These are some of the incidents that the F.D.L.C. have operated at in 1997 - 2006.
7/9/97 21 EGAN PL (HUDSON CLIFFS) 2ND ALARM
On Wednesday, July 9, 1997, a house fire broke out at 21 Egan Pl in Hudson Cliffs. At 9:58 PM, FDLC firefighters were dispatched to the residence. When Station 16's units arrived on scene, they found heavy fire on the first floor of the home. Firefighters quickly deployed hoses and began combating the fire. The residents were home at the time and were able to escape unharmed. The cause of the fire was determined to be misuse of an extension cord to power an air conditioner.
5/24/98 PALACE THEATER (ARCOLA) 6TH ALARM
On Sunday, 5/24/1998 at 10:02 AM, just as patrons were sitting in their seats for the 10:20 AM showing of Godzilla, a fire erupted at the Palace Theater in Arcola. The old furnishings in the theater helped the fire quickly spread out of control and consume the two theater movie complex. When F.D.L.C. firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire already venting out the top windows of the building. A defensive attack was quickly engaged as firefighters attempted to stop the spread to the attached Grand Emporium department store. However, the volume of fire could not be contained before the Grand Emporium also became involved. Flames would rip through both buildings and cause both roofs to collapse. The fire would grow to a 6th Alarm assignment bringing 16 engine companies, 12 truck companies, 3 rescue companies, 8 battalion chiefs, 2 deputy chiefs, the assistant chief and Chief Petersen to the scene. Smoke from this blaze could be seen from the top of the World Trade Center. This was the first major incident in the history of the F.D.L.C. The cause of the fire was later determined to be arson caused by a disgruntled former employee, Dylan Rumspeel, who was fired Friday night for letting his teenage friends in the theater for free. An employee at the theater opened a rear fire escape door to allow Rumspeel in. The employee claimed they thought Rumspeel was going to play a practical joke to get back at management. He did not know that the duffel bag Rumspeel came into the theater with had two kerosene lanterns and a 1 gallon container of gasoline. Several patrons suffered smoke inhalation and injuries from being pushed in the panic. Thankfully no one was killed at this incident. Since the F.D.L.C. was a year and a half old at this point, many of the fire companies that worked at this fire were still independent. This is one of the few fires in F.D.L.C. history where mutual aid was needed at the scene that wasn't a special unit. The departments that helped at the scene included Radburn Volunteer FD, Mattropolis FD, Petersburgh FD, Garden City FD, Libertyville FD and Ravenwood FD. Rumspeel was charged and convicted of Aggravated Arson and served 2 years in a juvenile detention center before being transferred to state prison to serve 15 years. He was released in 2015.
7/6/99 CLIFFVIEW AVE (HUDSON CLIFFS) 5TH ALARM
Firefighters at Station 16 could see a column of smoke from their firehouse, before the bell rang at 3:53 PM. On a clear hot July Tuesday afternoon, firefighters could clearly see a column of smoke in the sky in the area of downtown Hudson Cliffs. When they would arrive at the "Hudson Clipper Bar & Lounge", they would find heavy fire had already consumed the two story restaurant. Firefighters would immediately go defensive and place multiple hoses and master streams in operation to try and save the exposure buildings. Miraculously, no other buildings became involved and firefighters were able to keep the flames to the original building. The "Hudson Clipper" would be a total loss however. A 5th Alarm would be needed with mutual aid to the scene from several departments. A total of 13 engines, 10 ladders, 2 rescues, 6 battalion chiefs, 2 deputy chiefs, the Assistant Chief and the Chief of the Department would be on scene. The fire was caused by a gas leak in the kitchen. Luckily there were no injuries.
10/24/03 PALISADE AVE (HUDSON CLIFFS) MVA
At 12 50 PM, the Hudson Cliffs Police Dept. was dispatched for a motor vehicle crash with an injury on Palisade Ave. The officers would find a single vehicle crash that had struck a tree and taken down a street pole. The driver of the vehicle was also unconscious and pinned. Engine 16, Truck 16, Rescue 4 and Battalion 19 responded. Rescue 4 was able to quickly remove the passenger side door of the vehicle and roll the dash forward so the patient could be removed. Hudson Cliffs Volunteer Ambulance was also on scene and transported the patient to Ravenwood Hospital.
11/16/05 FAIRCLOUGH PL (RADBURN) ALL HANDS
At 12:33 PM, firefighters were dispatched to a residence on Fairclough Pl in Radburn for a reported kitchen fire. When units arrived on scene, they found a working fire in the residence. Firefighters were able to quickly douse the flames and prevent the fire from extending. No firefighters or residents were injured at this incident.
Units Assigned
1st Alarm: Engine 18, Engine 76, Engine 57, Engine 22, Truck 18, Snorkel 1, Rescue 3, Battalion 13, Battalion 14, Air 3 RAC 3 and Division Chief 3
Units Assigned
1st Alarm: Engine 18, Engine 76, Engine 57, Engine 22, Truck 18, Snorkel 1, Rescue 3, Battalion 13, Battalion 14, Air 3 RAC 3 and Division Chief 3
8/17/07 LEXINGTON AVE (LIBERTY PARK) ALL HANDS
Units Assigned
1st Alarm: Engines 54, 57, 34, 13, Trucks 57, 83, Rescue 3, RAC 3, Air 3, Battalions 14, 11, Division Chief 3.
Total time of incident: 1 hour 55 minutes
Total units/firefighters on scene: 18 (4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Rehab, 1 Cascade, 2 Battalions, 1 Division Chief)
29 Firefighters
Injuries/Deaths: 1/0 (1 Firefighter injured)
Firefighters were dispatched to 37 Lexington Ave in Liberty Park for a working house fire at 12:02 PM. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke pushing out the first floor windows of the home. Engine 54 arrived on scene first and quickly deployed a hose to attack the fire. They were able to quickly locate the fire in the first floor living room and knock down the flames. Luckily the flames did not extend up to the second floor and was held to a room and contents. None of the residents were injured at this incident, but one firefighter suffered a minor injury when an extension ladder collapsed onto his hand as he was attempting to raise it to a second floor window.
1st Alarm: Engines 54, 57, 34, 13, Trucks 57, 83, Rescue 3, RAC 3, Air 3, Battalions 14, 11, Division Chief 3.
Total time of incident: 1 hour 55 minutes
Total units/firefighters on scene: 18 (4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Rehab, 1 Cascade, 2 Battalions, 1 Division Chief)
29 Firefighters
Injuries/Deaths: 1/0 (1 Firefighter injured)
Firefighters were dispatched to 37 Lexington Ave in Liberty Park for a working house fire at 12:02 PM. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke pushing out the first floor windows of the home. Engine 54 arrived on scene first and quickly deployed a hose to attack the fire. They were able to quickly locate the fire in the first floor living room and knock down the flames. Luckily the flames did not extend up to the second floor and was held to a room and contents. None of the residents were injured at this incident, but one firefighter suffered a minor injury when an extension ladder collapsed onto his hand as he was attempting to raise it to a second floor window.