBy Sheryl Drost
We are continuing to research information on the old Roscoe Fire Department as well as any information or pictures after 1940 when the department became a Fire Prevention District.
Ralph Bunting passed away last month and his obit mentioned he was a Chief. I am still following leads and getting more information on him. I will be highlighting Ralph and the old Roscoe Fire Department next month in our Times Rekindled article.
Anyone with any memories, articles, stories or pictures are encouraged to bring them to our Station #1 at 10544 Main St. in Roscoe. You may also call 815-623-7867 and I would love to come meet with you. I am able to scan or take digital pictures of your items on scene as well.
Left is a picture of Ralph and George McDonald, who was also one of our Fire Chiefs
Recall: Ryobi Cordless Drills
Name: Ryobi Model HP 1802M Cordless Power Drills
Hazard: The switch on the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fi re and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents: Ryobi has received 47 reports of the drills overheating, smoking, melting or catching fi re, including 12 reports of property damage to homes or vehicles. Two of the incidents involved minor burns from touching an overheated switch.
Description: The drill is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable NiCad battery. The drills are blue and black in color with “Ryobi” appearing in red and white on the left side.
Sold at: Home Depot from Jan. 2001 to July 2003
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ryobi Customer Servicd at (800) 597-9624 between 10am and 7pm ET Monday through Friday or visit the fi rm’s website at www.ryobitools.com
CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
When Experience Becomes a Training ToolBy Sheryl Drost
We all know that every fi refi ghter will not get the experience to be fi rst on the nozzle at a major fi re, to be the fi refi ghter that rescues a victim from a burning home, or to be the engineer on the attack truck at a major fi re. But I sometimes wonder if we are missing an important training tool – listening to fi refi ghters that have fought
the fi re, engineered the attack truck, or rescued the victim.
Firefi ghters love to talk about their experiences on a fi re scene. I am always intrigued at the lessons that can be learned from just a story. As a fi re photographer, listening to some of these stories on fi re scenes and at the stations, I have seen that experience can, and does, become a major training tool.
Some of my favorite moments are watching a gathering of fi refi ghters critiquing my fi re video or pictures after a fi re. There are always questions, explanations, and sometimes gentle teasing, but most of all, a learning experience they probably won’t forget.
After a fi re, the fi refi ghters tend to linger at the fi re station; to the chagrin of most spouses. They will hang around and tell stories on what they did, what scared them, what excited them, they just talk; I think they actually call it debriefi ng. But again, another thing that is happening is that they are actually learning.
I also see it around the station when a newer fi refi ghter asks a seasoned fi refi ghter a question. These questions may be while they are preparing lunch or doing a chore around the fi re station. Many times these questions lead into discussions with several of the fi refi ghters, with many of them recanting stories of their experiences. That rookie walks away with a knowledge that someday may just save his life.
I absolutely love interviewing fi refi ghters and their families for my Times Rekindled articles. My favorite thing is to get them talking about their most memorable calls. If I get two together at a time, boy, is that fun. They remind each other of calls, and the stories just fl ow. As I write the stories for the newsletter, I always hope that the fi refi ghters that read them, might just learn a thing or two.
Capt. Mike Drost says when he got into volunteer fi refi ghting over 30 years ago, that’s how you learned. He said the more experienced fi refi ghters took you under their wings, and you learned on the go. He loved listening to their stories. He said what he learned from them, has, and more likely will, continue to help keep him safe on a fi re scene.
I truly believe a major difference between two fi refi ghters is their experience. And, what a powerful training tool it is to be able to tap into. My challenge to all fi refi ghters, is to not let those experiences go untapped. Get the other fi refi ghters to tell you the stories; one day something you learned from them, might just save your life!
Did you remember to change the batteries in your
Smoke detectors and CO alarms?
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Large Shed Destroyed by FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters responded to a large shed fi re on Free Church Rd. on the 1st of Nov. The only problem was is that the burning shed was in the middle of huge piles, stacks and rows of recycled materials such as doors, windows, wrought iron, toilets, etc.
Firefi ghters had to maneuver their way through winding paths just to reach the fi re. They then had to climb over, under, and around the piles of the recyclables to head off the fi re before it reached another building.
One fi refi ghter was injured when a tree limb above the fi re fell. He was transported to the hospital and released. North Boone Fire also assisted on the scene. It seems the fi re started when winds blew embers from a leaf burning pile into the shed.
Did Your Child Swallow a Button Battery? ACT FAST!
(AP) CHICAGOSwallowing button batteries can be fatal or cause serious harm, and research suggests that severe injuries in children, though relatively scarce, are on the rise.
The dangers are highlighted in a medical report about 10 cases at a Utah hospital, including seven that caused severe damage, and in a recall of more than 1 million Chuck E. Cheese battery-containing toys. There are no reports of children injured by the Chuck E. Cheese toys, but the toys were recalled because swallowing batteries can be so dangerous.
Button batteries are widely used in dozens of household products including toys, games, remote controls, musical greeting cards, cell phones, watches and lighted shoes. Batteries pose a special swallowing risk; even if they don’t completely block the throat, they can trigger a chemical process when they lodge there that can burn through tissue within just a few hours.
“These are bad news. They have to be removed immediately,” said Dr. Fuad Baroody, a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist at the University of Chicago. Baroody said his hospital treats about two to three children each year with battery-related injuries.
In the throat, “the window for safely removing batteries is only two hours,” said Dr. Toby Litovitz, director of the National Capital Poison Center.
When surrounded by moist tissue, batteries can create an electrical current that combines with body fl uids to form a caustic lye-like chemical, she explained.
The Archives of Otolaryngology published a report from doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City about 10 cases treated there between 1998 and 2008. All were babies and young children; many required major surgery.
“We’re continuing to see these problematic cases” at least once a month, said Dr. Albert Park, a report co-author and a head and neck specialist at the hospital. “This is a very much under-appreciated problem, and the severity of these conditions is under-appreciated.”
Every year more than 3,500 people swallow button or disc-shaped batteries, according to Litovitz’s center, an independent group affi liated with George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Lithium cell batteries at least 20 millimeters in diameter, a little bigger than a penny, are the riskiest. They’ve become commonplace because they’re lighter and more powerful than older-model batteries, Litovitz said. They’re also more likely than older models to lodge in young children’s throats and cause damage, and have been implicated in at least six of 10 deaths since 2003 reported to the center.
Arson is a Felony Crimehttp://www.sfm.illinois.gov/public/arsonisafelonycrime.aspx
Arson fi res account for a large percentage of all fi res. Some fi re offi cials estimate that as many as 50 percent of all fi res may be intentionally set. In the United States, more than 700 lives are lost each year in arson-related fi res. Arson fi res in a neighborhood can have a signifi cant impact on property values of all structures in the area.
What are the Facts?Approximately 210,300 fi res are intentionally set each year. These fi res represent 13 percent of all fi res reported to fi re departments.Intentionally set fi res result in approximately 375 deaths, 1,300 injuries, and $1 billion in direct property loss annually.The incidence of intentionally set fi res peak in the spring (March and April) and again in mid-summer (July).Matches (30 percent) and lighters (15 percent) are the leading heat sources of intentionally set fi res.Fifty-seven percent of intentionally set fi res occur in outside areas. Twenty-two percent of fi res occur in open, outside areas including fi elds and farmland. Twenty percent of intentionally set fi res occur in other, unspecifi ed outside areas.Approximately 22 percent of intentionally set fi res occur in structures.Light vegetation including grass (26 percent) and rubbish, trash, and waste (11 percent) are the items most often fi rst ignited in intentionally set fi res. Source: United States Fire Administration Topical Fire Report Series, Intentional Set Fires, Volume 9, Issue5/November 2009
What is the Real Cost of Arson?Human Cost: All arson fi res are crimes against people, even if the intended target is a vacant building, trash or woods. These fi res must be controlled and extinguished by fi refi ghters; and therefore, human life is endangered whenever a fi re is set. Certainly, a major blaze in an occupied apartment building is much more severe than a small fi re set in a fi eld. However, every year fi refi ghters are killed or injured in responding to or combating small, open air fi res.
Direct Costs: The value of the property destroyed by the fi re; the cost of fi refi ghting supplies and staff to control and extinguish the fi re; the cost of insurance coverage on the property.
Indirect Costs: The loss of tax revenue, since the property may be taken off the tax rolls; the welfare or unemployment costs of the workers put out of work, even if the building is rebuilt; the medical expenses of civilians and fi refi ghters injured by the fi re; the disability retirement costs of injured civilians and fi refi ghters; increased insurance costs.
What Can You Do About Arson in Your Community?If we are to effectively address the arson problem in our communities, every citizen must participate in combating this vicious crime. This means understanding the impact arson has on the community and cooperating to prevent arson, and reporting suspicious persons and activities that may result in arson.
Do You Have Information About A Possible Arson?A statewide Arson Hotline, (800) 252-2947, has been established so that citizens may anonymously provide information about a suspicious fi re that has occurred or may occur. You may be eligible for an award up to $2,500 for providing information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of an arsonist.
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2010 Fire Prevention Week Open HousePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefi ghters ended the 2010 Fire Prevention Week with an Open House. It was held at Station #2 located at 825 Ralston Rd. There was plenty for young and old to do, and refreshments were served. In honor of this year’s Fire Prevention Week Theme, “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with”, fi refi ghters also handed out free smoke detectors to residents living in the fi re district.
Which Smoke Alarm to Install?Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fi res, and because homeowners cannot predict what type of fi re might start in a home, use these guidelines to help best protect your family:
BESTIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.Install both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms.Install interconnected smoke alarms.Install smoke alarms using house wiring with battery back-up.
BETTERIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.Install more than one smoke alarm.Install interconnected smoke alarms.Install smoke alarms with sealed 10 year batteries.
GOODIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT
Regular testing is the only way to make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test your smoke alarms once a month and installing more than one smoke alarm. If you test it less often and only have one smoke alarm, a non-working smoke alarm may leave you and your family unprotected.
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The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Grass FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost
Firefi ghters extinguished a fi eld on fi re on Oct. 7 on Dunham Dr.
A resident was hauling water out to the fi re in 5-gallon pails with his tractor and trailer as fi refi ghters arrived.
Firefi ghter John Barth pulled a hose line off the grass rig and began an attack on the fi re.
Car FirePhoto by Chief Don Shoevlin
Firefi ghters quickly had a fi re in the engine compartment of a car parked in a lot on N. Alpine Rd. knocked down on October 31.
Garbage FirePhotos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Sheryl Drost
Garbage collected into trucks can, and will, catch fi re if combustible materials have been thrown away. When garbage does catch fi re, the drivers are taught to dump their load in hopes to save the truck. That’s exactly what a driver did on Oct. 20 on Moorwoods Rd.
Tractor FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost
Firefi ghter Steve Shoevlin and Lt. Jerry McCormick fi nish extinguishing a mower on Product Dr. on Nov. 1st.
Firefi ghters had to dig through the garbage to extinguish the fi re.
Firefi ghters continue to dig through the bags of garbage looking for hot spots.
Trick-or-TreatPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefi ghters and Sparky were out and about this Halloween spending time with the kids.
Sparky, dressed up as “Woody”, and Firefi ghter Megan Alms handed out candy at the Stepping Stones Day Care’s parade.
Firefi ghter Brandon Tietz hands out candy during the Hilltop Methodist Church’s Festival.
Congratulations to Firefi ghter Eric Wilkins and his wife Jennifer on the birth of their second child. Rachel Gwynne Wilkins was born on October 26 at 12:19 pm. She measured in at 7lbs. and 19.75 inches. Mom and baby are doing great and
big brother Joshua is welcoming his new little sister with tons of enthusiasm. Congrats again Eric and Jennifer, she is so adorable!
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Birthdays
November 1st Don Shoevlin Jerry McCormick3rd Joe Quast ‘50th’8th Harry Wagner10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green Brock Combs14th Ken Kelley16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr ‘30th’23rd K.D. Bodwell
December19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman
December Breakfast List
Jerry McCormick, Mark Schafman, Paul Stanphill,
Tim Schrader, Scott Jensen. Mike Morrison, Brandon Tietz
& Rico VanderHeyden
Total Calls for 2010
1868
The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.
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 web site after the second Sunday each month.
www.harlemroscoefi re.com
E-mail submissions to: Sheryl @ fi [email protected]
Yearly Harlem-Roscoe Fire Personnel Photo- 2010L-r, Front row - Colleen Bloyer, Kelly Green, Lt. Virgil Johnson, Lt. Jerry McCormick, Lt. Chris Scott, Capt. Bill Sabin, Capt. Mike Drost, DC John Bergeron, DC John Presley, Chief Don Shoevlin, AC Ken O’Dell, Capt. Jay Alms, Capt. Tim Bergeron, Lt. Ron Klaman, Lt. Bob Stark, Lt. Mike Huffman, Lt. Doug Wolfe, Lt. Ryan Alms, & Lt. Tom Aaker. 2nd row - Sheryl Drost, Brandon Tietz, Brad Knipp, Radi Huggard, Nick Mladenoff, Brock Combs, Mark Soppe, Aaron Miller, Tom Lake, Ken Boris, Snoopy, Chuck Schoonover, Gina Kaiser, Marty Green, Christi Wilson, Joe Koeninger, Zak Prielipp, & Josh Hoffl and. 3rd row - John Bunger, Sean Laurent, Robert Rosales, Bill Rahn, Danielle Baumgartner, Clay Hendershot, Mike Helland, Marcia Soppe, Bill Hyde, Jerry Lund, Jenny Anderson, Sue Bernardi, Bill Null, Chuck Hansel, Ken Kelley, Bob Clark, Paul Stanphill, & John Barth. Top row - Adam Cox, Rico VanderHeyden, Joe Quast, Jordan Stark, Chris Farr, Adam Arnould, Mike Sherbon, Tom Person, John Donovan, Matt Bush, Greg Wernick, Dan Gunderson, Scott Jensen, Neil Roe, Eric Schweitzer, Megan Alms Jim Daughenbaugh, & Steve Shoevlin. (Maybe next year we will get everyone in it!)
Can you fi nd the 20 missing items?Station ToursPhotos by Sheryl Drost
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
10/06/10 Gleasman Rd. Fatal 10/13/10 Williams Dr. & Hwy. 251
10/15/10 Hwy. 173
Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
10/22/10 Hamborg Rd. - No children were injured
10/31/10 Brentwood Rd.
10/24/10 Manchester Rd.
10/26/10 I-90 at S. Beloit Toll Plaza
10/25/10 Upper Ridge Way
10/22/10 Hwy 173 & Perryville Rd.
More Accidents . . .
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
10/06/10 Gleasman Rd. Fatal 10/13/10 Williams Dr. & Hwy. 251
10/15/10 Hwy. 173
Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
10/22/10 Hamborg Rd. - No children were injured
10/31/10 Brentwood Rd.
10/24/10 Manchester Rd.
10/26/10 I-90 at S. Beloit Toll Plaza
10/25/10 Upper Ridge Way
10/22/10 Hwy 173 & Perryville Rd.
More Accidents . . .
Trick-or-TreatPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefi ghters and Sparky were out and about this Halloween spending time with the kids.
Sparky, dressed up as “Woody”, and Firefi ghter Megan Alms handed out candy at the Stepping Stones Day Care’s parade.
Firefi ghter Brandon Tietz hands out candy during the Hilltop Methodist Church’s Festival.
Congratulations to Firefi ghter Eric Wilkins and his wife Jennifer on the birth of their second child. Rachel Gwynne Wilkins was born on October 26 at 12:19 pm. She measured in at 7lbs. and 19.75 inches. Mom and baby are doing great and
big brother Joshua is welcoming his new little sister with tons of enthusiasm. Congrats again Eric and Jennifer, she is so adorable!
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Birthdays
November 1st Don Shoevlin Jerry McCormick3rd Joe Quast ‘50th’8th Harry Wagner10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green Brock Combs14th Ken Kelley16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr ‘30th’23rd K.D. Bodwell
December19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman
December Breakfast List
Jerry McCormick, Mark Schafman, Paul Stanphill,
Tim Schrader, Scott Jensen. Mike Morrison, Brandon Tietz
& Rico VanderHeyden
Total Calls for 2010
1868
The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.
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 web site after the second Sunday each month.
www.harlemroscoefi re.com
E-mail submissions to: Sheryl @ fi [email protected]
Yearly Harlem-Roscoe Fire Personnel Photo- 2010L-r, Front row - Colleen Bloyer, Kelly Green, Lt. Virgil Johnson, Lt. Jerry McCormick, Lt. Chris Scott, Capt. Bill Sabin, Capt. Mike Drost, DC John Bergeron, DC John Presley, Chief Don Shoevlin, AC Ken O’Dell, Capt. Jay Alms, Capt. Tim Bergeron, Lt. Ron Klaman, Lt. Bob Stark, Lt. Mike Huffman, Lt. Doug Wolfe, Lt. Ryan Alms, & Lt. Tom Aaker. 2nd row - Sheryl Drost, Brandon Tietz, Brad Knipp, Radi Huggard, Nick Mladenoff, Brock Combs, Mark Soppe, Aaron Miller, Tom Lake, Ken Boris, Snoopy, Chuck Schoonover, Gina Kaiser, Marty Green, Christi Wilson, Joe Koeninger, Zak Prielipp, & Josh Hoffl and. 3rd row - John Bunger, Sean Laurent, Robert Rosales, Bill Rahn, Danielle Baumgartner, Clay Hendershot, Mike Helland, Marcia Soppe, Bill Hyde, Jerry Lund, Jenny Anderson, Sue Bernardi, Bill Null, Chuck Hansel, Ken Kelley, Bob Clark, Paul Stanphill, & John Barth. Top row - Adam Cox, Rico VanderHeyden, Joe Quast, Jordan Stark, Chris Farr, Adam Arnould, Mike Sherbon, Tom Person, John Donovan, Matt Bush, Greg Wernick, Dan Gunderson, Scott Jensen, Neil Roe, Eric Schweitzer, Megan Alms Jim Daughenbaugh, & Steve Shoevlin. (Maybe next year we will get everyone in it!)
Can you fi nd the 20 missing items?Station ToursPhotos by Sheryl Drost
2010 Fire Prevention Week Open HousePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Firefi ghters ended the 2010 Fire Prevention Week with an Open House. It was held at Station #2 located at 825 Ralston Rd. There was plenty for young and old to do, and refreshments were served. In honor of this year’s Fire Prevention Week Theme, “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with”, fi refi ghters also handed out free smoke detectors to residents living in the fi re district.
Which Smoke Alarm to Install?Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fi res, and because homeowners cannot predict what type of fi re might start in a home, use these guidelines to help best protect your family:
BESTIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.Install both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms.Install interconnected smoke alarms.Install smoke alarms using house wiring with battery back-up.
BETTERIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.Install more than one smoke alarm.Install interconnected smoke alarms.Install smoke alarms with sealed 10 year batteries.
GOODIF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT
Regular testing is the only way to make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test your smoke alarms once a month and installing more than one smoke alarm. If you test it less often and only have one smoke alarm, a non-working smoke alarm may leave you and your family unprotected.
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The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Grass FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost
Firefi ghters extinguished a fi eld on fi re on Oct. 7 on Dunham Dr.
A resident was hauling water out to the fi re in 5-gallon pails with his tractor and trailer as fi refi ghters arrived.
Firefi ghter John Barth pulled a hose line off the grass rig and began an attack on the fi re.
Car FirePhoto by Chief Don Shoevlin
Firefi ghters quickly had a fi re in the engine compartment of a car parked in a lot on N. Alpine Rd. knocked down on October 31.
Garbage FirePhotos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Sheryl Drost
Garbage collected into trucks can, and will, catch fi re if combustible materials have been thrown away. When garbage does catch fi re, the drivers are taught to dump their load in hopes to save the truck. That’s exactly what a driver did on Oct. 20 on Moorwoods Rd.
Tractor FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost
Firefi ghter Steve Shoevlin and Lt. Jerry McCormick fi nish extinguishing a mower on Product Dr. on Nov. 1st.
Firefi ghters had to dig through the garbage to extinguish the fi re.
Firefi ghters continue to dig through the bags of garbage looking for hot spots.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Large Shed Destroyed by FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters responded to a large shed fi re on Free Church Rd. on the 1st of Nov. The only problem was is that the burning shed was in the middle of huge piles, stacks and rows of recycled materials such as doors, windows, wrought iron, toilets, etc.
Firefi ghters had to maneuver their way through winding paths just to reach the fi re. They then had to climb over, under, and around the piles of the recyclables to head off the fi re before it reached another building.
One fi refi ghter was injured when a tree limb above the fi re fell. He was transported to the hospital and released. North Boone Fire also assisted on the scene. It seems the fi re started when winds blew embers from a leaf burning pile into the shed.
Did Your Child Swallow a Button Battery? ACT FAST!
(AP) CHICAGOSwallowing button batteries can be fatal or cause serious harm, and research suggests that severe injuries in children, though relatively scarce, are on the rise.
The dangers are highlighted in a medical report about 10 cases at a Utah hospital, including seven that caused severe damage, and in a recall of more than 1 million Chuck E. Cheese battery-containing toys. There are no reports of children injured by the Chuck E. Cheese toys, but the toys were recalled because swallowing batteries can be so dangerous.
Button batteries are widely used in dozens of household products including toys, games, remote controls, musical greeting cards, cell phones, watches and lighted shoes. Batteries pose a special swallowing risk; even if they don’t completely block the throat, they can trigger a chemical process when they lodge there that can burn through tissue within just a few hours.
“These are bad news. They have to be removed immediately,” said Dr. Fuad Baroody, a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist at the University of Chicago. Baroody said his hospital treats about two to three children each year with battery-related injuries.
In the throat, “the window for safely removing batteries is only two hours,” said Dr. Toby Litovitz, director of the National Capital Poison Center.
When surrounded by moist tissue, batteries can create an electrical current that combines with body fl uids to form a caustic lye-like chemical, she explained.
The Archives of Otolaryngology published a report from doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City about 10 cases treated there between 1998 and 2008. All were babies and young children; many required major surgery.
“We’re continuing to see these problematic cases” at least once a month, said Dr. Albert Park, a report co-author and a head and neck specialist at the hospital. “This is a very much under-appreciated problem, and the severity of these conditions is under-appreciated.”
Every year more than 3,500 people swallow button or disc-shaped batteries, according to Litovitz’s center, an independent group affi liated with George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Lithium cell batteries at least 20 millimeters in diameter, a little bigger than a penny, are the riskiest. They’ve become commonplace because they’re lighter and more powerful than older-model batteries, Litovitz said. They’re also more likely than older models to lodge in young children’s throats and cause damage, and have been implicated in at least six of 10 deaths since 2003 reported to the center.
Arson is a Felony Crimehttp://www.sfm.illinois.gov/public/arsonisafelonycrime.aspx
Arson fi res account for a large percentage of all fi res. Some fi re offi cials estimate that as many as 50 percent of all fi res may be intentionally set. In the United States, more than 700 lives are lost each year in arson-related fi res. Arson fi res in a neighborhood can have a signifi cant impact on property values of all structures in the area.
What are the Facts?Approximately 210,300 fi res are intentionally set each year. These fi res represent 13 percent of all fi res reported to fi re departments.Intentionally set fi res result in approximately 375 deaths, 1,300 injuries, and $1 billion in direct property loss annually.The incidence of intentionally set fi res peak in the spring (March and April) and again in mid-summer (July).Matches (30 percent) and lighters (15 percent) are the leading heat sources of intentionally set fi res.Fifty-seven percent of intentionally set fi res occur in outside areas. Twenty-two percent of fi res occur in open, outside areas including fi elds and farmland. Twenty percent of intentionally set fi res occur in other, unspecifi ed outside areas.Approximately 22 percent of intentionally set fi res occur in structures.Light vegetation including grass (26 percent) and rubbish, trash, and waste (11 percent) are the items most often fi rst ignited in intentionally set fi res. Source: United States Fire Administration Topical Fire Report Series, Intentional Set Fires, Volume 9, Issue5/November 2009
What is the Real Cost of Arson?Human Cost: All arson fi res are crimes against people, even if the intended target is a vacant building, trash or woods. These fi res must be controlled and extinguished by fi refi ghters; and therefore, human life is endangered whenever a fi re is set. Certainly, a major blaze in an occupied apartment building is much more severe than a small fi re set in a fi eld. However, every year fi refi ghters are killed or injured in responding to or combating small, open air fi res.
Direct Costs: The value of the property destroyed by the fi re; the cost of fi refi ghting supplies and staff to control and extinguish the fi re; the cost of insurance coverage on the property.
Indirect Costs: The loss of tax revenue, since the property may be taken off the tax rolls; the welfare or unemployment costs of the workers put out of work, even if the building is rebuilt; the medical expenses of civilians and fi refi ghters injured by the fi re; the disability retirement costs of injured civilians and fi refi ghters; increased insurance costs.
What Can You Do About Arson in Your Community?If we are to effectively address the arson problem in our communities, every citizen must participate in combating this vicious crime. This means understanding the impact arson has on the community and cooperating to prevent arson, and reporting suspicious persons and activities that may result in arson.
Do You Have Information About A Possible Arson?A statewide Arson Hotline, (800) 252-2947, has been established so that citizens may anonymously provide information about a suspicious fi re that has occurred or may occur. You may be eligible for an award up to $2,500 for providing information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of an arsonist.
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From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
Did everyone change their batteries? With the change to standard time, we would like to remind everyone to change your smoke alarm and CO detector batteries as well.
Thank you to all of the personnel on the Harlem Roscoe Fire Department for another successful Open House. It was held at Station #2 and was well attended.
Captain Alms and the staff did an excellent job. It appeared as everyone enjoyed themselves and learned plenty of safety tips. We gave away over 50 smoke detectors. Thank you to all that participated.
We have the Senior Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner on Thursday November 18. It is at our Headquarters Station in Roscoe from 11:30am until 1:00pm. We assist the Roscoe Lion’s Club in this great event. December will bring our annual Christmas Food Drive. We will be accepting non-perishable food donations at all of our fi re stations. Also starting in December will be our “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign for the holidays. More information forthcoming in the December newsletter.
It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. As we enter the holiday season, let us all take time to appreciate the importance of family and friends. I wish everyone in our district, our fi refi ghters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.
We are taking application for volunteer fi refi ghters. We will have an orientation meeting in December with class starting in January. Anyone interested, stop by our Headquarters Station on Main Street in Roscoe to fi ll out an application.
Remember to check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.comto 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.
17th Annual Stateline Fallen Firefi ghter’s MemorialPhotos by Tammy Shoevlin
Several Harlem-Roscoe Fire Offi cers, Firefi ghters, Honor Guard, and Chaplains participated in the 17th Annual Stateline Firefi ghter’s Memorial Service. This year Edgerton WI hosted the memorial. Three retired honorees from Harlem-Roscoe Fire were Fire Chief Jack Brown, Firefi ghters Don Rogers and Wally Ryerson.
The American fl ag was raised between two aerial trucks for the fi refi ghters and fi re vehicles in the silent procession to go under.
Chief Shoevlin participated in the ceremony by reading the name of the honorees.
The children and grandchildren of honorees, Fire Chief Jack Brown and Firefi ghter Wally Ryerson accepted a rose and fl ag in honor of their family member.
Firefi ghters stood at attention and saluted the family members as they left the ceremony. (above, Melba, wife of Don Rogers)
The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com
Times RekindledBy Sheryl Drost
We are continuing to research information on the old Roscoe Fire Department as well as any information or pictures after 1940 when the department became a Fire Prevention District.
Ralph Bunting passed away last month and his obit mentioned he was a Chief. I am still following leads and getting more information on him. I will be highlighting Ralph and the old Roscoe Fire Department next month in our Times Rekindled article.
Anyone with any memories, articles, stories or pictures are encouraged to bring them to our Station #1 at 10544 Main St. in Roscoe. You may also call 815-623-7867 and I would love to come meet with you. I am able to scan or take digital pictures of your items on scene as well.
Left is a picture of Ralph and George McDonald, who was also one of our Fire Chiefs
Recall: Ryobi Cordless Drills
Name: Ryobi Model HP 1802M Cordless Power Drills
Hazard: The switch on the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fi re and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents: Ryobi has received 47 reports of the drills overheating, smoking, melting or catching fi re, including 12 reports of property damage to homes or vehicles. Two of the incidents involved minor burns from touching an overheated switch.
Description: The drill is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable NiCad battery. The drills are blue and black in color with “Ryobi” appearing in red and white on the left side.
Sold at: Home Depot from Jan. 2001 to July 2003
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ryobi Customer Servicd at (800) 597-9624 between 10am and 7pm ET Monday through Friday or visit the fi rm’s website at www.ryobitools.com
CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
When Experience Becomes a Training ToolBy Sheryl Drost
We all know that every fi refi ghter will not get the experience to be fi rst on the nozzle at a major fi re, to be the fi refi ghter that rescues a victim from a burning home, or to be the engineer on the attack truck at a major fi re. But I sometimes wonder if we are missing an important training tool – listening to fi refi ghters that have fought
the fi re, engineered the attack truck, or rescued the victim.
Firefi ghters love to talk about their experiences on a fi re scene. I am always intrigued at the lessons that can be learned from just a story. As a fi re photographer, listening to some of these stories on fi re scenes and at the stations, I have seen that experience can, and does, become a major training tool.
Some of my favorite moments are watching a gathering of fi refi ghters critiquing my fi re video or pictures after a fi re. There are always questions, explanations, and sometimes gentle teasing, but most of all, a learning experience they probably won’t forget.
After a fi re, the fi refi ghters tend to linger at the fi re station; to the chagrin of most spouses. They will hang around and tell stories on what they did, what scared them, what excited them, they just talk; I think they actually call it debriefi ng. But again, another thing that is happening is that they are actually learning.
I also see it around the station when a newer fi refi ghter asks a seasoned fi refi ghter a question. These questions may be while they are preparing lunch or doing a chore around the fi re station. Many times these questions lead into discussions with several of the fi refi ghters, with many of them recanting stories of their experiences. That rookie walks away with a knowledge that someday may just save his life.
I absolutely love interviewing fi refi ghters and their families for my Times Rekindled articles. My favorite thing is to get them talking about their most memorable calls. If I get two together at a time, boy, is that fun. They remind each other of calls, and the stories just fl ow. As I write the stories for the newsletter, I always hope that the fi refi ghters that read them, might just learn a thing or two.
Capt. Mike Drost says when he got into volunteer fi refi ghting over 30 years ago, that’s how you learned. He said the more experienced fi refi ghters took you under their wings, and you learned on the go. He loved listening to their stories. He said what he learned from them, has, and more likely will, continue to help keep him safe on a fi re scene.
I truly believe a major difference between two fi refi ghters is their experience. And, what a powerful training tool it is to be able to tap into. My challenge to all fi refi ghters, is to not let those experiences go untapped. Get the other fi refi ghters to tell you the stories; one day something you learned from them, might just save your life!
Did you remember to change the batteries in your
Smoke detectors and CO alarms?
the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Station FunniesI don’t know why some months are just funnier than the others...but enjoy...
PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com
November 2010 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Large Shed Destroyed by FireSee page 3
Photo by Sheryl Drost
Why photographers are usually not in the pictures!
Lesson #1 - Watch where you point your hose!
We clean them anyway we can.!
How many balloons does it take . . . ? .
Have you ever taken a close look at the Chief’s phone?
Mickey Moose?
On scene dryer!
