Calumet City Professional Firefighters Local 621

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago today, our nation and the fire service changed forever. On September 11, 2001, 343 FDNY firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice while answering the call. In the days and weeks that followed, firefighters from across the United States and Canada traveled to New York to support their brothers and sisters. The International Association of Fire Fighters immediately mobilized resources, counselors, and support for FDNY members and their families.

The IAFF would go on to raise more than $167 million for the families of the fallen. Organized labor also answered the call. Firefighters, police officers, construction workers, nurses, transit workers, utility workers, and countless other union members worked side by side during the rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. Nearly 10,000 construction workers volunteered at Ground Zero alone

The sacrifice did not end on September 11. More than 600 firefighters have since died from World Trade Center related diseases, and thousands of responders continue to live with cancer, respiratory disease, and other illnesses caused by their exposure.

The IAFF and the labor movement continued fighting for these members, helping secure health monitoring, medical treatment, compensation, and protections through programs such as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and the World Trade Center Health Program.

Today, Calumet City Firefighters IAFF Local 621 stands with our brothers and sisters across the fire service and organized labor in remembering everyone who answered the call. Rest in peace to the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives that morning and to all those we have lost since because of September 11.

Always Remember. Never Forget. (AFL-CIO⁠)

AFL-CIO
International Association of Fire Fighters

09/10/2026

09/08/2026

Next week, members will travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 40th Annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

This year’s memorial is especially meaningful to us. Our Deputy Chief, Peter J. Bendinelli, will have his name added to the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Wall.

Pete was always a proud dues-paying union member. Even after moving up through the ranks, he never forgot where he came from and always supported IAFF Local 621.

As many of you know, Pete’s brother, Nick Bendinelli, is a Lieutenant with the South Adams County Fire Department in Colorado. We wanted to create a special shirt that represents both departments and unions coming together to honor Pete.

Calumet City chose the owl because our training center now sits on the former site of the historic Owl Club, from the days when Calumet City was known as “Sin City.” Nick chose the buffalo because there are buffalo within his fire district in Colorado.

Put the two together, and you have an owl and a buffalo sitting side by side, representing two fire families coming together for one very special reason.

If you look closely at the design, you may also notice a small Easter egg hanging on the wall. Let us know if you can find it.

We had 150 shirts printed for the memorial. Once our members return from Colorado, if we have enough shirts remaining, we will post a link on our page for anyone who would like to purchase one.

Most importantly, this T-shirt is about remembering Pete and what he meant to all of us. It represents two unions, from two different states, coming together as one fire service family to honor one of our own.

Pete may no longer be standing beside us, but his name, his impact, and his legacy will continue to live on through the people and the fire service he cared so much about.

IAFF Local 5124
South Adams County Fire Department
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Calumet City Fire Department
International Association of Fire Fighters

09/07/2026

📸💚Mayday Alert for Photographer Tim Olk💚📸

Illinois’ Tim Olk has been part of the fire service for more than 43 years, serving as a firefighter with Northbrook, Northfield, and Prospect Heights. The fire service is a fundamental part of who he is. After his mentor, Assistant Chief Wayne Luecht, was killed in an explosion, Tim made it his mission to honor and document the men and women of the fire service through his photography. He has also built a reputation as someone who is always there when others need him, regardless of his own circumstances. For more than four decades, Tim has given his time, energy, and dedication to the fire service and the people around him.

For the past two years, Tim has been battling bladder and prostate cancer, and on January 31, 2026, he underwent surgery to remove his bladder and prostate. What was expected to be a seven-hour operation lasted 15 hours due to serious complications, followed by more than 12 weeks in the hospital, a month in rehabilitation, and repeated infections. Doctors later discovered that the stoma created during surgery was too small, causing fluids to back up into his kidneys and leading to recurring infections, and Tim now faces another major surgery to correct it. Because of his prolonged treatment and complications, he has missed a substantial amount of work and has accumulated approximately $35,000 in medical and rehabilitation expenses not covered by insurance. Tim has spent his life showing up for others, and now he needs that same support in return from the many people he has helped, photographed, honored, encouraged, and stood beside over the years.

https://www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/olk






Northern Illinois Fire Ground Photography by Tim Olk
JLT Photography
Northern Midwest Fire Photography
Firedog Media
Chicagoland FireGround Scanner
Illinois Fire Scanner
FDIC MABAS-Illinois
Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association - IFCA
Illinois Firefighter's Association Foundation
Northeast Illinois Emergency Incidents

08/31/2026

Our raffle has concluded and we would like to thank everyone who donated. We would also like to thank the following participants that donated their winnings back to the local for Lisa Bendinelli and her daughters to attend the IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial this September in Colorado Springs.

Steve Dejong
Aaron Borowski
Mike Laureto
Gus Kotsivios
The Yard Foundation
William Neumann
Project Fire Buddies

Thank you all again for the successful raffle!

08/30/2026