THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

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Local Firefighters To Assist In Hurricane Cleanup

Vehicles and personnel from the Arlington Heights Fire Dept. left early yesterday morning (Wednesday) to rendezvous with fire companies others from across Illinois to assist with clean up efforts along the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

The area fire departments' mutual aid governing body MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 1 was called upon to send four firefighters and two vehicles, a squad car and "chase" vehicle (an SUV) to meet up with 150 other fire departments driving to the Gulf Coast to assist in relief efforts.

Des Plaines Fire Chief Randy Jaeger, secretary of the board of MABAS Division 1, told the Journal four firefighters from Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates left early Wednesday morning and will meet a statewide task force in central Illinois to travel to the Gulf Coast.

The original request from Louisiana asked for an additional chief and engine company consisting of five more firefighters and a chief. That request was scaled back Tuesday night.

Jaeger said when the original call for help went out last week before Gustav made landfall there was concern the storm could be a category four or five hurricane.