THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

September 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Night at the FirehousePage 12 Attic FirePages 6 & 7

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Station Tours Fire Trucks on display Kids Firefighters Challenge Thermal Imager Demos Fire Gear demonstrations Smoke House @ Sta.#2 Training Tower Demonstration at Sta.#3 Safety tips table Refreshments – Hot dogs, Lemonade, cookies and coffee

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Birthdays

September1st Stefani Layman3rd Ramona Baldoni-Lake5th Adam Eich ‘30th’12th Kyle Alms13th Marty Green ‘50th’ Mike Powell Joe Koeninger ‘30th’25th Carmella Young28th Paul Meyers30th Micah Anderson

October5th Eric Wilkins7th Ike Schoonover Brandon Tietz13th Ryan Messinger ‘30th’15th Ryan Alms17th Chuck Hansel22nd Brandon Beilfuss23rd David Pautsch26th Tom Aaker29th Sue Null31st Bob Stark

Total Calls for 2013 1804

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:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Summer is now in our rear view mirror and school is back in session. Football season has begun and the leaves are starting to fall. As our days of sunlight grow shorter, please be careful of our walkers and bike riders.

We again participated in the annual MDA Fill the Boot Campaign. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated. We

were able to raise over $ 4,000.00, which we have sent to the regional Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Our annual Fire Prevention Open House will be a little different this year. We will be having “A Night at The Firehouse “on Tuesday Oct. 8th. This year it will be at Station #2 at 825 Ralston Rd. and Station #3 on 13974 Willowbrook Rd. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I have been told by our Officers that both locations will be full of activities, opportunities to see equipment, tours of the stations and there will be plenty of hot dogs, chips and cookies. The theme this year is “Prevent Kitchen Fires”

The request for our services continues to grow. Our firefighters are doing a superb job of meeting those requests. We need to remember we have a group of dedicated individuals committed to be the very best while a majority have full time jobs elsewhere. The dedication goes far beyond just call response. There is department training as well as specialized training. We maintain our high commitment level of training and safety for what we do. The commitment of our individuals says that they believe that they can make a difference in the community when called upon. I stated when I became Chief, “That I am committed to excellence, integrity and caring”. I believe all the personnel of your fire department are as well.

I would be remiss if in closing I didn’t reflect on that tragic day of 9/11. This year marks the 12th anniversary that we lost 343 brothers and sisters in the fire service to a horrific act of terrorism. We must not forget those in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon as well.

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefire.com and friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

The outer walls on the south side are up.

Construction UpdateBy Chief Don Shoevlin

I am extremely pleased to report that the progress of our construction project is fast and furious. The construction manager on site has been attentive to details to see that all trades are performing quality work in a timely fashion.

Since my update last month, the interior wall framing has been completed in the renovation portion, a majority of the mechanical rough in has been completed, and the block work for new interior walls is completed. They have also begun erecting the new exterior wall on the east end as well as the exterior walls of the new addition areas on the north and south side. It is amazing to see this all beginning to take shape. The trades continue to work diligently on this project with attention to detail found in the architect’s plans.

We remain on schedule if not a little ahead for now. Response to calls from this station continues to go smoothly. The firefighters and dispatchers are doing a great job dealing with the disruption and displacement. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

View from SE corner.

View from NE corner.

The inside walls are framed.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Marty Green - 50th Joe Koeninger - 30th Ryan Messinger - 30th September 13 September 13 October 13th

Congratulations to Captain Ryan Alms and his wife Charlotte on the birth of their second child, Lucy Marie Alms. Lucy was born on August 6 and measured in at 8lbs, 2oz and 19.5” long. Mom and baby are doing great and big brother Mason Jay (age 3) calls her “chubby cheekers” and squeezes her cheeks.

Three more of Lucy’s family are also members on Harlem-Roscoe. Her Grandpa is Battalion Chief Jay Alms, her Uncle is Firefighter Kyle Alms, and her Aunt is Dispatcher Megan Alms.

Congrats again Ryan and Charlotte, she is adorable!

L-r, Big brother Mason, Dad Ryan, Mom Charlotte holding Lucy, Alisonn (Kyles girlfriend), Grandpa Jay, Aunt Megan holding daughter Lily, Grandma Deb and Uncle Kyle.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Deck FiresPhotos by Sheryl Drost

As a fire department, we have responded to too many fires caused by grills or fire pits on wooden decks; some of the fires have traveled into the homes. The two deck fires this month alone could have been a

lot worse if the owners weren’t home to catch them. Is it OK to use your grill or burn pit on a wooden deck? You might want to ask these two residents that had fires on their wood decks this month.

Firefighters responded to Westgate Rd. for a deck fire on August 25. The resident was using a garden hose on the fire when units arrived

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Firefighters were rousted from their beds for a 2am deck fire on Rock Ln. on September 3 caused by a burn pit installed on a wooden deck.

Grilling Safety Tips

If you’re considering a backyard BBQ party to celebrate the end of Summer, you need to be aware of some important safety tips when it comes to using a charcoal/wood fired or gas grill on your wood deck, composite deck or patio.

Always read the owner’s manual before using your grill and follow specific usage, assembly, and safety procedures. Contact the grill manufacturer if you have specific questions.

Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use, only. Never barbecue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosed area because carbon monoxide may accumulate and kill you.

Set up your grill in an open area that is away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves, or brush. Be sure to avoid high traffic areas and always barbecue in a well-ventilated area. Be aware of wind-blown sparks.

When using a barbecue grill, be sure that all parts of the unit are firmly in place and that the grill is stable.

If electrically-operated accessories are used (rotisseries, etc.), be sure they are properly grounded in accordance with local codes. Electrical cords should be placed away from walkways or anywhere people can trip over them.

Use barbecue utensils with long handles (forks, tongs, etc.) to avoid burns and splatters.

Wear clothing that does not have hanging shirt tails, frills, or apron strings that can catch fire, and use flame-retardant mitts when adjusting hot vents.

To put out flare-ups, either raise the grid that the food is on, spread the coals out evenly, or adjust the controls to lower the temperature. If you must douse the flames with a light spritz of water, first remove the food from the grill.

Use baking soda to control a grease fire and have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.

Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill. These naturally heat resistant pads are usually made of lightweight composite cement or plastic and will protect your wood and composite deck or patio from any grease that misses the drip pan.

Never leave a grill unattended once lit

Don’t allow anyone to conduct activity near the grill when in use or immediately following its use.

The grill body remains hot up to an hour after being used.

Never attempt to move a hot grill. It’s easy to stumble or drop it and serious burns could result.

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Fire Prevention Week(http://www.firepreventionweek.org):

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine O’Leary - kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you’ve heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O’Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.

Like any good story, the ‘case of the cow’ has some truth to it. The great fire almost certainly started near the barn where Mrs. O’Leary kept her five milking cows. But there is no proof that O’Leary was in the barn when the fire broke out - or that a jumpy cow sparked the blaze. Mrs. O’Leary herself swore that she’d been in bed early that night, and that the cows were also tucked in for the evening.

But if a cow wasn’t to blame for the huge fire, what was? Over the years, journalists and historians have offered plenty of theories. Some blamed the blaze on a couple of neighborhood boys who were near the barn sneaking cigarettes. Others believed that a neighbor of the O’Leary’s may have started the fire. Some people have speculated that a fiery meteorite may have fallen to earth on October 8, starting several fires that day - in Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Chicago.

Home Fires In 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to 370,000 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,910 civilian injuries, 2,520 civilian deaths, $6.9 billion in direct damage. On average, seven people die in U.S. home fires per day.Cooking is the leading cause home fires and home fire injuries, followed heating equipment. Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2011, 12 home fires killed five or more people resulting in a total of 67 deaths.

Cooking U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage. Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen.Unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires.Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials. Ranges accounted for the 58% of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half (44%) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scald burns.Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of home cooking fires, but these incidents accounted for 16% of the cooking fire deaths.

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The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

EMS CornerBy BC Jay AlmsParamedic, EMS Coordinator

Bee Sting Treatment When bees or wasps sting a person, they inject venom through their stinger into the skin of the victim. Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets have stingers without barbs that are usually retracted upon stinging, and these insects can sting people multiple times. The honey

bee has a barbed stinger that remains in the victim’s skin with its venom sack attached. About 3% of people stung by bees and wasps have an allergic reaction to the sting, and up to 0.8% of bee sting victims experience the severe and life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Most people will have only a localized reaction to a bee sting. In the normal reaction to a bee sting, the skin is reddened and painful. Swelling and/or itching may also occur, but the pain usually disappears over a few hours. In the so-called large local reaction to an insect sting, the swelling, redness, and pain may persist for up to a week. Areas adjacent to the site of the skin may also be involved in the large local reaction.

In a systemic allergic reaction, the entire body is affected. The victim may develop hives, redness, or swelling at sites on the body distant from the site of the sting. Symptoms can also include:

vomiting,nausea,diarrhea, anddizziness

In anaphylactic reactions, victims experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure that leads to shock if not treated promptly. Around 50 people are killed each year in the U.S. due to severe anaphylactic reactions to bee stings. These type of reactions usually occur within minutes of the bee sting. Since most people who have allergies to bee stings will have a worsened reaction to every subsequent sting, those individuals with bee sting allergies should talk to their doctor about taking special precautions, including carrying an injectable form of the drugepinephrine (used to treat anaphylactic reactions) at all times.If you are stung by a bee:

Call emergency medical services if you have a history of severe reactions to insect stings or if you experience any severe symptoms as described above.Determine if the stinger is still present (look for a small black dot at the sting site) and remove it immediately if is visible in the wound. Many doctors recommend using a hard object like a credit card or blunt knife to swipe over the area and remove the stinger. The honey bee venom sack, which remains in

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the skin of the victim, can take 2-3 minutes to release all of its venom, so prompt removal of the stinger can reduce the severity of the sting.Apply ice or cold packs to the area to reduce the body’s inflammatory response.Clean the area with soap and water, then apply hydrocortisone cream to the site to decrease the severity of the reaction. Alternative treatments include a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water (the enzyme in meat tenderizer can break down bee venom) or a paste of baking soda and water.Taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in tablet form and/or nonprescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also provide relief of symptoms.Stings in the mouth or nose, even in persons not known to be allergic to bee stings, also require emergency medical attention, since they can lead to swelling that can interfere with breathing.Here at Harlem-Roscoe our ambulances are equipped with EPI-pens, Benadryl and Epinephrine in stronger doses for more severe reactions. Never hesitate to call for help. Reactions can be life threatening in a short time. Our emergency medical staff is educated & equipped to handle these true emergencies.

Harlem-Roscoe will once again be hosting a 3-day extrication event. The event is geared toward new rescue personnel interested in obtaining vehicle extrication training. This event will consist of a classroom session on Friday evening and practical skills workshop on Saturday using hand tools & hydraulics.

Then on Sunday, the public is invited to a full day of extication competitions between the teams. Each team consists of five firefighters and will compete in two 20 minute scenarios throughout the day. Mannequins are trapped in damaged vehicles to simulate a motor vehicle accident. In one scenarios the teams will use only hand tools and the second scenario they are able to use hydraulics. The teams are judged on their use of tools and how they get their patient out.

Public is Invited Sunday, September 29th

Crunch Time Extrication CompetitionHRFD Fire Station #3

13974 Willowbrook Rd. Roscoe8am to 5pm

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September 27th - 29th

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08/18/13 Roscoe Rd. 08/19/13 Hwy 251 & Prairie Rose

08/26/13 Prairie Hill Rd. No students were injured.

08/13/13 Hwy 173 & Mitchell Rd. 08/16/13 Swanson and Belvidere Rd.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

08/08/13 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

Times RekindledBy Sheryl Drost

Deputy Chief Richard Mackenthun

Ret. Deputy Chief Richard Mackenthun, known to friends as Mack, joined Harlem-Roscoe in October of 1966. He rose to the ranks of Deputy Chief and retired in 2002 after 36 ½ years.

Mack, and his wife Mary, lived kitty-corner to the old Staton #1 on Main St. when he first got on the department. Mack said there were quite a few of the guys

that lived real close to the station and Dave Paris lived upstairs from him. He said once the siren was set off, you would have guys running to the station from almost every direction, trying to beat each other to the station. They could easily get three trucks quickly on the road. He remembers Chief Ben Alexander saying many times how he couldn’t beat any of them to the station and he only lived two blocks away.

Mack’s first call was a medical assist and he ran out the door and started running to the station. Well, wouldn’t you know it, he fell and slid across Main St. It ended up he was in worse shape than the person who had called for help. Seems the guys got a little bandaging experience on Mack’s hands. And Mack said he couldn’t cook brats, because every time he did, they would get a call.

Mack was the maintenance guy. He was in the first Color Guard, investigated fires, was on the boat crew, landed helicopters, and knew basic first aid. He basically did everything, but not much on the medical side. His favorite truck was the old 705 pumper/tanker but he liked the old 704 too.

When Mack first got on there were only two masks, so most of them didn’t wear any masks when they went in to fight a fire. The first radio he received was a red Plektron radio. Then later on everyone got a pager.

The first two rescue trucks that they used for extrications and medicals were old bread trucks. Mack remembers riding in the back and holding on to the tanks. Then they went to a 4-door GMC pickup with boxes. Then after the successful campaign fundraiser, the first true rescue truck was bought.

In the late 60’s Mack says he was part of the “Ready Rescue group”, a trained group of firefighters from several local fire departments that would respond for disasters or major accidents. It was kind of the precursor to what we now know as M.A.B.A.S. Some of the guys from HRFD he remembers that were part of the group were Oscar Presley, Donny Ball, Clay Winters, Dick Lyford, Dave Paris, Bob Denbow, and Mike Kelly. They didn’t have the power tools of today though, they got pretty good at taking apart a car using jacks, come-a-longs, crow bars, and saws with carbide blades.

In 1970, Mack moved his family to the north end of the fire district and became the Station Captain when Station #3 was built in 1990. Before that, he still responded to Station #1. So he did a lot of sweeping floors and maintenance when the trucks were out before he got to the station. Once Station #3 was built, then it was back to getting the first trucks out.

Mack says Station #3 was a family or like peas in a pod. He told the guys he wouldn’t have them do anything he hadn’t done himself. When they were at the station they were all equal, but when the tones when off, it was his responsibility to keep them safe.

Station #3 personnel were also known for their pranks. They even had a couple clowns named Mike Rallo and Rick Olson that were usually behind them. When Station #3 building was complete, it seems maybe some of the older trucks were sent up to be stationed there. Well, Chief Presley wasn’t too happy to find a sign saying Antique Museum posted in the window at Station #3 one day. As far as his most memorable call, Mack has several! He remembers a path house (a home stacked so high with stuff, there is only a path left to move around in) that was on fire down off West Lane. He said the fuel load was so great that it took a long time to extinguish that fire. Then he remembers a call out on Burr Oak where he was driving 708 and an officer told him where to park, and the truck sank in the mud. And the house that they did a training burn on that was 6ft. from the newly built home and nothing was damaged on the new house. He remembers the train wreck just south of Rockton Rd. next to Warner Brake. He remembers Chief Alexander driving up the guide line to a power pole as he arrived on scene.

He laughs when he said he remembers bringing the 2nd and the 3rd truck to a fire on Louella Dr. He said headed out with the second truck and dumped his water at the scene. He then drove back to the station to fill the truck. Another driver had arrived so Mack had him fill the truck he had just brought back, and then Mack grabbed the third truck and drove it to the scene.

He still vividly remembers the day that he was going to walk between 704 and 705 that were parked in the old Station #1, one behind the other. For some reason he stopped. At that moment, 705 lost air or something (still unknown to this day) and lurched forward into 704, pushing it out through the bay door. He would have surely been crushed if he hadn’t stopped.

Mack says his nicest call was a barn burn on Elevator Rd. Mack was at the pond with the pump to fill the tankers and in Mack’s words, “I got to watch the bathing beauties in the pond while the guys got all sweaty back at the fire”

His worst calls were accidents with little kids and the time a car in front of him stopped quickly once they heard the siren going off and Mack ran over the back of the car.

Although Mack has retired from the fire department, he still checks in on us every once in awhile and he does follow our progress.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7

Attic FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire on Free Church Rd. on Aug. 26.

Chief Don Shoevin reports, “Upon our arrival and gaining entry into the structure, we encountered a fire in the attic. Quick extinguishment was made, however we had extensive overhaul. The combination of the outside temperature with a heat index near 100 degrees and the even hotter attic temperature, was challenging on our firefighters. We rotated crews quicker to keep them cool and fresh.”

“The firefighters performed outstandingly with the challenges they encountered. No one was home at the time of the fire. Two pet dogs were removed unharmed from the home. One firefighter was transported to the hospital as a precaution. He was treated and released for heat related symptoms.”

The fire was contained to the attic and the cause appears to be electrical.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7

Attic FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire on Free Church Rd. on Aug. 26.

Chief Don Shoevin reports, “Upon our arrival and gaining entry into the structure, we encountered a fire in the attic. Quick extinguishment was made, however we had extensive overhaul. The combination of the outside temperature with a heat index near 100 degrees and the even hotter attic temperature, was challenging on our firefighters. We rotated crews quicker to keep them cool and fresh.”

“The firefighters performed outstandingly with the challenges they encountered. No one was home at the time of the fire. Two pet dogs were removed unharmed from the home. One firefighter was transported to the hospital as a precaution. He was treated and released for heat related symptoms.”

The fire was contained to the attic and the cause appears to be electrical.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

08/18/13 Roscoe Rd. 08/19/13 Hwy 251 & Prairie Rose

08/26/13 Prairie Hill Rd. No students were injured.

08/13/13 Hwy 173 & Mitchell Rd. 08/16/13 Swanson and Belvidere Rd.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

08/08/13 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

Times RekindledBy Sheryl Drost

Deputy Chief Richard Mackenthun

Ret. Deputy Chief Richard Mackenthun, known to friends as Mack, joined Harlem-Roscoe in October of 1966. He rose to the ranks of Deputy Chief and retired in 2002 after 36 ½ years.

Mack, and his wife Mary, lived kitty-corner to the old Staton #1 on Main St. when he first got on the department. Mack said there were quite a few of the guys

that lived real close to the station and Dave Paris lived upstairs from him. He said once the siren was set off, you would have guys running to the station from almost every direction, trying to beat each other to the station. They could easily get three trucks quickly on the road. He remembers Chief Ben Alexander saying many times how he couldn’t beat any of them to the station and he only lived two blocks away.

Mack’s first call was a medical assist and he ran out the door and started running to the station. Well, wouldn’t you know it, he fell and slid across Main St. It ended up he was in worse shape than the person who had called for help. Seems the guys got a little bandaging experience on Mack’s hands. And Mack said he couldn’t cook brats, because every time he did, they would get a call.

Mack was the maintenance guy. He was in the first Color Guard, investigated fires, was on the boat crew, landed helicopters, and knew basic first aid. He basically did everything, but not much on the medical side. His favorite truck was the old 705 pumper/tanker but he liked the old 704 too.

When Mack first got on there were only two masks, so most of them didn’t wear any masks when they went in to fight a fire. The first radio he received was a red Plektron radio. Then later on everyone got a pager.

The first two rescue trucks that they used for extrications and medicals were old bread trucks. Mack remembers riding in the back and holding on to the tanks. Then they went to a 4-door GMC pickup with boxes. Then after the successful campaign fundraiser, the first true rescue truck was bought.

In the late 60’s Mack says he was part of the “Ready Rescue group”, a trained group of firefighters from several local fire departments that would respond for disasters or major accidents. It was kind of the precursor to what we now know as M.A.B.A.S. Some of the guys from HRFD he remembers that were part of the group were Oscar Presley, Donny Ball, Clay Winters, Dick Lyford, Dave Paris, Bob Denbow, and Mike Kelly. They didn’t have the power tools of today though, they got pretty good at taking apart a car using jacks, come-a-longs, crow bars, and saws with carbide blades.

In 1970, Mack moved his family to the north end of the fire district and became the Station Captain when Station #3 was built in 1990. Before that, he still responded to Station #1. So he did a lot of sweeping floors and maintenance when the trucks were out before he got to the station. Once Station #3 was built, then it was back to getting the first trucks out.

Mack says Station #3 was a family or like peas in a pod. He told the guys he wouldn’t have them do anything he hadn’t done himself. When they were at the station they were all equal, but when the tones when off, it was his responsibility to keep them safe.

Station #3 personnel were also known for their pranks. They even had a couple clowns named Mike Rallo and Rick Olson that were usually behind them. When Station #3 building was complete, it seems maybe some of the older trucks were sent up to be stationed there. Well, Chief Presley wasn’t too happy to find a sign saying Antique Museum posted in the window at Station #3 one day. As far as his most memorable call, Mack has several! He remembers a path house (a home stacked so high with stuff, there is only a path left to move around in) that was on fire down off West Lane. He said the fuel load was so great that it took a long time to extinguish that fire. Then he remembers a call out on Burr Oak where he was driving 708 and an officer told him where to park, and the truck sank in the mud. And the house that they did a training burn on that was 6ft. from the newly built home and nothing was damaged on the new house. He remembers the train wreck just south of Rockton Rd. next to Warner Brake. He remembers Chief Alexander driving up the guide line to a power pole as he arrived on scene.

He laughs when he said he remembers bringing the 2nd and the 3rd truck to a fire on Louella Dr. He said headed out with the second truck and dumped his water at the scene. He then drove back to the station to fill the truck. Another driver had arrived so Mack had him fill the truck he had just brought back, and then Mack grabbed the third truck and drove it to the scene.

He still vividly remembers the day that he was going to walk between 704 and 705 that were parked in the old Station #1, one behind the other. For some reason he stopped. At that moment, 705 lost air or something (still unknown to this day) and lurched forward into 704, pushing it out through the bay door. He would have surely been crushed if he hadn’t stopped.

Mack says his nicest call was a barn burn on Elevator Rd. Mack was at the pond with the pump to fill the tankers and in Mack’s words, “I got to watch the bathing beauties in the pond while the guys got all sweaty back at the fire”

His worst calls were accidents with little kids and the time a car in front of him stopped quickly once they heard the siren going off and Mack ran over the back of the car.

Although Mack has retired from the fire department, he still checks in on us every once in awhile and he does follow our progress.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

EMS CornerBy BC Jay AlmsParamedic, EMS Coordinator

Bee Sting Treatment When bees or wasps sting a person, they inject venom through their stinger into the skin of the victim. Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets have stingers without barbs that are usually retracted upon stinging, and these insects can sting people multiple times. The honey

bee has a barbed stinger that remains in the victim’s skin with its venom sack attached. About 3% of people stung by bees and wasps have an allergic reaction to the sting, and up to 0.8% of bee sting victims experience the severe and life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Most people will have only a localized reaction to a bee sting. In the normal reaction to a bee sting, the skin is reddened and painful. Swelling and/or itching may also occur, but the pain usually disappears over a few hours. In the so-called large local reaction to an insect sting, the swelling, redness, and pain may persist for up to a week. Areas adjacent to the site of the skin may also be involved in the large local reaction.

In a systemic allergic reaction, the entire body is affected. The victim may develop hives, redness, or swelling at sites on the body distant from the site of the sting. Symptoms can also include:

vomiting,nausea,diarrhea, anddizziness

In anaphylactic reactions, victims experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure that leads to shock if not treated promptly. Around 50 people are killed each year in the U.S. due to severe anaphylactic reactions to bee stings. These type of reactions usually occur within minutes of the bee sting. Since most people who have allergies to bee stings will have a worsened reaction to every subsequent sting, those individuals with bee sting allergies should talk to their doctor about taking special precautions, including carrying an injectable form of the drugepinephrine (used to treat anaphylactic reactions) at all times.If you are stung by a bee:

Call emergency medical services if you have a history of severe reactions to insect stings or if you experience any severe symptoms as described above.Determine if the stinger is still present (look for a small black dot at the sting site) and remove it immediately if is visible in the wound. Many doctors recommend using a hard object like a credit card or blunt knife to swipe over the area and remove the stinger. The honey bee venom sack, which remains in

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the skin of the victim, can take 2-3 minutes to release all of its venom, so prompt removal of the stinger can reduce the severity of the sting.Apply ice or cold packs to the area to reduce the body’s inflammatory response.Clean the area with soap and water, then apply hydrocortisone cream to the site to decrease the severity of the reaction. Alternative treatments include a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water (the enzyme in meat tenderizer can break down bee venom) or a paste of baking soda and water.Taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in tablet form and/or nonprescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also provide relief of symptoms.Stings in the mouth or nose, even in persons not known to be allergic to bee stings, also require emergency medical attention, since they can lead to swelling that can interfere with breathing.Here at Harlem-Roscoe our ambulances are equipped with EPI-pens, Benadryl and Epinephrine in stronger doses for more severe reactions. Never hesitate to call for help. Reactions can be life threatening in a short time. Our emergency medical staff is educated & equipped to handle these true emergencies.

Harlem-Roscoe will once again be hosting a 3-day extrication event. The event is geared toward new rescue personnel interested in obtaining vehicle extrication training. This event will consist of a classroom session on Friday evening and practical skills workshop on Saturday using hand tools & hydraulics.

Then on Sunday, the public is invited to a full day of extication competitions between the teams. Each team consists of five firefighters and will compete in two 20 minute scenarios throughout the day. Mannequins are trapped in damaged vehicles to simulate a motor vehicle accident. In one scenarios the teams will use only hand tools and the second scenario they are able to use hydraulics. The teams are judged on their use of tools and how they get their patient out.

Public is Invited Sunday, September 29th

Crunch Time Extrication CompetitionHRFD Fire Station #3

13974 Willowbrook Rd. Roscoe8am to 5pm

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September 27th - 29th

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Deck FiresPhotos by Sheryl Drost

As a fire department, we have responded to too many fires caused by grills or fire pits on wooden decks; some of the fires have traveled into the homes. The two deck fires this month alone could have been a

lot worse if the owners weren’t home to catch them. Is it OK to use your grill or burn pit on a wooden deck? You might want to ask these two residents that had fires on their wood decks this month.

Firefighters responded to Westgate Rd. for a deck fire on August 25. The resident was using a garden hose on the fire when units arrived

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Firefighters were rousted from their beds for a 2am deck fire on Rock Ln. on September 3 caused by a burn pit installed on a wooden deck.

Grilling Safety Tips

If you’re considering a backyard BBQ party to celebrate the end of Summer, you need to be aware of some important safety tips when it comes to using a charcoal/wood fired or gas grill on your wood deck, composite deck or patio.

Always read the owner’s manual before using your grill and follow specific usage, assembly, and safety procedures. Contact the grill manufacturer if you have specific questions.

Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use, only. Never barbecue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosed area because carbon monoxide may accumulate and kill you.

Set up your grill in an open area that is away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves, or brush. Be sure to avoid high traffic areas and always barbecue in a well-ventilated area. Be aware of wind-blown sparks.

When using a barbecue grill, be sure that all parts of the unit are firmly in place and that the grill is stable.

If electrically-operated accessories are used (rotisseries, etc.), be sure they are properly grounded in accordance with local codes. Electrical cords should be placed away from walkways or anywhere people can trip over them.

Use barbecue utensils with long handles (forks, tongs, etc.) to avoid burns and splatters.

Wear clothing that does not have hanging shirt tails, frills, or apron strings that can catch fire, and use flame-retardant mitts when adjusting hot vents.

To put out flare-ups, either raise the grid that the food is on, spread the coals out evenly, or adjust the controls to lower the temperature. If you must douse the flames with a light spritz of water, first remove the food from the grill.

Use baking soda to control a grease fire and have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.

Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill. These naturally heat resistant pads are usually made of lightweight composite cement or plastic and will protect your wood and composite deck or patio from any grease that misses the drip pan.

Never leave a grill unattended once lit

Don’t allow anyone to conduct activity near the grill when in use or immediately following its use.

The grill body remains hot up to an hour after being used.

Never attempt to move a hot grill. It’s easy to stumble or drop it and serious burns could result.

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Fire Prevention Week(http://www.firepreventionweek.org):

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine O’Leary - kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you’ve heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O’Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.

Like any good story, the ‘case of the cow’ has some truth to it. The great fire almost certainly started near the barn where Mrs. O’Leary kept her five milking cows. But there is no proof that O’Leary was in the barn when the fire broke out - or that a jumpy cow sparked the blaze. Mrs. O’Leary herself swore that she’d been in bed early that night, and that the cows were also tucked in for the evening.

But if a cow wasn’t to blame for the huge fire, what was? Over the years, journalists and historians have offered plenty of theories. Some blamed the blaze on a couple of neighborhood boys who were near the barn sneaking cigarettes. Others believed that a neighbor of the O’Leary’s may have started the fire. Some people have speculated that a fiery meteorite may have fallen to earth on October 8, starting several fires that day - in Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Chicago.

Home Fires In 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to 370,000 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,910 civilian injuries, 2,520 civilian deaths, $6.9 billion in direct damage. On average, seven people die in U.S. home fires per day.Cooking is the leading cause home fires and home fire injuries, followed heating equipment. Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2011, 12 home fires killed five or more people resulting in a total of 67 deaths.

Cooking U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage. Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen.Unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires.Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials. Ranges accounted for the 58% of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half (44%) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scald burns.Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of home cooking fires, but these incidents accounted for 16% of the cooking fire deaths.

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Birthdays

September1st Stefani Layman3rd Ramona Baldoni-Lake5th Adam Eich ‘30th’12th Kyle Alms13th Marty Green ‘50th’ Mike Powell Joe Koeninger ‘30th’25th Carmella Young28th Paul Meyers30th Micah Anderson

October5th Eric Wilkins7th Ike Schoonover Brandon Tietz13th Ryan Messinger ‘30th’15th Ryan Alms17th Chuck Hansel22nd Brandon Beilfuss23rd David Pautsch26th Tom Aaker29th Sue Null31st Bob Stark

Total Calls for 2013 1804

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:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Summer is now in our rear view mirror and school is back in session. Football season has begun and the leaves are starting to fall. As our days of sunlight grow shorter, please be careful of our walkers and bike riders.

We again participated in the annual MDA Fill the Boot Campaign. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated. We

were able to raise over $ 4,000.00, which we have sent to the regional Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Our annual Fire Prevention Open House will be a little different this year. We will be having “A Night at The Firehouse “on Tuesday Oct. 8th. This year it will be at Station #2 at 825 Ralston Rd. and Station #3 on 13974 Willowbrook Rd. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I have been told by our Officers that both locations will be full of activities, opportunities to see equipment, tours of the stations and there will be plenty of hot dogs, chips and cookies. The theme this year is “Prevent Kitchen Fires”

The request for our services continues to grow. Our firefighters are doing a superb job of meeting those requests. We need to remember we have a group of dedicated individuals committed to be the very best while a majority have full time jobs elsewhere. The dedication goes far beyond just call response. There is department training as well as specialized training. We maintain our high commitment level of training and safety for what we do. The commitment of our individuals says that they believe that they can make a difference in the community when called upon. I stated when I became Chief, “That I am committed to excellence, integrity and caring”. I believe all the personnel of your fire department are as well.

I would be remiss if in closing I didn’t reflect on that tragic day of 9/11. This year marks the 12th anniversary that we lost 343 brothers and sisters in the fire service to a horrific act of terrorism. We must not forget those in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon as well.

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefire.com and friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

The outer walls on the south side are up.

Construction UpdateBy Chief Don Shoevlin

I am extremely pleased to report that the progress of our construction project is fast and furious. The construction manager on site has been attentive to details to see that all trades are performing quality work in a timely fashion.

Since my update last month, the interior wall framing has been completed in the renovation portion, a majority of the mechanical rough in has been completed, and the block work for new interior walls is completed. They have also begun erecting the new exterior wall on the east end as well as the exterior walls of the new addition areas on the north and south side. It is amazing to see this all beginning to take shape. The trades continue to work diligently on this project with attention to detail found in the architect’s plans.

We remain on schedule if not a little ahead for now. Response to calls from this station continues to go smoothly. The firefighters and dispatchers are doing a great job dealing with the disruption and displacement. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

View from SE corner.

View from NE corner.

The inside walls are framed.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Marty Green - 50th Joe Koeninger - 30th Ryan Messinger - 30th September 13 September 13 October 13th

Congratulations to Captain Ryan Alms and his wife Charlotte on the birth of their second child, Lucy Marie Alms. Lucy was born on August 6 and measured in at 8lbs, 2oz and 19.5” long. Mom and baby are doing great and big brother Mason Jay (age 3) calls her “chubby cheekers” and squeezes her cheeks.

Three more of Lucy’s family are also members on Harlem-Roscoe. Her Grandpa is Battalion Chief Jay Alms, her Uncle is Firefighter Kyle Alms, and her Aunt is Dispatcher Megan Alms.

Congrats again Ryan and Charlotte, she is adorable!

L-r, Big brother Mason, Dad Ryan, Mom Charlotte holding Lucy, Alisonn (Kyles girlfriend), Grandpa Jay, Aunt Megan holding daughter Lily, Grandma Deb and Uncle Kyle.

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

September 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Night at the FirehousePage 12 Attic FirePages 6 & 7

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Station Tours Fire Trucks on display Kids Firefighters Challenge Thermal Imager Demos Fire Gear demonstrations Smoke House @ Sta.#2 Training Tower Demonstration at Sta.#3 Safety tips table Refreshments – Hot dogs, Lemonade, cookies and coffee

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