CFD Commissioner Speaks Out Against Fewer Firefighers Per Truck

There are some things you don't skimp on. It's not worth buying the cheap dish washing detergent, cheap toilet paper, and.. oh yeah, SAFETY!

Commissioner rips idea of fewer firefighters per truck

By Hal Dardick Clout Street 

2:06 p.m. CDT, October 25, 2011

Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff today said fire deaths would increase if the city lowers the number of firefighters on a truck to save money, an idea mentioned as one potential cost-saving option in a recent report by the city’s inspector general.
Hoff said he is “adamant” in his opposition to the idea of lowering the minimum staffing on all trucks to four, instead of the five-person minimum now in place on most trucks and engines.
“Number one, it affects our performance,” Hoff said, explaining his opposition to the change. “And number two, it (affects) the lives of firefighters and paramedics and the people that we serve. Our fire deaths will go up.”
Inspector General Joseph Ferguson said lowering the standard would save about $57 million a year — while also noting such a reduction could pose a safety hazard in an urban area like Chicago.
Nevertheless, the idea has been thrown around with about eight months left on the contract for rank-and-file city firefighters. The current contract spells out the current staffing levels.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel kept Hoff on as fire commissioner. Former Mayor Richard Daley appointed Hoff, a decorated Fire Department veteran, in June 2010.

(original story) 

* *Mayor Emanuel's Reaction Here* *

 

 

Feds Fault Dept in Deaths of Two Chicago Firefighters

My husband was there all day this horrible day for the department. I was at a show my daughter was in, and got a frantic call from him just saying, "Just so you know, I'm okay!" Then said, "I gotta go!" I was so thankful for that call, but it was a tough day watching the news and seeing this going on. They were there all day long, and reports were coming in about 2 fallen firefighters. Very sad. God bless those that run into harm's way for us!

Feds fault department in deaths of two Chicago firefighters

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Chicago firefighters watch as others dig to rescue their trapped comrades in a Dec. 22 fire in a vacant South Side building. Two firefighters died in the blaze. (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune / September 23, 2011)

By Ryan Haggerty, Liam Ford and William Lee, Tribune reporters

6:00 a.m. CDT, September 23, 2011

Poor communications and an insufficient number of radios were among shortcomings within the Chicago Fire Department that contributed to the deaths of two firefighters in a fire at an abandoned South Side laundry last December, according to a federal report.

The report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also pointed to the lack of a system to alert the Fire Department to hazardous buildings as among the "contributing factors" that cumulatively put firefighters at risk.

The report said few of the firefighters who were sent into the vacant, dilapidated building in the 1700 block of East 75th Street on Dec. 22 had radios and that supervisors outside the building had no idea what the firefighters inside were seeing: flames crawling up wooden beams to the ceiling.

As the firefighters fought the blaze from the inside, others were on the roof, spraying water and cutting holes to vent smoke right up until the roof collapsed. Two firefighters inside the building, Edward Stringer, 47, and Corey Ankum, 34, were killed, and 19 other firefighters were injured.

Tim Merinar, who led the federal agency's investigation, said Fire Department supervisors should have taken a more defensive approach and ordered more firefighters out of the building once it was clear that no one was trapped inside, as firefighters had feared when they arrived at the early morning blaze.

The Fire Department received the report in July and has already implemented some of the agency's recommendations, department spokesman Larry Langford said Thursday.

The Fire Department now requires that firefighters inside a building provide more details to commanders about the situation, Langford said.

The department has also begun hanging tags on each firetruck that identify every firefighter assigned to the vehicle, in response to the report's recommendation that the department improve its ability to account for all firefighters working at a specific incident.

But one major recommendation — putting radios in the hands of every firefighter — won't be implemented until sometime in 2012, when the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication says a much-delayed digital radio system will be operational.

The department currently provides a radio to one member of each team of two or three firefighters, Langford said.

Only five of the 13 firefighters who were in the building when the roof collapsed had radios, and none of those firefighters provided supervisors outside the building with a description of the conditions inside, the report said.

(read more)

What *is* a Typical Day like?

So, what is a Typical Day? 

Most days are a Typical day in the Life of a CFD Wife. I don't blog about every detail, because some days are just like this. Others, too crazy to actually believe anything gets done. And, this is really normal for some/most FF wives. For some to completely understand what it's like, I've put together a small time line. This is what some people don't understand, unless they have husbands that work odd hours. Or, have hours that are less than routine.

Saturday consisted of:

6:30am - yay, hubby is home after working all night, fell asleep back in bed beside me.. awww...

8:30- slept in, woke up to hubby still sleeping.

- get up, see youngest completely dressed, up, eaten, and ready for her big day planned.

- am reminded son slept at friend's house and wonder when high schooler will wake up.

- breakfast, get youngest organized with her bag, correct shoes..etc.

- It's SNOWING!

10:30 - little one's ride is here, she's off to church to practice for Awana games.

- husband still sleeping.

- get ready to go to Costco forgetting last minute photos needed later on.

- husband reveals he had "watch" last night (every wife's nighmare as she reality hits like a lead balloon.. I'm on my own today!!)

- the next half hour spent writing him notes, explaining where each kid will be, when to pick up, and when baseball practice is, where the son is, why he is the one to pick him up, calling that friend's mom apologizing it may be either now (while I'm around) or later (when hubby finally wakes) that we will get him, notes that I will bring dinner home, and oldest will be picked up by a friend. (with a "by the way, I love you").

-writing myself notes as to what to bring and not forget as I'm leaving the house at 11:00am until after 6:00pm.

11:20 - coscto - pick up photos.

- drive to church to pick up youngest, and on the way realize I forgot the essential things she would need for her next appt.

12:00pm - stop at store, pick up essentials, run the next 2 errands, realize the car is out of gas, fill briefly to get me through the day.

1:00 - oldest texts to ask where her makeup bag was (in my car) and could she please use mine. I reminded her she needed to wake dad for $ for her fun evening as I realized (as I had written on my own note) that was something else I forgot to give her!

- husband gets woken up for $.

1:05 - pick up daughter, get her ready, take her to appt 15 min away by 2:00 

- put her hair in "Kirsten" braids with pink bows, make sure she's changed, and has her bag with everything she needs for the next 4 hours.

1:20 - in the car to go to Subway for something quick to eat on the drive.

1:21 - suburb I have to drive through is basically SHUT DOWN by police cars, police blocks..their annual St. Patricks Day parade.. who knew?

"recalculating"

1:23 - u-turn, look for a drive thru.

1:45 - frantically looking for drive thru, as appt is at 2:00

1:48 - found one.. yuck, but what can you do?

1:52 - little one stuffs a burger in her mouth.

1:58 - rip (okay, gently tugged) burger out of mouth and off to 4 hour appt.

1:59 - park in valet parking lot, to which I explain, I'll be right back! He was kind.

2:00 - parent meeting. 

2:30 - * cue music and birds singing*

- I'm alone! I'm on my own! I have time to spare! I can't wait to do "nothing!" I don't care it's freezing, I don't care it's snowing, I am going to talk on the phone with a couple friends, my mom, catch up on some blogs, it's going to be the best next 2.5 hours ever! 

2:45 - Starbucks! *mom's relaxing time*

- open computer, drink Carmel Macchiato..a friend called, chatted mindlessly for a bit..

*music and birds singing screeches to a halt*

4:15 - youth pastor calls (probably saw my post from starbucks that I was going to be there for a while of well deserved "mom time") wondering if middle one is coming to Bible Study (at 5:00 - 35 min from our house - as I'm 30 min from our house another direction. Picture a big triangle) 

- I explain dad at home dead to the world for staying up 24 some hours + working. 

He offers to call someone somewhat nearby for ride. I agree as nothing else to do, while I call and make sure he's ready.

4:16 - call home - daughter answers, literally on the way out the door with friends as I tell her to go wake dad! 

4:17 - groggy husband reveals son is still at friend's.

4:18 - text that nice kid youth pastor found that was going to pick up son, that it's a "no-can-do, gigantor!" (Night at Museum quote)

4:18 1/2 - call back youth pastor, explain: dad is pretty much incoherent. Make judgement call: Bible study is off for him, apologize not sooner notice in canceling as he makes dinner for the boys.

4:20 - call friend's house explaining how the house was quiet around him, so he must have gone into a deep sleep. She so sweetly offers to drop him off later. Yes! Thank you!!

4:30 - realize Starbucks wasn't that relaxing, and head off to pick up daughter as parents were instructed to be back by 5:00.

- no parking ANYwhere close to the doors. Park behind HUGE conference center. 

5:00 - leave center, daughter starving!

5:40 - home. Husband was awake, son had been delivered, and friend had sent homemade pizza home for him!

- daughter not so starving, but since we'd just arrived, nobody else needed dinner - I so Martha Stewartly made her a waffle for dinner. *please no hate mail for this* She was thrilled! I figured she was fine, since her 4 hr appt kids couldn't have sugar, and she already had packed granola bar, apple, banana..etc.

- say hello's, clean kitchen, make a couple phone calls.

7:15 - middle one asks where his dirty practice baseball shirt is.. "You mean, the one from last night's practice?" Oh, um.. "I haven't been home all day to wash it, pretty sure you get to wear it again." 

- can't find shirt, rescues it from a lovely pile of laundry.

7:30 - boys off to practice.

- relaxing time yet?

- I'm tired - oldest still not home.  

11:35 - oldest gets home.

- betcha think it's time for bed? Guess who's not tired? 

- oldest and husband watch tv and play some computer.

BLACK OUT

So, what's normal? That's the thing, there is no "normal."

THIS is the life of someone who realizes that each day will NEVER go the same.

Each day, you plow through adversity, or you'll get stuck in it.

Each day, I am thankful for a husband who puts his life on the line, and does work hard, so that we can run around and take care of kids.

Each day, life isn't monotonous.

Each day, you just let things roll, and don't sweat the small stuff, right? 

So, "what did I do yesterday?" I can't remember...

Thank you, Lord, for never giving us more than we can handle. I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle any more that day. :)

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the strength and mindset to make it through days like this.. that happens a lot.

 

To Save A Life

My 15 yr old daughter and I watched TO SAVE A LIFE a couple nights ago. I have to say, this was an excellent movie! There are so many kids out there hurting. I think kids these days are so used to living in a self serving world, they don't even notice those crying out around them.
Let's encourage our kids to "Save a Life."

http://www.tosavealifemovie.com/index.php