[quote name='DFFD02' post='109836' date='May 19 2007, 22:15 ']While on my annual trip to Cherry Valley, IL to compete in the Midwest Regional Extrication Competition, I found that I had a little time on my hands. Here we go....
First up the visiting departments apparatus.
BlackHawk Fire District
Rescue 245
Rockford Fire Department was there too.
Engine 11
[/quote]
Blackhawk's rig was built by Rescue Vehicles of Iowa/Amtech. Rockford Engine 11 and 8 are twins with US Tanker bodies.
All of Valley's fleet is E\-One, with the exception of the Hummer which is a Saulsbury, the Mack Granite tanker is a US Tanker, and the ALF which is new this year. The ambulances are twin MedTec units. At this point only one is staffed, and they rotate boxes montly. I think the second rig will go into service full time this year some time.
Brian probably won't see this, but I'll be there tomorrow (was there most of today). If you see a guy with an Olympus SLR around his neck, it will be me.
Cherry Valley once ran three stations, and the station in the photos used to be Station 3. Station 2 burned, was not re-built and 541 is the only rig left from the original Station 2 and once was 542. One of the walk-in squads at Station 2 (542 or 543) has taken over TRT and dive rescue duties. For those keeping score, the Ford F/E-One ambulance style rig that was set up for dive rescue has been sold to Byron, IL and I believe is being used as a command unit by them.
[quote name='npfd801' post='109934' date='May 20 2007, 01:20 ']Brian probably won't see this, but I'll be there tomorrow (was there most of today). If you see a guy with an Olympus SLR around his neck, it will be me.[/quote]
The camera wasn't black was it, and the lens perhaps with red trim?
I only saw one other person there with a sophiticated camera (other than the news guy and gal who were there yesterday).
They had some fun today I guess. An industrial fire and a car crash during the competition. I spoke with the CVFPD chief that was there, and he was concerned about getting another call. The competition would have had a slight postponement, until more people arrived to help.
[quote name='DFFD02' post='110390' date='May 20 2007, 22:51 ']The camera wasn't black was it, and the lens perhaps with red trim?
I only saw one other person there with a sophiticated camera (other than the news guy and gal who were there yesterday).
They had some fun today I guess. An industrial fire and a car crash during the competition. I spoke with the CVFPD chief that was there, and he was concerned about getting another call. The competition would have had a slight postponement, until more people arrived to help.
At any rate, I got a few more photos today.[/quote]
No camera today, I had a five year old in tote. I made an effort to get there this year to get as many CEUs as possible as I need to renew my EMT this summer.
I think my department's team (North Park) will try to compete at Town of Madison this year. They've come a long way in the past two years, from nothing to doing fairly well this year, though they admit they got lucky with their scenarios this year. I think competing would be fun, though I'm not sure the marriage could bear the being gone training in addition with work, training recruits, etc.
Good to see LaCrosse did well. Nice to see a new name at the top at the Midwest Competition.
Any of you guys have a shot of the McConnell, IL (part of Cedarville FPD) Ford C/Bruco squad? I was just down there today, and thought that a Bruco is probably a pretty rare bird in these parts.
Its a neat old rig, came from somewhere in Delaware. I'll try to get down there and snap a shot of it. It'll be for sale soon. Think they said it was a 1970 model.
Fantastic folks there in McConnell. We could have probably sat around chatting all night if I hadn't forced myself to finally leave.