Lombard Fire Dept- 100 years

January 3rd, 2013 Lombard's Fire Department celebrated 100 years of service. Proir to that it was a volunteer fire dept. called Glenbard Fire Dept. (Glen Ellyn-Lombard).

I have the honor of sitting on the Centennial Committee. After much preparation we had our kick off celebration Thursday (Jan 3). It was just wonderful. I have learned a great deal about my village history throughout these last few months.

I am the photographer for the events and had the honor of capturing our new chief, 2 new firefighters, pictures of all 3 shifts of ff's and our current apparatus' to go into the new time capsule. 

The event was attended by present LFD personnel, retired LFD, village officials and FF's from Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

One of Lombard's retired chiefs Jack Jones, served on the committee...he is 88 years old and a walking history book of the LFD and Glenbard Fire Service.

 Lombard's new Fire Chief Paul DiReinzo

The training room was converted into a museum . The walls were originally a light blue. One of the firemen built the bunker case that now houses 3 different era's of gear (above). Many artifacts were loaned or donated for the event. We spent the day before the party decorating the room.

Below a history of the rigs were displayed, the 1st and 3rd on bottom row from the right I took

The ceremonial flag was raised by the honor guard as the truck sirens blarred

The chairman of the committe, Battalion Chief Commes on the R in the above pictures gave a thank you, during his speech. When he got to me he thanked me for my hours of dedication, talked about my ties to CFD Engine 18 and the boats etc. I never felt so honored, I almost cried. I feel like they are doing me a favor by letting me be part of this celebration.

Well, the Chicago Fire Dept Chief, Chief Burke (below L wearing white hat) came up to me and asked my name and what my connections to E 18 were. My dad of course. He worked with my dad way back when (honestly everyone knows my dad...quite the name he has) . Now Chief Burke works with my brother (different shift) in Englewood

Small world I tell you.

Chief Burke grew up in Lombard, his father was an Asst Chief with LDF. It's like we switched towns

The official LFD Chaplain started off with the blessing-on right is our new acting village President

  Lombard Battalion Chiefs, LFD Chief and retired Chief Jack Jones on the right

and below sharing stories of the past

 

The time capsule from 1987 was dug

 up and opened. A new one will be burried around May when the 100 year commemorative book is complete 

 this flag has 48 stars and came out of the original time capsule and was put back into the 1987 capsule. All these contents plus new artifacts will go in the 2013 capsule

Next event we are planning for- Lombard's Lilac parade in May

Below are a few of my new trainee shots

big gas leak

TJ had some testing done today at Marianjoy, so had the day off school. That's a post for later. Anyway, I dropped him off at home and went to do some Christmas shopping. TJ called me an hour into my shopping to say a fireman came to the door saying there was a gas leak don't turn anything on. Turns out a private sewer company was fixing a neighbors sewer system and while digging up the parkway, they ruptured the gas main for the block. (something tells me only the village can dig up the village sewer system under the parkway) When I got home the Lombard fire Dept was on the scene and the village workers. Gas was hissing out of the leak...it was loud and powerful. My entire inside and outside smelled like natural gas. A fireman came into my house with his gas gauge, thank God nothing registered inside. They shut my gas off as a precaution while everyone waited for Nicor to come. Nicor also came into the house to measure for natural gas.

LFD had to stay until Nicor could dig two holes on either side on the leak. Crimp the gas line in each hole, then replace the damaged line between the holes. It is 6 hrs later and Nicor is still out there reparing. LPD left about 2 hrs ago. 

I was so happy when they stopped the leaking gas, I was getting one hell of a headache.

My little Karrick wanted to go out and tip the fireman for being so kind and standing in the rain for hours. I said a simple Thank you would suffice.

When Callahan got off the bus he saw the Firetruck and firemen on our lawn, he thought our house was on fire. When he found out about the ruptured gas main, he proceeded to tell us the Chemical makeup and concentration needed to combust and blow us all to smitherines. 9% Methane needs to mix with the air to cause an explosion... There isn't a situation that arises that Callahan doesn't have some fact sheet in his head. He did calm down Karrick that was a little panicked by explaining everything

Here I just shot a couple pictures of Karrick indoors with my external flash. He is so dang cute

My 1 st official photo...awe

I received an email from the Lombard Fire Dept with a link to the village website. Yay Me!

We have a new Lombard Fire Department Chief and I was very honored to be asked to shoot Chief DiRienzo's official photo

LFD

Yesterday I shot the official photo of Lombard's new fire Chief . While there I took some fun photos