THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

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November 2019 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

11 Things to Remember This Veterans DayBY MICHELE DEBCZAK (UPDATED: OCTOBER 29, 2019) https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/562814/veterans-day-facts

Whether or not you know someone who served in the military or you served yourself, Veterans Day is a holiday worth observing. There are around 18 million veterans living in the U.S.—here are some things to remember when honoring them on November 11.

1. DON’T CONFUSE IT WITH MEMORIAL DAY.Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) and Veterans Day (November 11) both honor the men and women who served in our nation’s military, but there’s a major difference between the holidays. While Memorial Day is reserved for those who died while serving their country, Veterans Day is a time to recognize all veterans, both the dead and the living.

2. IT USED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT NAME.On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued an Armistice Day proclamation—a reference to the agreement made between the Allies and Germany to end World War I a year earlier. Congress would officially declare Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938 (most states already had their own observances). In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that officially changed the name to Veterans Day, making the holiday more inclusive of veterans who had served after and prior to the First World War.

3. THE DATE HOLDS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.Though the date changed a few times throughout the 20th century, today Veterans Day falls on November 11 of each year. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War I, which occurred “at the 11th hour of 11th day of the 11th month.”

4. FEWER THAN HALF A MILLION WORLD WAR II VETERANS ARE ALIVE TODAY.World War II ended more than 70 years ago, but many of the veterans who fought in the war are still around to thank. According to the most recent estimates, around 450,000 of the 16 million people who fought in the Second World War are alive in 2019. But The National WWII Museum estimates that around 350 pass away each day, which is why the museum is dedicated to preserving World War II history through first-hand, oral accounts.

5. NOT EVERY VETERAN FOUGHT IN A WAR.Members of the military don’t need to fight overseas to serve their country. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter of the veterans living in America today only served during peacetime. Military missions that don’t involve war may include protecting U.S. embassies, providing natural disaster relief, and bringing medical assistance to impoverished communities.

6. THESE THREE STATES HAVE HUGE VETERAN POPULATIONS.There are three U.S. states whose veteran populations exceed 1 million: California with 1.56 million, Texas with 1.46 million, and Florida with 1.44 million. And the states with the highest percentage of veterans are Alaska, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Maine, all with around 10 percent of the adult population being veterans. These numbers still make up just a fraction of the country’s 18.2 million veterans, who can be found in all parts of the U.S.

7. VETERANS ARE BETTER EDUCATED.People who served in the military tend to have completed higher levels of education than those who have not enlisted. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37.1 percent of U.S. veterans have completed some college or have an associates degree and 27.7 percent have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.

8. IT’S CELEBRATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES (KIND OF).Several countries have their own holidays recognizing veterans and those who have died in wars that fall on or around November 11. But the important day goes by a different name outside the U.S.: In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day, and many in the UK observe both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

9. VETERANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS.Despite only accounting for 7 percent of the general population, veterans make up roughly 11 percent of the adult homeless population. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reports there are more than 40,000 veterans living without homes on any given night in the U.S. Compared with the total veteran population, younger veterans are disproportionately likely to be homeless, though there are people who have served in a range of wars—including World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Afghanistan and Iraq—living on the streets, with Vietnam War-era veterans accounting for nearly half the total, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

10. MANY LEAVE THE ARMED FORCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.Mental illness crops up in veterans at an alarmingly high rate. According to the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research in 2008, close to one-fifth of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan came home with either major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues can have many potential causes, but in a significant portion of veterans head injury may have been a key factor. About 7 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan vets have a mental health condition and also reported sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

11. YOU CAN SUPPORT VETERANS ANY TIME OF YEAR.From picking up the tab for a veteran at your local diner or driving them to a doctor’s appointment, there are many small ways to show your gratitude to the veterans in your community. There are also plenty of charitable organizations dedicated to supporting veterans around the country. Photo by Sheryl Drost

From The Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

This past weekend we all fell back an hour with our clocks. That is a perfect opportunity to change your batteries. With the change to standard time, we would like to remind everyone to remember to check and change your smoke alarm and CO detector batteries as well. If you have a detector with a 10-year battery check the date on the back to see if it needs to be replaced.

A BIG thank you to all our personnel for their overwhelming work during the month of October.

They responded to 265 calls for service with a response time of 2.1 minutes and an on location time of 6.1 minutes!

October was also the month of Fire Prevention Week. The men and woman hosted our annual open house (thank you to all who attended), were out doing safety education talks, visiting schools, hosting station tours all while completing required department training. To say they were not busy would be an understatement. This past month I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Fire Chief’s Annual Conference. I am honored to have been elected as First Vice President. I look forward in representing Harlem Roscoe Fire and all fire departments on the IFCA executive board. There has been much legislation, and I am expecting more that influences the fire service. I had the privilege to network with many Fire Chiefs from around the state while attending numerous classes that were offered on the educational track of the conference.

To our veterans and present military personnel, today and every day I thank you for your service to our country. If it were not for your efforts and sacrifices, would we have the freedom, we all enjoy today.

November - the month of Thanksgiving and the preparation for the holiday season. We will be hosting the annual Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday November 21 from 11:00 until 1:00. It will be hosted by the Roscoe Lions club. It is an honor to work alongside them with this event. We have started our annual Christmas food drive. We will be accepting non-perishable food donations at all of our fire stations or if needed we will pick up. Then, watch for December 1st, as we start the annual “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign for the holidays. In closing, I ask that when we sit down with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day. Take the time to appreciate the importance of them. Look into our lives and strive for love and happiness.

Be thankful for the numerous things we do have, the hope and opportunities we have for the future, and not dwelling on what we don’t. Let’s all try to make a valiant attempt to focus on the positive events not only in our family but the community, state, and country in which we live in. In our eyes at times, it may not always look inviting or good, however there is no other place where we can be free and have the opportunities that we do. It is up to us, what we do with those opportunities.

I wish everyone in our communities, our firefighters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. Chief Shoevlin

We Can’t Help YouIf We Can’t Find You!

Help us find you quickly by following these important tips:

• Your house numbers should be clearly visible from the street. How about at night?

• Make sure bushes, vehicles, or other things don’t block your house number.

• Your house number should be in a contrasting color to your house, at least 3 inches high.

• If you have a rural home, mark your address clearly on the mail box or a post at the front of your driveway.

• Make sure all family members know how to call 9-1-1.

Birthdays

November 20191st Don Shoevlin3rd Joe Quast6th Andy Wichman8th Harry Wagner10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green14th Ken Kelley

December 201911th Harold Danger12th John Hawkins26th Patrick Trollop 40th26th Kyle Swanson

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

Fire 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

Gone, But not forgottenSome people come into our lives,

And quickly go.Some stay awhile,

And leave footprints in our hearts.And, we are never, ever the same.

• Fire Prevention Jim Purpura’s mother, Dee Freeman, passed away Oct. 13th.

• Capt. Mike Huffman’s grandmother, Irmgard A. Widell passed away Sept. 27th.

• Firefighter Sam McNames grandfather, Lloyd McNames passed passed away Sept. 26th.

Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Jim, Mike, and Sam and their families.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire

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Truck FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters extinguish a garbage truck on fire on Hidden Creek Ln. off White School Rd. on Nov. 1.

Snow on Halloween! Photo by Sheryl Drost

According to local TV Station WIFR, Halloween 2019 broke a snow record, nearly tied another, and turned October 2019 into one of the snowiest on record.1. Official Snowfall: 3.1”: BREAKS previous record of 0.1” that fell in 2014 making 2019 the snowiest Halloween on record2. Official High Temperature: 33°: making Halloween 2019 the 2nd Coldest on Record behind 32° in 19173. Snowfall Totals: ranked from just over 7.0” to near 3.0” throughout the Stateline with the higher totals being in Wisconsin and the lesser totals west and south of Rockford

Odor InvestigationPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to the First National Bank in Roscoe for an electrical burning odor on Oct. 31st. The odor was located and bank remained open.

c

2016 Oct. 6

Don’t Wait —Check the Date!Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years

Age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms. Check the manufacture dates on your smoke alarms today!

October 6, 2016

years

1Remove the smoke alarm from the wall or ceiling.

2Look at the back of the alarm for the date of manufacture.

3Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture.

4Put the alarm back on the ceiling or wall if it is less than 10 years old.

A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms. For the best protection, make sure all smoke alarms are interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.

If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.

Call the fire department from a cellphone or a neighbor’s phone. Stay outside until the fire department says it’s safe to go back inside.

For more information about smoke alarms, visit usfa.fema.gov and www.nfpa.org.

Click here toadd image.

Snowfall PredicationPhoto by Sheryl Drost

How about 31 snows this year? The late HRFD Fire Chief, Oscar Presley was known

locally for his snow predictions. He would take the date of the first snow you could track an animal in and add the number of days back to the new moon. So the first snow was on 29th and then add 2 days back to the new moon that was on Oct. 27th, you get 31 snows. With snows on Oct. 29th and 31st we are now officially at 29 snows left as of Nov. 6th.

Holiday Reindeer Family DriveBy Deputy Chief John Bergeron

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters are currently accepting non-perishable food items for our annual food/toy drive that we have named our Holiday Reindeer Family Drive (HRFD).

Every year in November, we gear up and begin collecting non-perishable food at all three of our fire stations. Each family on our list is given a holiday meal of a ham with all the fixings as well as staples such as milk, bread, cereal, peanut butter, etc.

Some ideas for non-perishable donation staple items are: Macaroni and cheese, cereals, peanut butter, jellies, noodles, pancake or Bisquit mix, syrup, etc. Can goods are not suggested due to the weight they add to the food baskets. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Items may be dropped off at any of our three fire stations. Sta. #1 - 10544 Main St.; Sta#2 - 825 Ralston Rd., and Sta#3 - 13974 Willowbrook Rd.

Or the firefighters will be happy to come pick up, just give us a call at 815-623-7867

Tradition History of the American Firefighting HelmetBy Mick Mayers

Published on FireRescue1.comhttps://www.firerescue1.com/gear-gadgets/articles/tradition-history-of-the-american-firefighting-helmet-4tJZMJTWBhTf2YsZ/

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear.

After the first few times a warrior took a stick to the head, someone determined a protective covering was warranted.

It seemed logical that something should be developed to shield our

heads from harm. After all, our most vulnerable organ, the brain, was right there and ripe for disaster. When firefighting became more readily organized in the American Colonial period, the first firefighting “stovepipe” helmet also appeared. It wasn’t until 1836, however, when a New York City firefighter, Henry Gratacap, developed what is familiar to most as the firefighting helmet.

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear.

According to an article by my friend and colleague, Chief Pete Lamb, Gratacap’s helmet considered function first. The helmet was made of leather, which was tough and resisted breakage and burning. The high dome deflected falling objects; the “front piece” advertised unit, rank, and usually some other identifier or decoration and the “front holder” could be used to break windows. The long brim to the rear channeled water and burning embers off the helmet and to the rear where they could fall harmlessly down and not into the collar of the coat. The traditional American firefighting helmet has changed little since those days and that shape has come to be a recognizable symbol of “the job.”

Even the components of the helmet have their own stories. While the front piece is probably the most noticeable part of the helmet, the front holder of the traditional helmet has an interesting history. The front holder is the brass or metal crest figure that holds the front piece on the helmet. The most common figure used, the eagle, has long been associated with pride, courage, and valor. An article in The New Yorker in 1930 explained that the eagle‘s presence there actually came in or around 1825, when an unidentified sculptor was commissioned to create a burial monument for a firefighter’s grave. His eagle inspired what is normally seen, but over the years, in addition to just a bit of fancy scrollwork, other objects have been represented. Bulldogs, greyhounds, panthers, lions, snakes, fish, seahorses, and even, yes, the beaver, which seems to be popular in Canada.

After World War II, fire helmets began to take on a more consistent shape, especially as they were mass produced. In 1979, a National Fire Protection Association committee issued the first standard on firefighter helmets that included specifications on impact resistance, penetration, resistance to electrical current, and the continued

integrity of the helmet under heat and flame impingement. While over the years, leather became less used, experiments with metals found them to be conductive, so plastics became used more and more.

If there is any one piece of equipment a firefighter values, it is their helmet. Firefighters don’t take kindly to people just taking their helmet off the rack and putting it on; when a firefighter lets a civilian try on their helmet, it is really an act of kindness. An old tradition from before the prevalence of radio communications is that a firefighter’s helmet lying on the ground unattended is a signal of distress. As a last resort, not being able to get someone‘s attention, the helmet was thrown out to get the attention of a brother jake.

The helmet is also customized somewhat for our personality. Some departments permit a sticker or two to be added to the lid for personal identification. The front piece may be a customized design that shows off the pride the firefighter has for their company. And if you still use a leather helmet, the brim can be flexed to provide a characteristic tilt, much like cowboys do when they form their hats.

Many of us use the inside of the helmet for our own special place as well. Inside my own white leather fire chief’s helmet is a St. Florian medal blessed by Pope John Paul II, given to me by the dearly departed Chaplain of our State Firefighters’ Association years ago, as well as a picture of my daughters and a rosary. A friend of mine had his children write loving notes to him on the inside of his brim.

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear. To those of us working on the job, the helmet is a tradition that allows us to express our respect for those who have gone before, but is also a means to keep us from harm

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Accidents Photos by Photographers Sheryl Drost & McKenna Donovan & Duty Officers

10/12/19 Hwy 251 West Frontage Rd. just north of Hwy 173

10/24/19 Hononegah Rd. and Hwy 251 10/31/19 Middle Rd.

4th QuarterTraining Minutes By BC Tom Aaker Photos by Catherine Ster

“It snowed!” That was the words my wife used as an alarm clock to get the kids out of the bed and ready for school last week. She said that was the fastest she had seen them get out of bed in a long time. Then a few days later more snow came. How quickly that excitement changed to sadness as the possibility of not being able to go out trick or treating was suggested to them.

Fortunately, tragedy averted as we were able to make it out after all. The weather cleared enough, we wore warm enough clothing, and we successfully trekked through the streets to get the treats they have been waiting to receive all month. So for those of you who opened your doors to the cold to make kids happy, thank you, but snow in October, really?

For your unsubstantiated trivia of the month, someone told me that the last year there was snow on Halloween was 1995. I talked to my mom after sending the pictures of the kids, in costume, next to their pumpkins in 6” of snow. She said she remembers at least twice, when I was very young, my siblings going out in snow gear and being upset they had to cover their costumes. So I guess it does snow in October, every once in a while.

Halloween was a success, we planned it, we prepared accordingly, and we executed a good night as both were very happy with what they brought home. We do the same things in the fire service really. We plan for different types of emergencies. We prepare our people, equipment, and tools appropriately. Then when an emergency happens we execute to the best of our ability with the training we receive and hope for the best outcome. Our “reward” is priceless when we receive thanks from the community and knowing that we did our best to help the ones we serve.

This Quarter we started on our annual programs that we have in place to prepare our firefighters physically and mentally for the job. Two drills we do every year revolve around our SCBA’s or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

The first drill is a consumption course. We wear our full gear and do a number of tasks with the idea of simulating what may happen at a real fire scene. We start with a full bottle of air and when we have used all that air we record the time. There is no “good”

ending time. The idea is to let people know under exertion how much air they breathe and how long they will last on a bottle. The second drill is SCBA Maze; this course is a confidence course. The firefighters go through eight different obstacles. These obstacles simulate what they may encounter as they are searching for someone in a house or when the building conditions deteriorate and a firefighter is trying to escape from the house. Again, this isn’t a timed event; you don’t even have to finish the course. You get a full air bottle, you go through the drill at your own pace, when your bottle is finished you are finished. Both drills are confidence drills. They are designed to give you insight on how your body and mind work while under stress, this way when the real thing happens you have an idea what your limitations are.

The second big thing was have been working on this quarter is the in service of our new Engine for Station 3. We have some additions in technology that came with this vehicle that warranted a special vehicle review. One item in particular

which is new to us and not very well known in the area, is a Ultra High Pressure system. This equipment has been in service for years in Europe but we don’t hear too much about them over here when it comes to firefighting. The unit is mounted on the truck

and is designed to break water into small droplets at high pressure. When used in a fire situation, the quick explanation is the more droplets of water the quicker the heat is reduced the quicker the fire goes out. This system only uses 11 gallons

per minute vs. the hose lines we use now that uses over 100 gallons a minute. The idea behind the system is you use less water to put out the same amount of fire. I know it doesn’t sound right but the research and practical applications are there. The hope is to have all the in servicing done by middle of November and ready to go shortly after that. We have started a new recruit class in October with five recruits and are hoping to add at least one more before the end of the year. This class will take about 3 months and they will also participate in area trainings to help move forward with their certification. We will be starting Extrication this month focusing on stabilization of vehicles that are involved in an accident. The most important job when having to cut someone out of a vehicle that has been trapped from an accident is vehicle stabilization. This keeps the vehicle steady for the patient so there is not much movement. This also keeps the vehicle from moving and hurting a firefighter who is working on the vehicle. We will have four different scenarios all dealing with a different type of stabilization. As always lots of training to keep us busy throughout the year, more importantly, to keep us sharp for when the call comes for our services.

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

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Fire Prevention

October continued to be a very busy month for our fire personnel. There were many tours of our fire stations, fire drills at all in-district schools, as well as fire safety talks. The firefighters also participated in many community activities and safety days as well.

More photos may also be seen on our Facebook Page.

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Fire Prevention

October continued to be a very busy month for our fire personnel. There were many tours of our fire stations, fire drills at all in-district schools, as well as fire safety talks. The firefighters also participated in many community activities and safety days as well.

More photos may also be seen on our Facebook Page.

4th QuarterTraining Minutes By BC Tom Aaker Photos by Catherine Ster

“It snowed!” That was the words my wife used as an alarm clock to get the kids out of the bed and ready for school last week. She said that was the fastest she had seen them get out of bed in a long time. Then a few days later more snow came. How quickly that excitement changed to sadness as the possibility of not being able to go out trick or treating was suggested to them.

Fortunately, tragedy averted as we were able to make it out after all. The weather cleared enough, we wore warm enough clothing, and we successfully trekked through the streets to get the treats they have been waiting to receive all month. So for those of you who opened your doors to the cold to make kids happy, thank you, but snow in October, really?

For your unsubstantiated trivia of the month, someone told me that the last year there was snow on Halloween was 1995. I talked to my mom after sending the pictures of the kids, in costume, next to their pumpkins in 6” of snow. She said she remembers at least twice, when I was very young, my siblings going out in snow gear and being upset they had to cover their costumes. So I guess it does snow in October, every once in a while.

Halloween was a success, we planned it, we prepared accordingly, and we executed a good night as both were very happy with what they brought home. We do the same things in the fire service really. We plan for different types of emergencies. We prepare our people, equipment, and tools appropriately. Then when an emergency happens we execute to the best of our ability with the training we receive and hope for the best outcome. Our “reward” is priceless when we receive thanks from the community and knowing that we did our best to help the ones we serve.

This Quarter we started on our annual programs that we have in place to prepare our firefighters physically and mentally for the job. Two drills we do every year revolve around our SCBA’s or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

The first drill is a consumption course. We wear our full gear and do a number of tasks with the idea of simulating what may happen at a real fire scene. We start with a full bottle of air and when we have used all that air we record the time. There is no “good”

ending time. The idea is to let people know under exertion how much air they breathe and how long they will last on a bottle. The second drill is SCBA Maze; this course is a confidence course. The firefighters go through eight different obstacles. These obstacles simulate what they may encounter as they are searching for someone in a house or when the building conditions deteriorate and a firefighter is trying to escape from the house. Again, this isn’t a timed event; you don’t even have to finish the course. You get a full air bottle, you go through the drill at your own pace, when your bottle is finished you are finished. Both drills are confidence drills. They are designed to give you insight on how your body and mind work while under stress, this way when the real thing happens you have an idea what your limitations are.

The second big thing was have been working on this quarter is the in service of our new Engine for Station 3. We have some additions in technology that came with this vehicle that warranted a special vehicle review. One item in particular

which is new to us and not very well known in the area, is a Ultra High Pressure system. This equipment has been in service for years in Europe but we don’t hear too much about them over here when it comes to firefighting. The unit is mounted on the truck

and is designed to break water into small droplets at high pressure. When used in a fire situation, the quick explanation is the more droplets of water the quicker the heat is reduced the quicker the fire goes out. This system only uses 11 gallons

per minute vs. the hose lines we use now that uses over 100 gallons a minute. The idea behind the system is you use less water to put out the same amount of fire. I know it doesn’t sound right but the research and practical applications are there. The hope is to have all the in servicing done by middle of November and ready to go shortly after that. We have started a new recruit class in October with five recruits and are hoping to add at least one more before the end of the year. This class will take about 3 months and they will also participate in area trainings to help move forward with their certification. We will be starting Extrication this month focusing on stabilization of vehicles that are involved in an accident. The most important job when having to cut someone out of a vehicle that has been trapped from an accident is vehicle stabilization. This keeps the vehicle steady for the patient so there is not much movement. This also keeps the vehicle from moving and hurting a firefighter who is working on the vehicle. We will have four different scenarios all dealing with a different type of stabilization. As always lots of training to keep us busy throughout the year, more importantly, to keep us sharp for when the call comes for our services.

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

Snowfall PredicationPhoto by Sheryl Drost

How about 31 snows this year? The late HRFD Fire Chief, Oscar Presley was known

locally for his snow predictions. He would take the date of the first snow you could track an animal in and add the number of days back to the new moon. So the first snow was on 29th and then add 2 days back to the new moon that was on Oct. 27th, you get 31 snows. With snows on Oct. 29th and 31st and Nov. 7th, we are now officially at 28 snows left as of Nov. 7th.

Holiday Reindeer Family DriveBy Deputy Chief John Bergeron

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters are currently accepting non-perishable food items for our annual food/toy drive that we have named our Holiday Reindeer Family Drive (HRFD).

Every year in November, we gear up and begin collecting non-perishable food at all three of our fire stations. Each family on our list is given a holiday meal of a ham with all the fixings as well as staples such as milk, bread, cereal, peanut butter, etc.

Some ideas for non-perishable donation staple items are: Macaroni and cheese, cereals, peanut butter, jellies, noodles, pancake or Bisquit mix, syrup, etc. Can goods are not suggested due to the weight they add to the food baskets. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Items may be dropped off at any of our three fire stations. Sta. #1 - 10544 Main St.; Sta#2 - 825 Ralston Rd., and Sta#3 - 13974 Willowbrook Rd.

Or the firefighters will be happy to come pick up, just give us a call at 815-623-7867

Tradition History of the American Firefighting HelmetBy Mick Mayers

Published on FireRescue1.comhttps://www.firerescue1.com/gear-gadgets/articles/tradition-history-of-the-american-firefighting-helmet-4tJZMJTWBhTf2YsZ/

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear.

After the first few times a warrior took a stick to the head, someone determined a protective covering was warranted.

It seemed logical that something should be developed to shield our

heads from harm. After all, our most vulnerable organ, the brain, was right there and ripe for disaster. When firefighting became more readily organized in the American Colonial period, the first firefighting “stovepipe” helmet also appeared. It wasn’t until 1836, however, when a New York City firefighter, Henry Gratacap, developed what is familiar to most as the firefighting helmet.

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear.

According to an article by my friend and colleague, Chief Pete Lamb, Gratacap’s helmet considered function first. The helmet was made of leather, which was tough and resisted breakage and burning. The high dome deflected falling objects; the “front piece” advertised unit, rank, and usually some other identifier or decoration and the “front holder” could be used to break windows. The long brim to the rear channeled water and burning embers off the helmet and to the rear where they could fall harmlessly down and not into the collar of the coat. The traditional American firefighting helmet has changed little since those days and that shape has come to be a recognizable symbol of “the job.”

Even the components of the helmet have their own stories. While the front piece is probably the most noticeable part of the helmet, the front holder of the traditional helmet has an interesting history. The front holder is the brass or metal crest figure that holds the front piece on the helmet. The most common figure used, the eagle, has long been associated with pride, courage, and valor. An article in The New Yorker in 1930 explained that the eagle‘s presence there actually came in or around 1825, when an unidentified sculptor was commissioned to create a burial monument for a firefighter’s grave. His eagle inspired what is normally seen, but over the years, in addition to just a bit of fancy scrollwork, other objects have been represented. Bulldogs, greyhounds, panthers, lions, snakes, fish, seahorses, and even, yes, the beaver, which seems to be popular in Canada.

After World War II, fire helmets began to take on a more consistent shape, especially as they were mass produced. In 1979, a National Fire Protection Association committee issued the first standard on firefighter helmets that included specifications on impact resistance, penetration, resistance to electrical current, and the continued

integrity of the helmet under heat and flame impingement. While over the years, leather became less used, experiments with metals found them to be conductive, so plastics became used more and more.

If there is any one piece of equipment a firefighter values, it is their helmet. Firefighters don’t take kindly to people just taking their helmet off the rack and putting it on; when a firefighter lets a civilian try on their helmet, it is really an act of kindness. An old tradition from before the prevalence of radio communications is that a firefighter’s helmet lying on the ground unattended is a signal of distress. As a last resort, not being able to get someone‘s attention, the helmet was thrown out to get the attention of a brother jake.

The helmet is also customized somewhat for our personality. Some departments permit a sticker or two to be added to the lid for personal identification. The front piece may be a customized design that shows off the pride the firefighter has for their company. And if you still use a leather helmet, the brim can be flexed to provide a characteristic tilt, much like cowboys do when they form their hats.

Many of us use the inside of the helmet for our own special place as well. Inside my own white leather fire chief’s helmet is a St. Florian medal blessed by Pope John Paul II, given to me by the dearly departed Chaplain of our State Firefighters’ Association years ago, as well as a picture of my daughters and a rosary. A friend of mine had his children write loving notes to him on the inside of his brim.

To the average citizen, the fire helmet can be a status symbol or just something really interesting to wear. To those of us working on the job, the helmet is a tradition that allows us to express our respect for those who have gone before, but is also a means to keep us from harm

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Accidents Photos by Photographers Sheryl Drost & McKenna Donovan & Duty Officers

10/12/19 Hwy 251 West Frontage Rd. just north of Hwy 173

10/24/19 Hononegah Rd. and Hwy 251 10/31/19 Middle Rd.

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Truck FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters extinguish a garbage truck on fire on Hidden Creek Ln. off White School Rd. on Nov. 1.

Snow on Halloween! Photo by Sheryl Drost

According to local TV Station WIFR, Halloween 2019 broke a snow record, nearly tied another, and turned October 2019 into one of the snowiest on record.1. Official Snowfall: 3.1”: BREAKS previous record of 0.1” that fell in 2014 making 2019 the snowiest Halloween on record2. Official High Temperature: 33°: making Halloween 2019 the 2nd Coldest on Record behind 32° in 19173. Snowfall Totals: ranked from just over 7.0” to near 3.0” throughout the Stateline with the higher totals being in Wisconsin and the lesser totals west and south of Rockford

Odor InvestigationPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefighters responded to the First National Bank in Roscoe for an electrical burning odor on Oct. 31st. The odor was located and bank remained open.

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2016 Oct. 6

Don’t Wait —Check the Date!Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years

Age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms. Check the manufacture dates on your smoke alarms today!

October 6, 2016

years

1Remove the smoke alarm from the wall or ceiling.

2Look at the back of the alarm for the date of manufacture.

3Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture.

4Put the alarm back on the ceiling or wall if it is less than 10 years old.

A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms. For the best protection, make sure all smoke alarms are interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.

If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.

Call the fire department from a cellphone or a neighbor’s phone. Stay outside until the fire department says it’s safe to go back inside.

For more information about smoke alarms, visit usfa.fema.gov and www.nfpa.org.

Click here toadd image.

From The Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

This past weekend we all fell back an hour with our clocks. That is a perfect opportunity to change your batteries. With the change to standard time, we would like to remind everyone to remember to check and change your smoke alarm and CO detector batteries as well. If you have a detector with a 10-year battery check the date on the back to see if it needs to be replaced.

A BIG thank you to all our personnel for their overwhelming work during the month of October.

They responded to 265 calls for service with a response time of 2.1 minutes and an on location time of 6.1 minutes!

October was also the month of Fire Prevention Week. The men and woman hosted our annual open house (thank you to all who attended), were out doing safety education talks, visiting schools, hosting station tours all while completing required department training. To say they were not busy would be an understatement. This past month I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Fire Chief’s Annual Conference. I am honored to have been elected as First Vice President. I look forward in representing Harlem Roscoe Fire and all fire departments on the IFCA executive board. There has been much legislation, and I am expecting more that influences the fire service. I had the privilege to network with many Fire Chiefs from around the state while attending numerous classes that were offered on the educational track of the conference.

To our veterans and present military personnel, today and every day I thank you for your service to our country. If it were not for your efforts and sacrifices, would we have the freedom, we all enjoy today.

November - the month of Thanksgiving and the preparation for the holiday season. We will be hosting the annual Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday November 21 from 11:00 until 1:00. It will be hosted by the Roscoe Lions club. It is an honor to work alongside them with this event. We have started our annual Christmas food drive. We will be accepting non-perishable food donations at all of our fire stations or if needed we will pick up. Then, watch for December 1st, as we start the annual “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign for the holidays. In closing, I ask that when we sit down with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day. Take the time to appreciate the importance of them. Look into our lives and strive for love and happiness.

Be thankful for the numerous things we do have, the hope and opportunities we have for the future, and not dwelling on what we don’t. Let’s all try to make a valiant attempt to focus on the positive events not only in our family but the community, state, and country in which we live in. In our eyes at times, it may not always look inviting or good, however there is no other place where we can be free and have the opportunities that we do. It is up to us, what we do with those opportunities.

I wish everyone in our communities, our firefighters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. Chief Shoevlin

We Can’t Help YouIf We Can’t Find You!

Help us find you quickly by following these important tips:

• Your house numbers should be clearly visible from the street. How about at night?

• Make sure bushes, vehicles, or other things don’t block your house number.

• Your house number should be in a contrasting color to your house, at least 3 inches high.

• If you have a rural home, mark your address clearly on the mail box or a post at the front of your driveway.

• Make sure all family members know how to call 9-1-1.

Birthdays

November 20191st Don Shoevlin3rd Joe Quast6th Andy Wichman8th Harry Wagner10th Nate Noble11th Kelly Green14th Ken Kelley

December 201911th Harold Danger12th John Hawkins26th Patrick Trollop 40th26th Kyle Swanson

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

Fire 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

Gone, But not forgottenSome people come into our lives,

And quickly go.Some stay awhile,

And leave footprints in our hearts.And, we are never, ever the same.

• Fire Prevention Jim Purpura’s mother, Dee Freeman, passed away Oct. 13th.

• Capt. Mike Huffman’s grandmother, Irmgard A. Widell passed away Sept. 27th.

• Firefighter Sam McNames grandfather, Lloyd McNames passed passed away Sept. 26th.

Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Jim, Mike, and Sam and their families.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

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November 2019 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

11 Things to Remember This Veterans DayBY MICHELE DEBCZAK (UPDATED: OCTOBER 29, 2019) https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/562814/veterans-day-facts

Whether or not you know someone who served in the military or you served yourself, Veterans Day is a holiday worth observing. There are around 18 million veterans living in the U.S.—here are some things to remember when honoring them on November 11.

1. DON’T CONFUSE IT WITH MEMORIAL DAY.Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) and Veterans Day (November 11) both honor the men and women who served in our nation’s military, but there’s a major difference between the holidays. While Memorial Day is reserved for those who died while serving their country, Veterans Day is a time to recognize all veterans, both the dead and the living.

2. IT USED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT NAME.On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued an Armistice Day proclamation—a reference to the agreement made between the Allies and Germany to end World War I a year earlier. Congress would officially declare Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938 (most states already had their own observances). In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that officially changed the name to Veterans Day, making the holiday more inclusive of veterans who had served after and prior to the First World War.

3. THE DATE HOLDS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.Though the date changed a few times throughout the 20th century, today Veterans Day falls on November 11 of each year. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War I, which occurred “at the 11th hour of 11th day of the 11th month.”

4. FEWER THAN HALF A MILLION WORLD WAR II VETERANS ARE ALIVE TODAY.World War II ended more than 70 years ago, but many of the veterans who fought in the war are still around to thank. According to the most recent estimates, around 450,000 of the 16 million people who fought in the Second World War are alive in 2019. But The National WWII Museum estimates that around 350 pass away each day, which is why the museum is dedicated to preserving World War II history through first-hand, oral accounts.

5. NOT EVERY VETERAN FOUGHT IN A WAR.Members of the military don’t need to fight overseas to serve their country. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter of the veterans living in America today only served during peacetime. Military missions that don’t involve war may include protecting U.S. embassies, providing natural disaster relief, and bringing medical assistance to impoverished communities.

6. THESE THREE STATES HAVE HUGE VETERAN POPULATIONS.There are three U.S. states whose veteran populations exceed 1 million: California with 1.56 million, Texas with 1.46 million, and Florida with 1.44 million. And the states with the highest percentage of veterans are Alaska, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Maine, all with around 10 percent of the adult population being veterans. These numbers still make up just a fraction of the country’s 18.2 million veterans, who can be found in all parts of the U.S.

7. VETERANS ARE BETTER EDUCATED.People who served in the military tend to have completed higher levels of education than those who have not enlisted. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37.1 percent of U.S. veterans have completed some college or have an associates degree and 27.7 percent have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.

8. IT’S CELEBRATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES (KIND OF).Several countries have their own holidays recognizing veterans and those who have died in wars that fall on or around November 11. But the important day goes by a different name outside the U.S.: In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day, and many in the UK observe both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

9. VETERANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS.Despite only accounting for 7 percent of the general population, veterans make up roughly 11 percent of the adult homeless population. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reports there are more than 40,000 veterans living without homes on any given night in the U.S. Compared with the total veteran population, younger veterans are disproportionately likely to be homeless, though there are people who have served in a range of wars—including World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Afghanistan and Iraq—living on the streets, with Vietnam War-era veterans accounting for nearly half the total, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

10. MANY LEAVE THE ARMED FORCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.Mental illness crops up in veterans at an alarmingly high rate. According to the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research in 2008, close to one-fifth of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan came home with either major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues can have many potential causes, but in a significant portion of veterans head injury may have been a key factor. About 7 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan vets have a mental health condition and also reported sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

11. YOU CAN SUPPORT VETERANS ANY TIME OF YEAR.From picking up the tab for a veteran at your local diner or driving them to a doctor’s appointment, there are many small ways to show your gratitude to the veterans in your community. There are also plenty of charitable organizations dedicated to supporting veterans around the country. Photo by Sheryl Drost