Palatine Fire Department history
John Tobin photo John Tobin photo Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com: On February 23, 1973, a fire broke out at the Ben Franklin five-and-dime store in Palatine. At the time, John Tobin was a high school senior living just a mile away from downtown. It was early morning, and his father, Dave, who served as a second lieutenant in the village’s volunteer fire department, had already left for the scene. So had the assistant chief, who lived across the street. Feeling that he had no choice, Tobin skipped school and ran toward the fire. As he approached, he saw the towering 75-foot Snorkel ladder truck from 1969, which had become a familiar sight in the community. But nothing could have prepared him for what he witnessed that day. Standing in shock, Tobin overheard a firefighter mention that three others were trapped in the basement. In his rush to get to the fire, Tobin forgot his camera. He ran home to grab it, and when he returned to downtown Palatine, he saw his father working on the fire outside and knew he was safe. But it wasn’t until later that he learned the full extent of the tragedy — three firefighters had been killed: Warren Ahlgrim, Richard Freeman, and John Wilson, who were trapped in the basement filled with carbon monoxide. More than 40 years later, the memory of that day still lingers with Tobin. The image of the Snorkel truck has haunted him for decades. In 2003, after hearing it had been sold to Salem, Illinois, he made a stop there while traveling home from a convention. But by then, the truck had already been moved to Pierceton, Indiana. He visited the town and kept track of its whereabouts over the years. Earlier this year, when the city of Pierceton planned to sell the old truck, Tobin reached out. He offered $5,000, and they accepted. “This is my childhood idol of a truck,†he said. For the past few days, he’s been working at the Bartlett Fire Department, restoring the vehicle and adding a tribute to the fallen firefighters. “It brings back old memories and honors those firefighters who lost their lives that day,†Tobin explained. On Tuesday, the restored truck was back in downtown Palatine, exactly where it had stood 43 years earlier, during the annual memorial service at the Firefighters Memorial. After the ceremony, Tobin plans to keep the truck in a barn on his property in West Dundee, preserving its history and ensuring the story of the three brave men is never forgotten. Thanks Dan The Ben Franklin store fire killed three Palatine firefighters. John Tobin photo Outdoor Shades,Sun Shelter,Outdoor bedroom,Leisure Tent Ningbo Tuofeng Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.tuofengoutdoor.com