THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station GossipJerry Lund is back dispatching afer a short hiatus for a stint in the in the hospital. It seems Jerry didn’t quite make a curve while riding his motorcycle in Wisconsin. He was pretty banged up, but he says he is healing well. Jerry, glad to have you back, and that you’re mending well.No, Snoopy is not glued to the dispatch chair. We have just seen a lot of him in it. After losing Jim, and then Jerry’s accident, he has covered a lot of shifts. Hey, Randy, been hanging around any fire trucks lately?Uhm. . . Koeninger, rumor has it your new driving record is already mud?

Trick-or-Treat - Photo by Sheryl DrostOn Halloween, several firefighters took Sparky, aka Mummy, to the Stepping Stones Daycare’s Halloween Trick-or-Treating at the school.

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Haunted Hayride SnapshotsPhotos by Debbie Rykowski

PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12

Vol. 13 No. 11 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin November 2008

www.harlemroscoefire.com

Training BurnIn a blaze of glory, the old two-story house on Hononegah Road saw its final day on October 28 as Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters trained one final time with a live burn. Over the last year, the home had been used for many fire and rescue trainings, and recently a collapse rescue drill. . . . See more burn photos on pages 6&7

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Busy Year!By Deputy Chief Kirk Wilson

With the year winding down, so is outside department training. We have truly had a busy year not only with training but other functions as well. Many of you have put in extensive hours with classes to continue your education and certifications. Some of you will soon receive your Firefighter II certifications along with Haz-Mat Awareness. Some of you completed Technical Rescue Awareness in your spare time. NIMS classes were completed by many individuals as well. Some of you went to Geneva, Illinois to complete fire officer classes. You will soon be seeing new pump operators driving apparatus. For the first time, Harlem-Roscoe has conducted a Firefighter III class. We had 25 students in attendance. With all that said, when do we have time for ourselves?

I, along with the other chief officers would like to thank all of you who have taken time from your busy lives and strived to continue with your training and certifications. To those of you who have instructed a class during training, my hat is off to you as well. I would also like to mention the Training Division and the hard work and dedication they have put forth. Keep up the good work!

As a department, we will continue to push forward to improve ourselves as individuals and as a team. I encourage all of you to continue to attend outside classes as well as weekly training sessions at the department. Our structure fires have been down over the last two years, but we should not forget the basics of our jobs and responsibilities as firefighters and EMS Personnel. All of us must continue to push for excellence. Continue being a “team player” and help make our organization shine. Remember, training is the key to a successful organization. Stay Safe and Train Hard!

Basic Aerial Operations Class SnapshotsPhotos by Jim Johnson

Technical Rescue Drill Story by Lt. Ramona Baldoni-LakePhotos by Debbie Rykowski

Saturday, October 25th proved to be an excellent day to train for area fire departments. Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department obtained a house to use for a structural collapse drill where department technical rescue teams and firefighters from Harlem-Roscoe Fire, Rockford Fire, South Beloit Fire, Rockton Fire, Belvidere Fire, Cherry Valley Fire, Northwest Fire, Boone County Fire 3, Freeport Fire, City of Beloit Fire and Turtle Fire from Wisconsin all participated in a structural collapse drill.

With the help of the Village of Roscoe, Rockford Blacktop, North Wind Cement, and Kitzman Lumber, a 2-story Roscoe farmhouse was collapsed with 12 victims trapped at various places inside the house. The drill provided invaluable training for individual departments to practice their skills in structural collapse and gave opportunity for all departments to work together as one large, well-organized unit sharing responsibility for search and rescue.

Using various types of shoring equipment and techniques, rescuers entered and searched the collapsed structure, locating the 12 victims and successfully rescuing each of them. It was a great opportunity for knowledge and training to be shared among the participating departments that will prove to be beneficial in the event of a future live collapse in our area.

Lt. Baldoni-Lake, Tom Lake and Randy Lovelace are among the rescuers for the drill.

Left, Mark Schafman shores up an entryway as right, Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell has commond of the drill.

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

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

I have to start with a BIG thank you to all of the personnel on the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department. The last six weeks have been overwhelming with all the demands upon them. They have been very busy with call responses, public relations, and trainings not only on Tuesdays, but several weekends as well. Thank you for all the participation.

I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Fire Chiefs Annual Conference last month and came away with a lot of information as well as knowledge. I had the privilege to network with many fire chiefs from around the state, be present for retired Chief Presley to receive his Emeritus Award, and attend a vendor show to see the new equipment and apparatus for the upcoming year.While at the conference, I attended classes on Developing Personal and Professional Leadership, Have we Set Traps for Firefighters, Fire Ground Strategies, and Leadership for Command Officers. It was a very informative conference and the sharing of ideas and information amongst chiefs is priceless. We seem to all have similar issues no matter what size or geographical area we come from. I look forward to being able to attend next year.

We have the Senior Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner on Thursday, November 20 and could use some help from our firefighters. We assist the Roscoe Lion’s Club in this great event. December will bring our food drive for the Needy Family Christmas, and don’t forget the firefighter’s children breakfast with Santa on December 6th.

We are taking application for volunteer firefighters. We will have an orientation meeting in December with class starting in January. Anyone interested stop by station One on Main Street to fill out an application.

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. As we enter the holiday season let us all take time to appreciate the importance of family and friends. I wish everyone in our communities, our firefighters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.

Remember to check out our website www.harlemroscefire.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals, and the calls we might have been on. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

L-r, Deputy Chiefs Kirk Wilson and John Presley, Chief Don Shoevlin and Captain Jay Alms all attended the recent Chiefs Conference in Peoria.

Retired Chief Oscar Presley Receives High Honor!

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley was presented with the Fire Chief Emeritus Award on October 21 at the Annual Illinois Fire Chief’s Conference in Peoria.

This award confers recognition for many years of outstanding service and is considered an honor bestowed on persons who have made significant contributions to the fire service. Retired Chief Presley’s name was submitted for the award by Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin and Deputy Chief John Presley. Congratulations, Chief Presley!

Retired Chiefs Visit Station

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chiefs Jack Brown and Oscar Presley stopped by the station the other day and we got them to pose for a picture with current Fire Chief Don Shoevlin.

The two retired Chiefs also visied with old friends Dispatcher Guy Stirts and Deputy Chief Ike Schoonover while at the station.

Birthdays

November1st Jerry McCormick Don Shoevlin3rd Joe Quast8th Harry Wagner11th Kelly Green 40th16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr30th Mike Baldwin

December11th Joe Doyle17th Jason Schmeling19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman 40th

December Breakfast CrewRon Klaman, John Presley,

Christi Wilson, Kirk Wilson, Brandon Tietz

Total Calls Through 10/312028

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - 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.com

Email submissions to: Firefoto4@aol.com

EMS CornerBy Captain John Bergeron

I along with all the department officers would like to say thanks to all who assisted in the open house this past month. The weather was wonderful and the turnout from the public

again was excellent. All the new ideas that were brought up and done this past month at the open house were a great success. Thanks to all who went the extra mile to ensure that the open house was a learning experience and fun for the kids and the adults as well. Again, Thank You.

Happy Birthday

Kelli Green 40th November 11

Harlem High School Has a Second FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters were called to Harlem High School for a small fire in the gymnasium around 5am on October 14. Luckily, the fire had extinguished itself before they arrived. Chief Don Shoevlin called in the hazmat teams though after firefighters found unknown liquids on the floors.

The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), the MABAS DECON truck, and the crew from Rockford Fire’s Hazmat Team were dispatched to the scene and collected and tested the liquids. With what they found, a special hazardous cleanup company was needed, and called in. The State Fire Marshal’s Officer then investigated the fire scene.

School had also been cancelled for the day. In a news conference later in the day, school officials and local police announced that a juvenile was in now in custody and charged with this fire and the one in the library on September 23.

Lt. Baldoni-Lake and firefighter Randy Lovelace go over items on the map of the building at the command post with Chief Shoevlin.

A combined crew of agencies head into the building to collect samples.

Officers from SERT, Rockford Fire, IL State Fire Marshal, Harlem-Roscoe Fire, and the Winnebago County Sheriff worked closely together to come to a safe conclusion of the incident.

Truck Fire on I-90Story & Photos by Sheryl Drost

A truck that is used to respond to people in need on the tollway, such as flat tires, was in need of help itself on October 16 when fire started in the bed of the truck. As tires burned, dark black smoke could be seen for miles. Firefighters fought heavy construction traffic just to get to the fire, but luckily it seems the fire had not reached the cab of the truck when they arrived. Damage was contained to the bed of the truck.

Lawnmower Catches FireStory & Photo by Sheryl Drost

A resident on Love Rd. already had the fire out on her lawnmower using a garden hose when firefighters arrived on November 3. She said she was mowing up leaves when smoke started pouring out from under the mower and quickly caught the engine area on fire. False Alarms Photo by Sheryl Drost

False alarms like for the one above on Elevator Road were on the increase this month. Working on alarms, construction, or accidental pulled alarms were just a few of the causes.

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

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8

Congratulations to Firefighter Clint Evans and his new wife Erin. They were married on October 18, 2008.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9

CPSC Safety Alert on ChimneysThe Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a special safety alert concerning chimneys used with woodburning stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. The Commission urgently warns consumers to be aware of the potential fire hazards associated with these chimneys.

Now that the nation has entered the heating season, the Commission strongly urges you, if you have a stove or fireplace, to check the chimney for any damage that may have occurred in the past heating season. If it is difficult to examine the chimney, a local chimney repairman, chimney “sweep,” or dealer can help. Have any damage repaired NOW.

Most fires involving either masonry or prefabricated metal chimneys occur because of improper installation, use or maintenance. The Commission staff has identified the following common causes of fires:

Improper chimney installation too close to wood framing.Installation of thermal insulation too close to the chimney.Improperly passing the stovepipe or chimney through a ceiling or wall, causing ignition of wood framing.Structural damage to the chimney caused by the ignition of creosote (a black tar-like substance that builds up inside the chimney in normal use).Structural damage to metal prefabricated chimneys that results in wood framing being exposed to excessive temperatures or leakage of potentially toxic gases to the interior of the home can take the following forms:Corrosion or rusting of the inner liners of metal chimneys.Buckling, separation of the seam, or collapsing of the inner liner of metal chimneys. (This can result from too hot a fire, especially in high-efficiency stoves and in fireplace inserts, or from a creosote fire.)

Structural damage also occurs in masonry chimneys, often associated with deterioration or improper installation of the chimney. The tile inner liner and the surrounding brick or block structure may crack and separate, perhaps as a result of the ignition of creosote that has built up in the chimney. Many old chimneys do not have a tile liner. If your chimney does not have a liner, the addition of a properly installed liner is advisable. Also, a clay liner should be sealed with refractory cement.

Even when the heating appliance is properly installed, people with either metal or masonry chimney systems should frequently check the chimney for creosote deposits, soot build-up, or physical damage. This involves only a simple visual examination, but it should be done as often as twice a month during heavy use. If you see heavy creosote buildup, suspect a problem, or have had a chimney fire, a qualified chimney repairman or chimney “sweep” should perform a complete safety inspection. They can arrange for any necessary repairs or creosote removal, which must be done before the heating appliance is used again.

There are products now available which, according to recent tests conducted by independent laboratories, show promise for reducing the production of creosote and harmful pollutant emissions. Advance wood stove designs appear to provide more complete combustion of the fuel. Catalytic combustors appear to achieve

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similar results, and are available with new stoves or as separate components which can be installed between the flue gas exit and the chimney connector of existing stoves.The Commission advises owners of all chimneys to:

Be sure that the chimney and stovepipe were installed correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and local codes. If there is any doubt, a building inspector or fire official can determine whether the system is properly installed.Minimize creosote formation by using proper stove size and avoiding using low damper settings for extended periods of time.Have the chimney checked and cleaned routinely by a chimney “sweep” at least once a year. Inspect it frequently, as often as twice a month if necessary, and clean when a creosote buildup is noted.Always operate your appliance within the manufacturer’s recommended temperature limits. Too low a temperature increases creosote buildup, and too high a temperature may eventually cause damage to the chimney and result in a fire.Frequently look for signs of structural failure.

Fireplace Safety Tips

Before starting a fire in your wood stove or fireplace, be sure the draft is open wide. This allows proper ventilation for your fire. Your fireplaces should never be used for burning garbage, Christmas trees, piles of paper, or building scraps. Install a spark shield/arrestor or wire basket on top of your chimney. The chimney should rise at least two feet higher than the roof peak or any tall, nearby objects. (Add another foot if your roof is flat or nearly flat). Check your flue regularly for any obstructions such as squirrel or bird nests, debris, etc. Don’t pile on wood and smother the fire because that causes creosote to build up in your stove and chimney. Remember, high flames burning hot will burn cleanly! Wood stoves should be at least 36” from unprotected combustible materials. Keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations, and flammable materials. Never leave a fire in your fireplace unattended. Make sure the fire is extinguished before going to bed. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire. It could explode or flare up. Pressure treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick. Learn about seasoned woods and which type of woods are best to burn. Only hardwoods should be used as fuel since softwoods have a high content of creosote and resin. Remember, hardwood trees have leaves and softwood trees have needles

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Firefighters Save Home from Fire!Story & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Early morning on October 24, a resident on Willowbrook Road saw smoke coming out of the heating vent in the bathroom. She immediately awakened the rest of the family and they were all outside when firefighters arrived. Using an exterior stairwell, firefighters entered the smoke-filled basement and quickly found and extinquished the fire. A positive pressure fan was used to rid the basement of smoke. The cause is believed to be flammable combustibles too close to the water heater.

Firefighter Christi Wilson, and in the stair well, Reety Radke and Paul Stanphill, pull the hose from the basement after the fire was extinguished. Deputy Chief Kirk Wilson had sector command.

Captain Mike Drost reports the cause of the fire to be flammable combustibles too close to the water heater.

Firefighters regroup at the attack truck, Engine 701, after a sucessful save!

Grain Facility FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

All three stations were dispatched when a fire was reported at the Demeters Grain facility on Prairie Hill Road on November 3. The fire was located in a room under one of the grain silos used to house the main electrical panels. The electric company responded quickly to the scene and disconnected the power to the silos. Firefighters were then able to extinguish the fire in the panels with dry chem fire extinguishers.

The fire was found in an electrical room under one of the grain silos.

Lt. Aaker waits to be washed down as Clint Evans sprays grain dust off Paul Stanphill after they had extinguished the fire in the silo.

The fire was found at the electrical panels.

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

Tis the Season - Chimney FiresStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

1.) The first chimney fire of the month rousted firefighters out of their beds around 2am for a possible house fire on Grove Street in Roscoe on October 17. The residents were waiting outside when trucks arrived. Firefighters found the fire where the fireplace chimney flue entered the attic, and quickly had it extinguished. They then overhauled the length of the pipe, breaking into walls, to make sure there was no more fire extension. H-R Fire Investigator Captain Drost reports the cause of this fire was that combustible materials were too close to the fireplace chimney flue pipe where the pipe enters the attic.

Firefighter Ron Swain heels the ladder as Shannon Burbach joins Patrick Condon on the roof to check for fire and to ventilate if needed.

Firefighters Chris Farr and Randy Lovelace break intot the walls next to the chimney looking for fire extension.

Combustible materials too close to the fireplace chimney flue pipe where the pipe enters the attic was reported the cause of the fire.

2.) Firefighters responded to a another report of a chimney fire on Briarwood on October 23. This fire was contained to inside the chimey and burned itself out.

Firefighters checked for fire at the top of the chimney.

Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell reports to Chief Shoevlin that the fire is under control.

3.) Firefighters were being released from the Briarwood fire when they were again dispatched for a chimney fire. This time it would be on Sheringham. The fire also was contained to the inside of the chimeney and had burned itself out when firefighters arrived.

The home was laddered and the chimney checked out from the roof as well.

10/08/08 Harnish Road 10/10/08 Hwy 173

10/13/08 Hwy 251 & Bridge St. 10/14/08 Hwy 251 10/15/08 I-90 just north of Rockton Road

10/19/08 Hwy 173 & N. Alpine Road 10/26/08 Belvidere Road

Accidents Photos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Sheryl Drost

11/02/08 Rockton Road on-ramp to Hwy 251 11/03/08 Ralston Road and Debbie Lane

10/20/08 Prairie Hill Road - Man trapped under concrete form

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

Live Burns - Photos by Sheryl Drost

A 2-story house on Hononegah, then a house on North Second were burned in live training drills this month. The Hononegah house was unsafe after the last collapse training, so it was burned on October 28. Then on November 2, after many fire suppression evolution trainings, the home on North Second was burned.

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

Live Burns - Photos by Sheryl Drost

A 2-story house on Hononegah, then a house on North Second were burned in live training drills this month. The Hononegah house was unsafe after the last collapse training, so it was burned on October 28. Then on November 2, after many fire suppression evolution trainings, the home on North Second was burned.

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

Tis the Season - Chimney FiresStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

1.) The first chimney fire of the month rousted firefighters out of their beds around 2am for a possible house fire on Grove Street in Roscoe on October 17. The residents were waiting outside when trucks arrived. Firefighters found the fire where the fireplace chimney flue entered the attic, and quickly had it extinguished. They then overhauled the length of the pipe, breaking into walls, to make sure there was no more fire extension. H-R Fire Investigator Captain Drost reports the cause of this fire was that combustible materials were too close to the fireplace chimney flue pipe where the pipe enters the attic.

Firefighter Ron Swain heels the ladder as Shannon Burbach joins Patrick Condon on the roof to check for fire and to ventilate if needed.

Firefighters Chris Farr and Randy Lovelace break intot the walls next to the chimney looking for fire extension.

Combustible materials too close to the fireplace chimney flue pipe where the pipe enters the attic was reported the cause of the fire.

2.) Firefighters responded to a another report of a chimney fire on Briarwood on October 23. This fire was contained to inside the chimey and burned itself out.

Firefighters checked for fire at the top of the chimney.

Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell reports to Chief Shoevlin that the fire is under control.

3.) Firefighters were being released from the Briarwood fire when they were again dispatched for a chimney fire. This time it would be on Sheringham. The fire also was contained to the inside of the chimeney and had burned itself out when firefighters arrived.

The home was laddered and the chimney checked out from the roof as well.

10/08/08 Harnish Road 10/10/08 Hwy 173

10/13/08 Hwy 251 & Bridge St. 10/14/08 Hwy 251 10/15/08 I-90 just north of Rockton Road

10/19/08 Hwy 173 & N. Alpine Road 10/26/08 Belvidere Road

Accidents Photos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Sheryl Drost

11/02/08 Rockton Road on-ramp to Hwy 251 11/03/08 Ralston Road and Debbie Lane

10/20/08 Prairie Hill Road - Man trapped under concrete form

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9

CPSC Safety Alert on ChimneysThe Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a special safety alert concerning chimneys used with woodburning stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. The Commission urgently warns consumers to be aware of the potential fire hazards associated with these chimneys.

Now that the nation has entered the heating season, the Commission strongly urges you, if you have a stove or fireplace, to check the chimney for any damage that may have occurred in the past heating season. If it is difficult to examine the chimney, a local chimney repairman, chimney “sweep,” or dealer can help. Have any damage repaired NOW.

Most fires involving either masonry or prefabricated metal chimneys occur because of improper installation, use or maintenance. The Commission staff has identified the following common causes of fires:

Improper chimney installation too close to wood framing.Installation of thermal insulation too close to the chimney.Improperly passing the stovepipe or chimney through a ceiling or wall, causing ignition of wood framing.Structural damage to the chimney caused by the ignition of creosote (a black tar-like substance that builds up inside the chimney in normal use).Structural damage to metal prefabricated chimneys that results in wood framing being exposed to excessive temperatures or leakage of potentially toxic gases to the interior of the home can take the following forms:Corrosion or rusting of the inner liners of metal chimneys.Buckling, separation of the seam, or collapsing of the inner liner of metal chimneys. (This can result from too hot a fire, especially in high-efficiency stoves and in fireplace inserts, or from a creosote fire.)

Structural damage also occurs in masonry chimneys, often associated with deterioration or improper installation of the chimney. The tile inner liner and the surrounding brick or block structure may crack and separate, perhaps as a result of the ignition of creosote that has built up in the chimney. Many old chimneys do not have a tile liner. If your chimney does not have a liner, the addition of a properly installed liner is advisable. Also, a clay liner should be sealed with refractory cement.

Even when the heating appliance is properly installed, people with either metal or masonry chimney systems should frequently check the chimney for creosote deposits, soot build-up, or physical damage. This involves only a simple visual examination, but it should be done as often as twice a month during heavy use. If you see heavy creosote buildup, suspect a problem, or have had a chimney fire, a qualified chimney repairman or chimney “sweep” should perform a complete safety inspection. They can arrange for any necessary repairs or creosote removal, which must be done before the heating appliance is used again.

There are products now available which, according to recent tests conducted by independent laboratories, show promise for reducing the production of creosote and harmful pollutant emissions. Advance wood stove designs appear to provide more complete combustion of the fuel. Catalytic combustors appear to achieve

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•

••

similar results, and are available with new stoves or as separate components which can be installed between the flue gas exit and the chimney connector of existing stoves.The Commission advises owners of all chimneys to:

Be sure that the chimney and stovepipe were installed correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and local codes. If there is any doubt, a building inspector or fire official can determine whether the system is properly installed.Minimize creosote formation by using proper stove size and avoiding using low damper settings for extended periods of time.Have the chimney checked and cleaned routinely by a chimney “sweep” at least once a year. Inspect it frequently, as often as twice a month if necessary, and clean when a creosote buildup is noted.Always operate your appliance within the manufacturer’s recommended temperature limits. Too low a temperature increases creosote buildup, and too high a temperature may eventually cause damage to the chimney and result in a fire.Frequently look for signs of structural failure.

Fireplace Safety Tips

Before starting a fire in your wood stove or fireplace, be sure the draft is open wide. This allows proper ventilation for your fire. Your fireplaces should never be used for burning garbage, Christmas trees, piles of paper, or building scraps. Install a spark shield/arrestor or wire basket on top of your chimney. The chimney should rise at least two feet higher than the roof peak or any tall, nearby objects. (Add another foot if your roof is flat or nearly flat). Check your flue regularly for any obstructions such as squirrel or bird nests, debris, etc. Don’t pile on wood and smother the fire because that causes creosote to build up in your stove and chimney. Remember, high flames burning hot will burn cleanly! Wood stoves should be at least 36” from unprotected combustible materials. Keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations, and flammable materials. Never leave a fire in your fireplace unattended. Make sure the fire is extinguished before going to bed. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire. It could explode or flare up. Pressure treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick. Learn about seasoned woods and which type of woods are best to burn. Only hardwoods should be used as fuel since softwoods have a high content of creosote and resin. Remember, hardwood trees have leaves and softwood trees have needles

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Firefighters Save Home from Fire!Story & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Early morning on October 24, a resident on Willowbrook Road saw smoke coming out of the heating vent in the bathroom. She immediately awakened the rest of the family and they were all outside when firefighters arrived. Using an exterior stairwell, firefighters entered the smoke-filled basement and quickly found and extinquished the fire. A positive pressure fan was used to rid the basement of smoke. The cause is believed to be flammable combustibles too close to the water heater.

Firefighter Christi Wilson, and in the stair well, Reety Radke and Paul Stanphill, pull the hose from the basement after the fire was extinguished. Deputy Chief Kirk Wilson had sector command.

Captain Mike Drost reports the cause of the fire to be flammable combustibles too close to the water heater.

Firefighters regroup at the attack truck, Engine 701, after a sucessful save!

Grain Facility FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

All three stations were dispatched when a fire was reported at the Demeters Grain facility on Prairie Hill Road on November 3. The fire was located in a room under one of the grain silos used to house the main electrical panels. The electric company responded quickly to the scene and disconnected the power to the silos. Firefighters were then able to extinguish the fire in the panels with dry chem fire extinguishers.

The fire was found in an electrical room under one of the grain silos.

Lt. Aaker waits to be washed down as Clint Evans sprays grain dust off Paul Stanphill after they had extinguished the fire in the silo.

The fire was found at the electrical panels.

Birthdays

November1st Jerry McCormick Don Shoevlin3rd Joe Quast8th Harry Wagner11th Kelly Green 40th16th Jim Daughenbaugh19th Chris Farr30th Mike Baldwin

December11th Joe Doyle17th Jason Schmeling19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman 40th

December Breakfast CrewRon Klaman, John Presley,

Christi Wilson, Kirk Wilson, Brandon Tietz

Total Calls Through 10/312028

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - 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.com

Email submissions to: Firefoto4@aol.com

EMS CornerBy Captain John Bergeron

I along with all the department officers would like to say thanks to all who assisted in the open house this past month. The weather was wonderful and the turnout from the public

again was excellent. All the new ideas that were brought up and done this past month at the open house were a great success. Thanks to all who went the extra mile to ensure that the open house was a learning experience and fun for the kids and the adults as well. Again, Thank You.

Happy Birthday

Kelli Green 40th November 11

Harlem High School Has a Second FireStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters were called to Harlem High School for a small fire in the gymnasium around 5am on October 14. Luckily, the fire had extinguished itself before they arrived. Chief Don Shoevlin called in the hazmat teams though after firefighters found unknown liquids on the floors.

The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), the MABAS DECON truck, and the crew from Rockford Fire’s Hazmat Team were dispatched to the scene and collected and tested the liquids. With what they found, a special hazardous cleanup company was needed, and called in. The State Fire Marshal’s Officer then investigated the fire scene.

School had also been cancelled for the day. In a news conference later in the day, school officials and local police announced that a juvenile was in now in custody and charged with this fire and the one in the library on September 23.

Lt. Baldoni-Lake and firefighter Randy Lovelace go over items on the map of the building at the command post with Chief Shoevlin.

A combined crew of agencies head into the building to collect samples.

Officers from SERT, Rockford Fire, IL State Fire Marshal, Harlem-Roscoe Fire, and the Winnebago County Sheriff worked closely together to come to a safe conclusion of the incident.

Truck Fire on I-90Story & Photos by Sheryl Drost

A truck that is used to respond to people in need on the tollway, such as flat tires, was in need of help itself on October 16 when fire started in the bed of the truck. As tires burned, dark black smoke could be seen for miles. Firefighters fought heavy construction traffic just to get to the fire, but luckily it seems the fire had not reached the cab of the truck when they arrived. Damage was contained to the bed of the truck.

Lawnmower Catches FireStory & Photo by Sheryl Drost

A resident on Love Rd. already had the fire out on her lawnmower using a garden hose when firefighters arrived on November 3. She said she was mowing up leaves when smoke started pouring out from under the mower and quickly caught the engine area on fire. False Alarms Photo by Sheryl Drost

False alarms like for the one above on Elevator Road were on the increase this month. Working on alarms, construction, or accidental pulled alarms were just a few of the causes.

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The Firehouse Scene -Page 8

Congratulations to Firefighter Clint Evans and his new wife Erin. They were married on October 18, 2008.

Busy Year!By Deputy Chief Kirk Wilson

With the year winding down, so is outside department training. We have truly had a busy year not only with training but other functions as well. Many of you have put in extensive hours with classes to continue your education and certifications. Some of you will soon receive your Firefighter II certifications along with Haz-Mat Awareness. Some of you completed Technical Rescue Awareness in your spare time. NIMS classes were completed by many individuals as well. Some of you went to Geneva, Illinois to complete fire officer classes. You will soon be seeing new pump operators driving apparatus. For the first time, Harlem-Roscoe has conducted a Firefighter III class. We had 25 students in attendance. With all that said, when do we have time for ourselves?

I, along with the other chief officers would like to thank all of you who have taken time from your busy lives and strived to continue with your training and certifications. To those of you who have instructed a class during training, my hat is off to you as well. I would also like to mention the Training Division and the hard work and dedication they have put forth. Keep up the good work!

As a department, we will continue to push forward to improve ourselves as individuals and as a team. I encourage all of you to continue to attend outside classes as well as weekly training sessions at the department. Our structure fires have been down over the last two years, but we should not forget the basics of our jobs and responsibilities as firefighters and EMS Personnel. All of us must continue to push for excellence. Continue being a “team player” and help make our organization shine. Remember, training is the key to a successful organization. Stay Safe and Train Hard!

Basic Aerial Operations Class SnapshotsPhotos by Jim Johnson

Technical Rescue Drill Story by Lt. Ramona Baldoni-LakePhotos by Debbie Rykowski

Saturday, October 25th proved to be an excellent day to train for area fire departments. Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department obtained a house to use for a structural collapse drill where department technical rescue teams and firefighters from Harlem-Roscoe Fire, Rockford Fire, South Beloit Fire, Rockton Fire, Belvidere Fire, Cherry Valley Fire, Northwest Fire, Boone County Fire 3, Freeport Fire, City of Beloit Fire and Turtle Fire from Wisconsin all participated in a structural collapse drill.

With the help of the Village of Roscoe, Rockford Blacktop, North Wind Cement, and Kitzman Lumber, a 2-story Roscoe farmhouse was collapsed with 12 victims trapped at various places inside the house. The drill provided invaluable training for individual departments to practice their skills in structural collapse and gave opportunity for all departments to work together as one large, well-organized unit sharing responsibility for search and rescue.

Using various types of shoring equipment and techniques, rescuers entered and searched the collapsed structure, locating the 12 victims and successfully rescuing each of them. It was a great opportunity for knowledge and training to be shared among the participating departments that will prove to be beneficial in the event of a future live collapse in our area.

Lt. Baldoni-Lake, Tom Lake and Randy Lovelace are among the rescuers for the drill.

Left, Mark Schafman shores up an entryway as right, Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell has commond of the drill.

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From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

I have to start with a BIG thank you to all of the personnel on the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department. The last six weeks have been overwhelming with all the demands upon them. They have been very busy with call responses, public relations, and trainings not only on Tuesdays, but several weekends as well. Thank you for all the participation.

I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Fire Chiefs Annual Conference last month and came away with a lot of information as well as knowledge. I had the privilege to network with many fire chiefs from around the state, be present for retired Chief Presley to receive his Emeritus Award, and attend a vendor show to see the new equipment and apparatus for the upcoming year.While at the conference, I attended classes on Developing Personal and Professional Leadership, Have we Set Traps for Firefighters, Fire Ground Strategies, and Leadership for Command Officers. It was a very informative conference and the sharing of ideas and information amongst chiefs is priceless. We seem to all have similar issues no matter what size or geographical area we come from. I look forward to being able to attend next year.

We have the Senior Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner on Thursday, November 20 and could use some help from our firefighters. We assist the Roscoe Lion’s Club in this great event. December will bring our food drive for the Needy Family Christmas, and don’t forget the firefighter’s children breakfast with Santa on December 6th.

We are taking application for volunteer firefighters. We will have an orientation meeting in December with class starting in January. Anyone interested stop by station One on Main Street to fill out an application.

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. As we enter the holiday season let us all take time to appreciate the importance of family and friends. I wish everyone in our communities, our firefighters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.

Remember to check out our website www.harlemroscefire.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals, and the calls we might have been on. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

L-r, Deputy Chiefs Kirk Wilson and John Presley, Chief Don Shoevlin and Captain Jay Alms all attended the recent Chiefs Conference in Peoria.

Retired Chief Oscar Presley Receives High Honor!

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley was presented with the Fire Chief Emeritus Award on October 21 at the Annual Illinois Fire Chief’s Conference in Peoria.

This award confers recognition for many years of outstanding service and is considered an honor bestowed on persons who have made significant contributions to the fire service. Retired Chief Presley’s name was submitted for the award by Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin and Deputy Chief John Presley. Congratulations, Chief Presley!

Retired Chiefs Visit Station

Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chiefs Jack Brown and Oscar Presley stopped by the station the other day and we got them to pose for a picture with current Fire Chief Don Shoevlin.

The two retired Chiefs also visied with old friends Dispatcher Guy Stirts and Deputy Chief Ike Schoonover while at the station.

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station GossipJerry Lund is back dispatching afer a short hiatus for a stint in the in the hospital. It seems Jerry didn’t quite make a curve while riding his motorcycle in Wisconsin. He was pretty banged up, but he says he is healing well. Jerry, glad to have you back, and that you’re mending well.No, Snoopy is not glued to the dispatch chair. We have just seen a lot of him in it. After losing Jim, and then Jerry’s accident, he has covered a lot of shifts. Hey, Randy, been hanging around any fire trucks lately?Uhm. . . Koeninger, rumor has it your new driving record is already mud?

Trick-or-Treat - Photo by Sheryl DrostOn Halloween, several firefighters took Sparky, aka Mummy, to the Stepping Stones Daycare’s Halloween Trick-or-Treating at the school.

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Haunted Hayride SnapshotsPhotos by Debbie Rykowski

PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12

Vol. 13 No. 11 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin November 2008

www.harlemroscoefire.com

Training BurnIn a blaze of glory, the old two-story house on Hononegah Road saw its final day on October 28 as Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters trained one final time with a live burn. Over the last year, the home had been used for many fire and rescue trainings, and recently a collapse rescue drill. . . . See more burn photos on pages 6&7

Photo by Sheryl Drost