Des Plaines Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 4211

10/31/2026

10/30/2026

: HAIARA Power Banks Sold on https://Amazon.com by Mitrytech Recalled; The power bank’s lithium battery can explode and ignite. Mitrytech has been made aware of 600 reports of fire and other thermal incidents, including three reports of burn injuries and nine reports of property damage. Get refund. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2027/HAIARA-Power-Banks-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Sold-on-Amazon-com-by-Mitrytech

10/30/2026

Flashback Friday !
Help Us Preserve the Legacy of Those Who Wore the Badge Before Us Every photograph tells a story.

Some of the most meaningful pieces of our department's history are tucked away in family albums, boxes in the basement, and old scrapbooks. They capture the firefighters who answered the call before us, built this department, and dedicated their lives to serving our community.

As time passes, many of our retired members have left us, and with each loss, we're reminded that the photos and memories they safeguarded can disappear forever. Sadly, we've also lost part of our own history in flooding in one of our fire stations that damaged department archives, and over the years, aging photographs and documents have continued to deteriorate.

Some of those memories are gone forever. We don't want to lose any more. If you or your family have photographs of our firefighters, stations, apparatus, training, community events, or memorable calls, we hope you'll consider sharing them with us.

Through our partnership with the Des Plaines History Center, your original photographs will be handled with the greatest care, professionally scanned to preserve them for future generations, and safely returned to you. This isn't just about preserving pictures.

It's about honoring the men and women who came before us, the firefighters who answered alarms in the middle of the night, comforted strangers on their worst days, mentored generations of firefighters, and helped shape the department we proudly serve today.

Their stories deserve to live on. Their service deserves to be remembered. Help us ensure that the legacy of our retired members and those we've recently lost is never forgotten.

10/29/2026

Days of Future Past Thursday – Today’s memories. Tomorrow’s history.

These photos may not be from generations ago, but they capture a time worth remembering. The faces may look a little younger, the equipment may have changed, and the calls that once filled our days may now be stories we tell.

But the firefighters in these photos are still here, still answering the call and still writing our department’s history.

From training and emergency calls to equipment, milestones, and traditions, these moments reflect the experiences that continue to shape our department.

Every firefighter leaves a mark. Every moment becomes a memory. And every chapter becomes part of the legacy passed on to those who follow.
Today’s memories.

Tomorrow’s history.

10/27/2026

The Mount Prospect Fire Department is saddened to share the passing of retired Captain John A. Gibson.

Captain Gibson proudly served the Mount Prospect Fire Department for 25 years, from 1964 until his retirement in 1989. We are grateful for his years of dedicated service to our department and the Mount Prospect community.

A firefighter walkthrough will take place on **Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM** at Friedrichs Funeral Home. All current and retired firefighters are encouraged to attend as we come together to honor Captain Gibson and his years of service.

**Visitation and Funeral Arrangements**

**Thursday, October 29, 2026**
Visitation: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friedrichs Funeral Home
320 W. Central Road
Mount Prospect, IL

**Friday, October 30, 2026**
Visitation: 10:00 AM
Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM
St. Raymond de Penafort Catholic Church
Elmhurst Road (Route 83) at Lincoln Street
Mount Prospect, IL

Please keep Captain Gibson's family, friends, and former colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Captain Gibson. Thank you for your service.

Obituary and additional information:
https://www.friedrichsfh.com/obituaries/John-A-Gibson?obId=49952239

10/26/2026

We are heartbroken. Please keep the Witt family and our Fire family in your thoughts and prayers.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

10/24/2026

Hal liked to cook his own Italian food at the firehouse, and he had rules about everything! What ingredients to use, how to prepare them, and exactly how long things should cook. You’d think he was running a five-star restaurant instead of a firehouse kitchen! One of his famous rules was to always save a cup of pasta water because, as Hal insisted, “You never know when you might need it!” The funny part? Nobody ever saw him use the stuff! Pretty soon, we figured he wasn’t making pasta sauce, he was building a collection of pasta water! And heaven help anyone who dared to pour it down the drain. When it came to Italian cooking, Hal was the chief, and his rules were the law!

10/23/2026

This past week, the Des Plaines Fire Department held its annual awards evening, recognizing the outstanding service and dedication of several teams, including dispatchers and state and federal investigators. At times we take these people for granted, but each and everyone of them plays a vital role in keeping our community safe, and their contributions deserve to be celebrated.

We would like to shine a special spotlight on one extraordinary group.

These are the Des Plaines firefighters and Police officers who were among the first to arrive at the scene of the devastating fire and explosion on Harding Ave in Des Plaines. Without hesitation, they put their own lives at risk to rescue 12 people trapped on the second and third floors of the burning building.

While these first responders acted swiftly and courageously, an emergency of this magnitude required an extraordinary, coordinated effort. We are deeply grateful to our neighboring fire departments, including North Maine Fire Protection District, Niles Fire Department, Park Ridge Firefighters, Morton Grove Fire Department, Rosemont Public Safety Department, Northbrook Professional Firefighters Local 1894, Mount Prospect Firefighters IAFF Local 4119, Arlington Heights Firefighters L-3105 Glenview Prof. Firefighters Assoc. IAFF Local 4186, Prospect Heights Fire Protection District, Buffalo Grove Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 3177, Wheeling Firefighters Association Local 3079, Schiller Park Firefighters Local 5230, Rolling Meadows Firefighters and Paramedics, IAFF Local 3075, Bensenville Professional Firefighters Local 2968, Northfield Fire Rescue Association and Chicago Fire Fighters Union - Local 2. Their assistance was vital and their support is a powerful reminder that when disaster strikes, neighboring communities come together as one team.

The courage, quick action, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by these first responders embody the very best of public service.

Ask any one of them if they are a hero, and chances are they’ll humbly say no. But these are the people who run toward danger when others are trying to escape. They put the safety of others before themselves and act when every second counts.

Today, we recognize them, honor their bravery, and extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual and department that played a role in protecting lives during one of our community’s most challenging moments.

Thank you for your courage, your service, and your unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe.