Life Saved

The family of 3-year old Jax that was rescued from a possible drowning in a swimming pool on Saturday stopped in to thank Paramedics Steve Rosander and Lt. Justin Mayton and all the personnel that helped with the rescue! So proud of our team!

Cookie Donation

Girl Scout Daisy Troop # 2216 stopped into Station #1 during training night to donate some Girl Scout cookies to the firefighters. YUM!! Thank you Troop #2216!!

Wish Comes True By Chief ShoevlinPhotos by Carol Donovan

On Sun. Aug. 13, our Firefighters had the opportunity to be a part of making a wish come true for a child in our fire district. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, we participated in helping Chase and his family begin their wish journey. It was Chase’s wish to go to Disney. Well, the foundation got that part done, then reached out to us. We were more than happy in being a part of the beginning to his unbelievable journey. We arrived at their home and escorted Chase and his brother to the tollway in the fire truck with lights flashing. We can only hope and wish that his “WISH” will be most memorable for him and his family. Thank you for asking us to be a part of it.

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

September 2017 Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Commercial Fire Pages 6 & 7

Vehicle FiresPage 3

Yep, we watched the eclipse!

Fire Prevention Week

Open House• Sun.Oct.8th• 11am-1pm

All three fire stations will be open for this event. Visit one or all!

Fire Extinguisher Training By Battalion Chief Jay Alms, Photo by Everett Peterson

The Fire Protection Bureau has recently trained employees at Regal Cutting tools, Roscoe Public Works, North Park Public Water District and Culver’s in fire extinguisher use. The Fire Prevention Bureau is available to educate all businesses that request a class.

Left, On Sept. 5, the Fire Prevention Bureau along with the Stateline CERT Team was at Culver’s in Roscoe on Sept. 5 to educate the management staff and others in the proper use of a portable fire extinguisher.

The staff learned about the proper execution of a dry chemical extinguisher in the event of a fire in the restaurant. The staff was instructed about P.A.S.S. in regards to extinguisher use. Pull the

pin, Aim the extinguisher at the fire, Squeeze the handle and Sweep across the fire. The staff was successful in extinguishing the staged fires and agreed they would not hesitate to use a fire extinguisher if the incident presented itself.

Small Business Fire Extinguisher ChecksBy Battalion Chief Jay Alms

Small business owners in the HRFD Fire Districxt are welcome to bring your fire extinguishers to Station One at 10544 Main St in Roscoe from 8-10am on the 4th Wednesday of each month

We have licensed inspectors here to tag and certify the extinguishers to comply with the mandatory Life Safety Code required annually.

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

School is back in session, high school football has begun, and the leaves are beginning to fall. In fact another Fall Festival Weekend is here. Thank you for all the hard work by the Roscoe Lions. Thank

you to all that visited with the men and women of the fire department who do an outstanding job at our booth. The month of August they responded to 258 calls.

It was a somber close to the month for our personnel. We lost two retired members who played an integral part in the formation of our Fire Prevention Bureau and Dispatch Center to say the least. See pages 4&5.

Our annual Fire Prevention Open House will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8th. It will be held at all three stations from 11am – 1pm. The officers and firefighters are busy planning this event. I know that it will be full of activities for kids as well as adults. You will have the opportunity to see equipment, smoke house demonstrations, talk to the firefighters, and tour the stations. You are encouraged to attend all three stations if you would like. It will be an opportune time to see the upgrades and remodels done to Stations Two and Three.

Let us keep close in our minds and hearts all those in Texas who have suffered the devastating loss from Hurricane Harvey. As we try to bring closure to this event we are following watches for Hurricane Irma and the possible effects on the east coast.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t remember that unforgettable day that changed America, 9/11/11. A day that showed bravery, how we all can become one, and how we as Americans act. We watched a city, a state, and a country pull together as one in a time of crisis, just as we have seen this past week with Harvey. Americans come together to help each other. We are there in a time of crisis, a time of need, with an outpouring of support.

Your continuous and generous support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call me, this is your fire department. Don’t forget to keep up on the progress of your fire department by visiting our website www.harlemroscoefire.com, we can also be found on Facebook, so go ahead and friend us.

HRFD is partnering with Roscoe UMC and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rockton to fill and send a trailer full of supplies to Texas for Clean Up and Relief.

The trailer will be in front of Roscoe UMC on Monday, September 11, 2017, and will leave once it’s full. Here is a list of supplies accepted:

Cash for fuel for the tripShovels RakesTarps 5 Gallon Buckets Screen MaterialMosquito Repellent Bottled Water Soda Canned Fruit and Meat

**NO CLOTHING ACCEPTED**

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

The Firehouse Scene The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist. #1

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: You can now sign up on the home page of our website to receive the newsletter by email.

www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl: hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

Birthdays!

September 2017

1st Stefani Layman 40th5th Adam Eich12th Bart Munger Kyle Alms13th Marty Green Mike Powell Joe Koeninger Mike Prosser26th Austin Schwarzbach28th Paul Meyers 50th

October 2017

2nd Jason Street Gus Larson3rd Steve Rosander7th Brandon Tietz26th Tom Aaker

EMT HELP WANTED!

We are currently accepting applications for part-time EMT-B or EMT-P.

Are you a caring individual looking for an opportunity to grow in the public safety world? Are you an individual looking for challenges and working with a superb group of men and women? If so, then we are looking for you.

Applications may be filled out on-line at our website or picked up at Station #1 which is located at 10544 Main Street in Roscoe, Illinois 61073. Residency in the district is not required. Any questions should be directed to the Chief or Deputy Chief of Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department

Chaplain Paul Meyers 50thSeptember 28th

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

Bugle AlarmBy Lt. Josh Hoffland

Wildfire season is upon us, and this year is shaping up to be another inferno, especially out West. Unfortunately, rampant blazes are increasingly becoming the rule rather than the

exception this time of year. It’s a trend that comes as no surprise for many climate scientists, who have predicted that one of the effects of global warming will be increased heat waves and drought throughout the Western United States.

So it could be that the worst wildfires in U.S. history are the ones that have yet to happen. It’s a scary thought, especially considering the damage that wildfires have done in this country. Lets look back at some of the worst wild fires in US history.

The week of October 8-14 in 1871 is home to one of the most famous fires in history, the great Chicago fire. However this was only one major fire that took place during that time. There were 2 wild fires in the state of Michigan which destroyed 3 major cities. The worst fire of the time was the Great Peshtigo fire which took place in Wisconsin and left more than 1500 people dead, which is the most fire fatalities in US history.

Another occasionally called the “big burn” occurred in 1910 and burned more than 3 million acres in Idaho, Montana and Washington. In all the blaze was roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. There were 87 total fatalities from the fire of which 78 were firefighters. One of the worst urban blazes in modern history, the Oakland firestorm of 1991 began as a relatively small grass fire in the Berkeley Hills. But after being persistently fanned by the strong seasonal “Diablo winds,” that brush fire eventually grew to consume 1,520 acres, including more than 3,500 homes, apartments and condominiums. Such destruction — and in such a densely populated area — meant the disaster carried one of the heftiest price tags for wildfire damage in U.S. history: an estimated $1.5 billion.

The worst natural disaster in Minnesota history, the Cloquet Fire of 1918, claimed nearly 500 lives in a single day. The fire began after sparks from local railroad tracks ignited dry brush. When the flamed abated, as many as 38 communities had been razed to the ground, 250,000 acres had been scorched, 52,000 persons had been injured or displaced and the costs mounted to nearly $75 million.The summer of 1988 saw the largest wildfire breakout in the recorded history of Yellowstone National Park. By the time the fire subsided, more than 2 million acres had been scorched— roughly a third of the entire park. Miraculously, no lives were lost as a direct result of the flames, even though as many as 25,000 firefighters had been dispatched to battle the conflagration.

The fire was heavily covered by the media, in part because of the size of the blaze, but also due to Yellowstone’s prestige as one of the most famous national parks in the world. Though the

park has since enjoyed a robust recovery, the coverage sparked fierce debate about the U.S. Forest Service’s evolving policies concerning wildfire management at the time. Throughout most of the century, the service had issued aggressive measures against all wildfires, vowing to dispense of them quickly. But in the decades leading up to the 1988 fire, a new policy allowing for controlled burns had been tested. In the aftermath of the 1988 fire, stricter guidelines under which naturally occurring fires may be allowed to burn were enacted. The largest wildfire on record in the U.S. since 1997, Alaska’s Taylor Complex Fire of 2004 burned more than 1,300,000 acres. It was the largest conflagration in Alaska’s record breaking 2004 fire season, which ended up seeing roughly 6.5 million acres of forest burned — the highest total in U.S. history.

Each wildfire season in California seems to top the last, but the 2007 wildfires are especially notable for leading to the largest evacuation in California history. In total, the fires displaced nearly 1 million people and razed at least 1,500 homes in the San Diego area alone. The area covered by the various blazes was massive: more than 500,000 acres stretching from Santa Barbara County all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border.

As we get ready for leaf burning season please follow your local laws regarding burning. Also do not burn on windy days, do not burn near any structures, keep the size of your burn to a manageable size, and always have a water source near by to extinguish the fire before it becomes out of control.

DonationNorth Pointe Campus Director Gus Larson presented the department with two new Indian Water Packs in gratitude for helping them with their Wildlife Conservation efforts by burning their fields around their buildings. It’s also great training for our firefighters on field and grass fires.

L-r, Battalion Chief Tom Aaker, Lt. Justin Mayton, Chief Don Shoevlin, Gus Larson, and Firefighter Steve Rosander.

Car Fires X2Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to two car fires back to back on Aug. 14th. The fires are under investigation. No one was injured.

Lt. Justin Mayton uses the thermal imager after the fire was extinguished to check for any fire extension.

Firefighters Chris Witcik (on nozzle) and Jason Street finish extinguishing the second car fire on Sage Hen Tr.

Semi Trailer Wheels Catch FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighter Rob Lukowski extinguishes a fire in a semi’s tires on I-90 on Aug. 18.

Car FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to a car fire on Cedarbrook Rd. on Aug. 21. Firefighter quickly had it extinguished. Seems the driver had been having mechanical issues.

Firefighter Kyle Alms (on nozzle) and Capt. John Donovan extinguish the fire.

Truck FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighters responded to a call for a structure fire on Gary Dr. on Sept. 1. The fire was actually in the bed of a truck on a trailer next to house. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Firefighter Jordan Stark extinguishes the fire.

Ret. Capt. Bill SabinJuly 7, 1935 - August 28, 2017

Retired Fire Prevention Capt. Bill Sabin passed away on Aug. 28. Capt. Sabin joined HRFD on June 14, 1994 and retired on Aug. 25, 2011 serving for 17 years.

Bill joined as a firefighter, but quickly found his love of fire investigation and the Fire Prevention Bureau. Bill literally put his heart and soul into everything he did. He was very instrumental in developing and bringing our Fire Prevention Bureau to the level it is today. He also began the Knox Box Policy for our fire district. Bill loved so much to share fire safety and public education to all ages in our fire district.

Bill loved to teach fire prevention to the kids!

Bill was so hands on with the kids, even when it came to Stop, Drop, and Roll!

Bill started out driving fire trucks, (left) but quickly found his love in Fire Prevention Bureau. (right)

Bill also helped investigate fires.

HRFD Firefighters served as Honor Guards during Bill’s funeral and participated in the fire department walk-though led by Bill’s grandson Jeremy Crandall.

Bill’s 3-year-old great grandson, Isaiah, wanted to see the fire truck. So Chief Shoevlin personally took him out to see the ones we had parked outside.

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

Energy Saving Light bulbsBy Battalion Chief Tom Aaker

Light bulbs have changed dramatically over the last few years. Since the technology age started you see more and more things following the same suit. For me in High School the walkman cassette player and about 20 tapes was how I got back and forth between swim meets, used to carry 2 bags, one for clothes one for tapes. Now I imagine the majority of kids that age have over 100 songs on their phone (I didn’t even have a phone, they weren’t available at the time). Light bulbs along with many other things we use everyday are seeing more and more changes.

What’s the difference?Incandescent light bulbs cost much less than their energy saving partners. They last around 1000 hours (that’s what they tell you) and they are typically under a dollar a bulb. They are what we are used to buying and they look “normal”. Hopefully if this is the bulb for you, you have an exit strategy. In 2014 the US banned the importation and manufacturing of incandescent light bulbs. Don’t worry they won’t be throwing you in jail anytime soon they just don’t want them to be sold anymore; it’s a phase out strategy.

CFL (compact florescent lamps) are the next step in the light bulb industry. They came out first as the next best thing. They last around 10000 hours and cost a few dollars more. Over time the extra cost in bulb you should save in electrical bills. They are curly shaped which some people don’t like aesthetically. Some people also believe they emit a dangerous dose of Mercury if broken, this is a partial truth. The light bulb does contain a small amount of mercury, about 1/100 of what you would find in a thermometer. When and if the light bulb breaks only a small fraction of mercury is released from the break. The CDC says (https://www.epa.gov/cfl) “If you break one, open a window to air out the room for 10 minutes. Then, wearing disposable gloves, use stiff paper to scoop up the broken glass and powder, or use damp towels or sticky tape (don’t vacuum, since that can spread the powder or vapor). Dispose in a sealed plastic bag or container.” If that’s not scary enough they also emit UV rays. However if you don’t plan on using the bulb next to your skin if you are back 11 inches you will be just

fine. The study showed that the UV light at 11” was about the same as an incandescent. (http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/pdf/residential/personal/pdf/hc-cfl-executive-summary-2009-12-21-final-eng.pdf). LED’s (light emitting diodes) are the most recent technology advancement for lighting. Yes they not only help you to watch your favorite show at a lower cost but they now fill your room with light to see. LED bulbs can last up to 25 years, however they cost between $10 and $20 a piece. These bulbs will save you money over time but if you’re not into technology and your buying habit is to buy incandescent, now the time to change.

OptionsOptions have grown year over year since the new bulbs started. The new bulbs only had the harsh bright white light. Now they come in all shapes, sizes, and yes even colors. Manufacturers are required to label their boxes with the color temperatures of their bulbs so consumers know what they are buying. Newer bulbs also carry warranties. If you are willing to keep the receipts, the UPC information from the packaging, and label the bulbs with the month and the year if the bulbs go bad before their time you can contact the manufacturer and they will replace the bulbs free of charge. Warranties vary but most bulbs carry a warranty that are several years from the purchase date.

DisposalWhen you change any light bulb back in the day the options was to either carefully throw the bulb in the trash in hopes that it wouldn’t break or give it to your tween age son who will do everything in his power to make sure the bulb explodes and makes the loudest noise ever. Either way things have changed over the years we now have this new modern idea of thinking which some like to call “recycling”. Yes you can recycle light bulbs. However, if you can believe it there is nothing in place to recycle incandescent light bulbs, yet another reason not to use them anymore. Recycling CFL bulbs however is considered a law in some states. Home Depot and Lowes both offer CFL and LED recycling programs check out their websites to get information. You can also check with Rockford clean and beautiful to get local recycling information.

Fire safetyFinally what kind of article would this be if there were no safety tips on how to handle these light bulbs.

Incandescent lights are relatively safe to handle, they are glass but handle with care. Typically you can throw them out in your regular trash and they will be perfectly fine. If you must you can wrap the bulb in plastic or paper to protect you in case it breaks while handling the trash. Otherwise the bulb is pretty safe. Unfortunately recycling these bulbs is not an easy task. Check with local lighting companies as they may have some type of program but they are few and far between.

CFL’s have mercury and powdery residue, see cleaning instructions above. They are also very fragile so be careful when handling them. CFL’s have ballasts in the base of the light bulb so the base of the bulb gets hotter and they have had a risk of smoking and popping when they are close to the end of their life. When they first started coming out there have been instances where smoking and the ballast burned through the bulb surface. If this happens turn off your lights immediately, wait for the bulb to cool then remove the light and contact the manufacturer. Typically this only happens when the bulb is placed in a poorly ventilated socket for example recessed lighting. More recently this happens few and far between. LED’s have a low heat output so their risk of overheating is very low. LED’s are considered as safe as incandescent lighting so unless used improperly there is little to no risk of fire hazards.

The new technology in lighting is safe overall. Read the information on the packaging to ensure you are using the bulb properly. Ensure you properly dispose of used bulbs. If you are still concerned with the bulbs utilize the internet and some of the links below to educate yourself on the benefits. There are many sites available for information regarding this existing technology.

https://www.epa.gov/cflhttps://energy.gov/energysaver/led-lightinghttp://www.knib.org/

Guy “Snoopy” StirtsApril 29, 1922 - Aug. 29, 2017

Retired Dispatcher Guy Stirts, lovingly known to all as Snoopy, passed away on Aug. 29. Snoopy joined the department 11/13/1990 and retired 11/13/2015, serving 25 years.

Snoopy joined the department to help with the trucks, but soon found his passion behind the dispatch radio. His distinct voice would become well-known county-wide, as the voice of Harlem Roscoe Fire Remote #4.

He was dispatch well before dispatching was what it is today. In fact, as we transitioned to how we dispatch today he played an important role and was always there when it was needed.

In the early 90s, Snoopy would take the call from Remote #4 at his home and then run down to the fire station to dispatch and run the call.

In 1994 Station One was moved down the street and a Dispatch Room was built. Snoopy would be one of the dispatchers that would dispatch from the station during the day. Snoopy would still dispatch most nights at his home for a few more years.

\

Snoopy joined to help fix the fire trucks but then got into dispatching. He was always available though to take a truck wherever it needed to go, be it the fire scene or the repair shop.

Fire personnel served as Honor Guards during the funeral.

Former HRFD Firefighters served as pall bearers for the funeral.

Fire personnel hold their salute as family members leave the funeral service.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost, Carol Donovan, and Duty Officers

08/10/17 Hwy 251 & Hononegah Rd. 08/12/17 I-90 08/16/17 Hwy 251 & Forest Hills Rd.

08/21/17 N. Alpine Rd. & Gladys Dr. 08/26/17 Burr Oak Rd. 08/28/17 Willowbrook Rd.

08/20/17 I-90 09/01/17 West Lane & W. Frontage Rd. 09/05/17 Elevator Rd. & Mobil entrance

www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com

Semi Truck vs. SUVPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Carol Donovan

Firefighters responded to a truck vs SUV accident on I-90 eastbound on Aug. 19. The driver of the semi was uninjured. Firefighters extricated the driver of a Subaru Outback. Both east and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 were shut down to land the OSF Life Flight Helicopter. The driver of the Outback was then airlifted to the hospital. Two passing motorists assisted with an injured dog that had been riding in the Outback and taken to a vet where sadly, it did pass away.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Commercial Structure FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to a commercial fire on Hwy 251 on Aug. 15. A MABAS Box 12 was called for and would be upgraded to the 5th alarm before it was all over.

Chief Don Shoevlin says, “Thank you to all fire departments and medical teams (16 in all) that assisted us in our fire. Everyone worked diligently and were tasked to the limit. HRFD relies on our part-time staffing, volunteers, and our neighbor’s assistance on an incident of this size. It is a comforting feeling to know that we can depend on each other for professionalism, knowledge along with teamwork that we always receive. Please pass on our sincere gratitude to those members who responded. Because of their efforts and work, an excellent stop was achieved.

We did experience a burn victim who was working in the building and airlifted and, sadly, passed away at the hospital. I thank all the medical personnel who assisted with treatment.”

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Commercial Structure FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to a commercial fire on Hwy 251 on Aug. 15. A MABAS Box 12 was called for and would be upgraded to the 5th alarm before it was all over.

Chief Don Shoevlin says, “Thank you to all fire departments and medical teams (16 in all) that assisted us in our fire. Everyone worked diligently and were tasked to the limit. HRFD relies on our part-time staffing, volunteers, and our neighbor’s assistance on an incident of this size. It is a comforting feeling to know that we can depend on each other for professionalism, knowledge along with teamwork that we always receive. Please pass on our sincere gratitude to those members who responded. Because of their efforts and work, an excellent stop was achieved.

We did experience a burn victim who was working in the building and airlifted and, sadly, passed away at the hospital. I thank all the medical personnel who assisted with treatment.”

Guy “Snoopy” StirtsApril 29, 1922 - Aug. 29, 2017

Retired Dispatcher Guy Stirts, lovingly known to all as Snoopy, passed away on Aug. 29. Snoopy joined the department 11/13/1990 and retired 11/13/2015, serving 25 years.

Snoopy joined the department to help with the trucks, but soon found his passion behind the dispatch radio. His distinct voice would become well-known county-wide, as the voice of Harlem Roscoe Fire Remote #4.

He was dispatch well before dispatching was what it is today. In fact, as we transitioned to how we dispatch today he played an important role and was always there when it was needed.

In the early 90s, Snoopy would take the call from Remote #4 at his home and then run down to the fire station to dispatch and run the call.

In 1994 Station One was moved down the street and a Dispatch Room was built. Snoopy would be one of the dispatchers that would dispatch from the station during the day. Snoopy would still dispatch most nights at his home for a few more years.

\

Snoopy joined to help fix the fire trucks but then got into dispatching. He was always available though to take a truck wherever it needed to go, be it the fire scene or the repair shop.

Fire personnel served as Honor Guards during the funeral.

Former HRFD Firefighters served as pall bearers for the funeral.

Fire personnel hold their salute as family members leave the funeral service.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost, Carol Donovan, and Duty Officers

08/10/17 Hwy 251 & Hononegah Rd. 08/12/17 I-90 08/16/17 Hwy 251 & Forest Hills Rd.

08/21/17 N. Alpine Rd. & Gladys Dr. 08/26/17 Burr Oak Rd. 08/28/17 Willowbrook Rd.

08/20/17 I-90 09/01/17 West Lane & W. Frontage Rd. 09/05/17 Elevator Rd. & Mobil entrance

www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com

Semi Truck vs. SUVPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Carol Donovan

Firefighters responded to a truck vs SUV accident on I-90 eastbound on Aug. 19. The driver of the semi was uninjured. Firefighters extricated the driver of a Subaru Outback. Both east and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 were shut down to land the OSF Life Flight Helicopter. The driver of the Outback was then airlifted to the hospital. Two passing motorists assisted with an injured dog that had been riding in the Outback and taken to a vet where sadly, it did pass away.

Ret. Capt. Bill SabinJuly 7, 1935 - August 28, 2017

Retired Fire Prevention Capt. Bill Sabin passed away on Aug. 28. Capt. Sabin joined HRFD on June 14, 1994 and retired on Aug. 25, 2011 serving for 17 years.

Bill joined as a firefighter, but quickly found his love of fire investigation and the Fire Prevention Bureau. Bill literally put his heart and soul into everything he did. He was very instrumental in developing and bringing our Fire Prevention Bureau to the level it is today. He also began the Knox Box Policy for our fire district. Bill loved so much to share fire safety and public education to all ages in our fire district.

Bill loved to teach fire prevention to the kids!

Bill was so hands on with the kids, even when it came to Stop, Drop, and Roll!

Bill started out driving fire trucks, (left) but quickly found his love in Fire Prevention Bureau. (right)

Bill also helped investigate fires.

HRFD Firefighters served as Honor Guards during Bill’s funeral and participated in the fire department walk-though led by Bill’s grandson Jeremy Crandall.

Bill’s 3-year-old great grandson, Isaiah, wanted to see the fire truck. So Chief Shoevlin personally took him out to see the ones we had parked outside.

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

Energy Saving Light bulbsBy Battalion Chief Tom Aaker

Light bulbs have changed dramatically over the last few years. Since the technology age started you see more and more things following the same suit. For me in High School the walkman cassette player and about 20 tapes was how I got back and forth between swim meets, used to carry 2 bags, one for clothes one for tapes. Now I imagine the majority of kids that age have over 100 songs on their phone (I didn’t even have a phone, they weren’t available at the time). Light bulbs along with many other things we use everyday are seeing more and more changes.

What’s the difference?Incandescent light bulbs cost much less than their energy saving partners. They last around 1000 hours (that’s what they tell you) and they are typically under a dollar a bulb. They are what we are used to buying and they look “normal”. Hopefully if this is the bulb for you, you have an exit strategy. In 2014 the US banned the importation and manufacturing of incandescent light bulbs. Don’t worry they won’t be throwing you in jail anytime soon they just don’t want them to be sold anymore; it’s a phase out strategy.

CFL (compact florescent lamps) are the next step in the light bulb industry. They came out first as the next best thing. They last around 10000 hours and cost a few dollars more. Over time the extra cost in bulb you should save in electrical bills. They are curly shaped which some people don’t like aesthetically. Some people also believe they emit a dangerous dose of Mercury if broken, this is a partial truth. The light bulb does contain a small amount of mercury, about 1/100 of what you would find in a thermometer. When and if the light bulb breaks only a small fraction of mercury is released from the break. The CDC says (https://www.epa.gov/cfl) “If you break one, open a window to air out the room for 10 minutes. Then, wearing disposable gloves, use stiff paper to scoop up the broken glass and powder, or use damp towels or sticky tape (don’t vacuum, since that can spread the powder or vapor). Dispose in a sealed plastic bag or container.” If that’s not scary enough they also emit UV rays. However if you don’t plan on using the bulb next to your skin if you are back 11 inches you will be just

fine. The study showed that the UV light at 11” was about the same as an incandescent. (http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/pdf/residential/personal/pdf/hc-cfl-executive-summary-2009-12-21-final-eng.pdf). LED’s (light emitting diodes) are the most recent technology advancement for lighting. Yes they not only help you to watch your favorite show at a lower cost but they now fill your room with light to see. LED bulbs can last up to 25 years, however they cost between $10 and $20 a piece. These bulbs will save you money over time but if you’re not into technology and your buying habit is to buy incandescent, now the time to change.

OptionsOptions have grown year over year since the new bulbs started. The new bulbs only had the harsh bright white light. Now they come in all shapes, sizes, and yes even colors. Manufacturers are required to label their boxes with the color temperatures of their bulbs so consumers know what they are buying. Newer bulbs also carry warranties. If you are willing to keep the receipts, the UPC information from the packaging, and label the bulbs with the month and the year if the bulbs go bad before their time you can contact the manufacturer and they will replace the bulbs free of charge. Warranties vary but most bulbs carry a warranty that are several years from the purchase date.

DisposalWhen you change any light bulb back in the day the options was to either carefully throw the bulb in the trash in hopes that it wouldn’t break or give it to your tween age son who will do everything in his power to make sure the bulb explodes and makes the loudest noise ever. Either way things have changed over the years we now have this new modern idea of thinking which some like to call “recycling”. Yes you can recycle light bulbs. However, if you can believe it there is nothing in place to recycle incandescent light bulbs, yet another reason not to use them anymore. Recycling CFL bulbs however is considered a law in some states. Home Depot and Lowes both offer CFL and LED recycling programs check out their websites to get information. You can also check with Rockford clean and beautiful to get local recycling information.

Fire safetyFinally what kind of article would this be if there were no safety tips on how to handle these light bulbs.

Incandescent lights are relatively safe to handle, they are glass but handle with care. Typically you can throw them out in your regular trash and they will be perfectly fine. If you must you can wrap the bulb in plastic or paper to protect you in case it breaks while handling the trash. Otherwise the bulb is pretty safe. Unfortunately recycling these bulbs is not an easy task. Check with local lighting companies as they may have some type of program but they are few and far between.

CFL’s have mercury and powdery residue, see cleaning instructions above. They are also very fragile so be careful when handling them. CFL’s have ballasts in the base of the light bulb so the base of the bulb gets hotter and they have had a risk of smoking and popping when they are close to the end of their life. When they first started coming out there have been instances where smoking and the ballast burned through the bulb surface. If this happens turn off your lights immediately, wait for the bulb to cool then remove the light and contact the manufacturer. Typically this only happens when the bulb is placed in a poorly ventilated socket for example recessed lighting. More recently this happens few and far between. LED’s have a low heat output so their risk of overheating is very low. LED’s are considered as safe as incandescent lighting so unless used improperly there is little to no risk of fire hazards.

The new technology in lighting is safe overall. Read the information on the packaging to ensure you are using the bulb properly. Ensure you properly dispose of used bulbs. If you are still concerned with the bulbs utilize the internet and some of the links below to educate yourself on the benefits. There are many sites available for information regarding this existing technology.

https://www.epa.gov/cflhttps://energy.gov/energysaver/led-lightinghttp://www.knib.org/

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Bugle AlarmBy Lt. Josh Hoffland

Wildfire season is upon us, and this year is shaping up to be another inferno, especially out West. Unfortunately, rampant blazes are increasingly becoming the rule rather than the

exception this time of year. It’s a trend that comes as no surprise for many climate scientists, who have predicted that one of the effects of global warming will be increased heat waves and drought throughout the Western United States.

So it could be that the worst wildfires in U.S. history are the ones that have yet to happen. It’s a scary thought, especially considering the damage that wildfires have done in this country. Lets look back at some of the worst wild fires in US history.

The week of October 8-14 in 1871 is home to one of the most famous fires in history, the great Chicago fire. However this was only one major fire that took place during that time. There were 2 wild fires in the state of Michigan which destroyed 3 major cities. The worst fire of the time was the Great Peshtigo fire which took place in Wisconsin and left more than 1500 people dead, which is the most fire fatalities in US history.

Another occasionally called the “big burn” occurred in 1910 and burned more than 3 million acres in Idaho, Montana and Washington. In all the blaze was roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. There were 87 total fatalities from the fire of which 78 were firefighters. One of the worst urban blazes in modern history, the Oakland firestorm of 1991 began as a relatively small grass fire in the Berkeley Hills. But after being persistently fanned by the strong seasonal “Diablo winds,” that brush fire eventually grew to consume 1,520 acres, including more than 3,500 homes, apartments and condominiums. Such destruction — and in such a densely populated area — meant the disaster carried one of the heftiest price tags for wildfire damage in U.S. history: an estimated $1.5 billion.

The worst natural disaster in Minnesota history, the Cloquet Fire of 1918, claimed nearly 500 lives in a single day. The fire began after sparks from local railroad tracks ignited dry brush. When the flamed abated, as many as 38 communities had been razed to the ground, 250,000 acres had been scorched, 52,000 persons had been injured or displaced and the costs mounted to nearly $75 million.The summer of 1988 saw the largest wildfire breakout in the recorded history of Yellowstone National Park. By the time the fire subsided, more than 2 million acres had been scorched— roughly a third of the entire park. Miraculously, no lives were lost as a direct result of the flames, even though as many as 25,000 firefighters had been dispatched to battle the conflagration.

The fire was heavily covered by the media, in part because of the size of the blaze, but also due to Yellowstone’s prestige as one of the most famous national parks in the world. Though the

park has since enjoyed a robust recovery, the coverage sparked fierce debate about the U.S. Forest Service’s evolving policies concerning wildfire management at the time. Throughout most of the century, the service had issued aggressive measures against all wildfires, vowing to dispense of them quickly. But in the decades leading up to the 1988 fire, a new policy allowing for controlled burns had been tested. In the aftermath of the 1988 fire, stricter guidelines under which naturally occurring fires may be allowed to burn were enacted. The largest wildfire on record in the U.S. since 1997, Alaska’s Taylor Complex Fire of 2004 burned more than 1,300,000 acres. It was the largest conflagration in Alaska’s record breaking 2004 fire season, which ended up seeing roughly 6.5 million acres of forest burned — the highest total in U.S. history.

Each wildfire season in California seems to top the last, but the 2007 wildfires are especially notable for leading to the largest evacuation in California history. In total, the fires displaced nearly 1 million people and razed at least 1,500 homes in the San Diego area alone. The area covered by the various blazes was massive: more than 500,000 acres stretching from Santa Barbara County all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border.

As we get ready for leaf burning season please follow your local laws regarding burning. Also do not burn on windy days, do not burn near any structures, keep the size of your burn to a manageable size, and always have a water source near by to extinguish the fire before it becomes out of control.

DonationNorth Pointe Campus Director Gus Larson presented the department with two new Indian Water Packs in gratitude for helping them with their Wildlife Conservation efforts by burning their fields around their buildings. It’s also great training for our firefighters on field and grass fires.

L-r, Battalion Chief Tom Aaker, Lt. Justin Mayton, Chief Don Shoevlin, Gus Larson, and Firefighter Steve Rosander.

Car Fires X2Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to two car fires back to back on Aug. 14th. The fires are under investigation. No one was injured.

Lt. Justin Mayton uses the thermal imager after the fire was extinguished to check for any fire extension.

Firefighters Chris Witcik (on nozzle) and Jason Street finish extinguishing the second car fire on Sage Hen Tr.

Semi Trailer Wheels Catch FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighter Rob Lukowski extinguishes a fire in a semi’s tires on I-90 on Aug. 18.

Car FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to a car fire on Cedarbrook Rd. on Aug. 21. Firefighter quickly had it extinguished. Seems the driver had been having mechanical issues.

Firefighter Kyle Alms (on nozzle) and Capt. John Donovan extinguish the fire.

Truck FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighters responded to a call for a structure fire on Gary Dr. on Sept. 1. The fire was actually in the bed of a truck on a trailer next to house. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Firefighter Jordan Stark extinguishes the fire.

Fire Extinguisher Training By Battalion Chief Jay Alms, Photo by Everett Peterson

The Fire Protection Bureau has recently trained employees at Regal Cutting tools, Roscoe Public Works, North Park Public Water District and Culver’s in fire extinguisher use. The Fire Prevention Bureau is available to educate all businesses that request a class.

Left, On Sept. 5, the Fire Prevention Bureau along with the Stateline CERT Team was at Culver’s in Roscoe on Sept. 5 to educate the management staff and others in the proper use of a portable fire extinguisher.

The staff learned about the proper execution of a dry chemical extinguisher in the event of a fire in the restaurant. The staff was instructed about P.A.S.S. in regards to extinguisher use. Pull the

pin, Aim the extinguisher at the fire, Squeeze the handle and Sweep across the fire. The staff was successful in extinguishing the staged fires and agreed they would not hesitate to use a fire extinguisher if the incident presented itself.

Small Business Fire Extinguisher ChecksBy Battalion Chief Jay Alms

Small business owners in the HRFD Fire Districxt are welcome to bring your fire extinguishers to Station One at 10544 Main St in Roscoe from 8-10am on the 4th Wednesday of each month

We have licensed inspectors here to tag and certify the extinguishers to comply with the mandatory Life Safety Code required annually.

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

School is back in session, high school football has begun, and the leaves are beginning to fall. In fact another Fall Festival Weekend is here. Thank you for all the hard work by the Roscoe Lions. Thank

you to all that visited with the men and women of the fire department who do an outstanding job at our booth. The month of August they responded to 258 calls.

It was a somber close to the month for our personnel. We lost two retired members who played an integral part in the formation of our Fire Prevention Bureau and Dispatch Center to say the least. See pages 4&5.

Our annual Fire Prevention Open House will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8th. It will be held at all three stations from 11am – 1pm. The officers and firefighters are busy planning this event. I know that it will be full of activities for kids as well as adults. You will have the opportunity to see equipment, smoke house demonstrations, talk to the firefighters, and tour the stations. You are encouraged to attend all three stations if you would like. It will be an opportune time to see the upgrades and remodels done to Stations Two and Three.

Let us keep close in our minds and hearts all those in Texas who have suffered the devastating loss from Hurricane Harvey. As we try to bring closure to this event we are following watches for Hurricane Irma and the possible effects on the east coast.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t remember that unforgettable day that changed America, 9/11/11. A day that showed bravery, how we all can become one, and how we as Americans act. We watched a city, a state, and a country pull together as one in a time of crisis, just as we have seen this past week with Harvey. Americans come together to help each other. We are there in a time of crisis, a time of need, with an outpouring of support.

Your continuous and generous support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call me, this is your fire department. Don’t forget to keep up on the progress of your fire department by visiting our website www.harlemroscoefire.com, we can also be found on Facebook, so go ahead and friend us.

HRFD is partnering with Roscoe UMC and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rockton to fill and send a trailer full of supplies to Texas for Clean Up and Relief.

The trailer will be in front of Roscoe UMC on Monday, September 11, 2017, and will leave once it’s full. Here is a list of supplies accepted:

Cash for fuel for the tripShovels RakesTarps 5 Gallon Buckets Screen MaterialMosquito Repellent Bottled Water Soda Canned Fruit and Meat

**NO CLOTHING ACCEPTED**

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

The Firehouse Scene The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist. #1

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: You can now sign up on the home page of our website to receive the newsletter by email.

www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl: hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

Birthdays!

September 2017

1st Stefani Layman 40th5th Adam Eich12th Bart Munger Kyle Alms13th Marty Green Mike Powell Joe Koeninger Michael Prosser26th Austin Schwarzbach28th Paul Meyers 50th

October 2017

2nd Jason Street Gus Larson3rd Steve Rosander7th Brandon Tietz26th Tom Aaker

EMT HELP WANTED!

We are currently accepting applications for part-time EMT-B or EMT-P.

Are you a caring individual looking for an opportunity to grow in the public safety world? Are you an individual looking for challenges and working with a superb group of men and women? If so, then we are looking for you.

Applications may be filled out on-line at our website or picked up at Station #1 which is located at 10544 Main Street in Roscoe, Illinois 61073. Residency in the district is not required. Any questions should be directed to the Chief or Deputy Chief of Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department

Chaplain Paul Meyers 50thSeptember 28th

Life Saved

The family of 3-year old Jax that was rescued from a possible drowning in a swimming pool on Saturday stopped in to thank Paramedics Steve Rosander and Lt. Justin Mayton and all the personnel that helped with the rescue! So proud of our team!

Cookie Donation

Girl Scout Daisy Troop # 2216 stopped into Station #1 during training night to donate some Girl Scout cookies to the firefighters. YUM!! Thank you Troop #2216!!

Wish Comes True By Chief ShoevlinPhotos by Carol Donovan

On Sun. Aug. 13, our Firefighters had the opportunity to be a part of making a wish come true for a child in our fire district. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, we participated in helping Chase and his family begin their wish journey. It was Chase’s wish to go to Disney. Well, the foundation got that part done, then reached out to us. We were more than happy in being a part of the beginning to his unbelievable journey. We arrived at their home and escorted Chase and his brother to the tollway in the fire truck with lights flashing. We can only hope and wish that his “WISH” will be most memorable for him and his family. Thank you for asking us to be a part of it.

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

September 2017 Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Commercial Fire Pages 6 & 7

Vehicle FiresPage 3

Yep, we watched the eclipse!

Fire Prevention Week

Open House• Sun.Oct.8th• 11am-1pm

All three fire stations will be open for this event. Visit one or all!