Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57 - headed Palatine Fire Dept.
Author: Scott Fornek
Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57, fire chief of Palatine and former assistant fire chief in Moline, died Monday at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village.
In 1970, Mr. Carothers received the Benjamin Franklin Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for heroism in fighting a Moline gasoline tank fire.
The fire erupted in a storage area at Quint City Petroleum Co., threatening 11 other fuel storage tanks. Firefighters used foam and water to keep the tanks cool after a feeder hose ruptured, spilling gasoline into the yard area.
Mr. Carothers , a captain at the time, dashed into the tank area and closed the valves on the tanks that were feeding the fire.
"He stopped them from exploding," his brother, Don, said. "The tanks were in a circle with the fire in the middle. To keep the others from igniting, he had to crawl and run into a pit with flames all around him. His only protection was a raincoat over his head, and the squirting water and foam."
Mr. Carothers joined the Moline Fire Department in 1957 and served there until he joined the Palatine department as chief in 1976.
"His biggest attribute was his support of education in the fire service," acting Palatine Fire Chief Richard Payne said. "He brought the department from a combined volunteer and full-time department to a full-time, modern day department with the dual service of emergency medical services as well as firefighting. All firefighters are now also paramedics."
Mr. Carothers went on medical leave early last year.
He was former president of the Northern Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, which is comprised of 125 fire departments from Chicago to the Wisconsin state line.
In 1986, he was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the International Fire Chiefs Association.
In the last 10 years, he served on search committees recruiting fire chiefs for surrounding suburbs. In the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He earned degrees in fire science and management from various universities.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Carothers is survived by his wife, Gloria; three daughters, Sherri Olson, Sheila and Angela; his parents, Herta and Harvey Sr.; a sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, Palatine. Services will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Cutting Hall, Palatine. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sartell, Minn.
Author: Scott Fornek
Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57, fire chief of Palatine and former assistant fire chief in Moline, died Monday at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village.
In 1970, Mr. Carothers received the Benjamin Franklin Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for heroism in fighting a Moline gasoline tank fire.
The fire erupted in a storage area at Quint City Petroleum Co., threatening 11 other fuel storage tanks. Firefighters used foam and water to keep the tanks cool after a feeder hose ruptured, spilling gasoline into the yard area.
Mr. Carothers , a captain at the time, dashed into the tank area and closed the valves on the tanks that were feeding the fire.
"He stopped them from exploding," his brother, Don, said. "The tanks were in a circle with the fire in the middle. To keep the others from igniting, he had to crawl and run into a pit with flames all around him. His only protection was a raincoat over his head, and the squirting water and foam."
Mr. Carothers joined the Moline Fire Department in 1957 and served there until he joined the Palatine department as chief in 1976.
"His biggest attribute was his support of education in the fire service," acting Palatine Fire Chief Richard Payne said. "He brought the department from a combined volunteer and full-time department to a full-time, modern day department with the dual service of emergency medical services as well as firefighting. All firefighters are now also paramedics."
Mr. Carothers went on medical leave early last year.
He was former president of the Northern Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, which is comprised of 125 fire departments from Chicago to the Wisconsin state line.
In 1986, he was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the International Fire Chiefs Association.
In the last 10 years, he served on search committees recruiting fire chiefs for surrounding suburbs. In the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He earned degrees in fire science and management from various universities.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Carothers is survived by his wife, Gloria; three daughters, Sherri Olson, Sheila and Angela; his parents, Herta and Harvey Sr.; a sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, Palatine. Services will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Cutting Hall, Palatine. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sartell, Minn.
Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57 - headed Palatine Fire Dept.
Author: Scott Fornek
Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57, fire chief of Palatine and former assistant fire chief in Moline, died Monday at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village.
In 1970, Mr. Carothers received the Benjamin Franklin Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for heroism in fighting a Moline gasoline tank fire.
The fire erupted in a storage area at Quint City Petroleum Co., threatening 11 other fuel storage tanks. Firefighters used foam and water to keep the tanks cool after a feeder hose ruptured, spilling gasoline into the yard area.
Mr. Carothers , a captain at the time, dashed into the tank area and closed the valves on the tanks that were feeding the fire.
"He stopped them from exploding," his brother, Don, said. "The tanks were in a circle with the fire in the middle. To keep the others from igniting, he had to crawl and run into a pit with flames all around him. His only protection was a raincoat over his head, and the squirting water and foam."
Mr. Carothers joined the Moline Fire Department in 1957 and served there until he joined the Palatine department as chief in 1976.
"His biggest attribute was his support of education in the fire service," acting Palatine Fire Chief Richard Payne said. "He brought the department from a combined volunteer and full-time department to a full-time, modern day department with the dual service of emergency medical services as well as firefighting. All firefighters are now also paramedics."
Mr. Carothers went on medical leave early last year.
He was former president of the Northern Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, which is comprised of 125 fire departments from Chicago to the Wisconsin state line.
In 1986, he was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the International Fire Chiefs Association.
In the last 10 years, he served on search committees recruiting fire chiefs for surrounding suburbs. In the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He earned degrees in fire science and management from various universities.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Carothers is survived by his wife, Gloria; three daughters, Sherri Olson, Sheila and Angela; his parents, Herta and Harvey Sr.; a sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, Palatine. Services will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Cutting Hall, Palatine. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sartell, Minn.
Author: Scott Fornek
Harvey C . Carothers Jr., 57, fire chief of Palatine and former assistant fire chief in Moline, died Monday at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village.
In 1970, Mr. Carothers received the Benjamin Franklin Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for heroism in fighting a Moline gasoline tank fire.
The fire erupted in a storage area at Quint City Petroleum Co., threatening 11 other fuel storage tanks. Firefighters used foam and water to keep the tanks cool after a feeder hose ruptured, spilling gasoline into the yard area.
Mr. Carothers , a captain at the time, dashed into the tank area and closed the valves on the tanks that were feeding the fire.
"He stopped them from exploding," his brother, Don, said. "The tanks were in a circle with the fire in the middle. To keep the others from igniting, he had to crawl and run into a pit with flames all around him. His only protection was a raincoat over his head, and the squirting water and foam."
Mr. Carothers joined the Moline Fire Department in 1957 and served there until he joined the Palatine department as chief in 1976.
"His biggest attribute was his support of education in the fire service," acting Palatine Fire Chief Richard Payne said. "He brought the department from a combined volunteer and full-time department to a full-time, modern day department with the dual service of emergency medical services as well as firefighting. All firefighters are now also paramedics."
Mr. Carothers went on medical leave early last year.
He was former president of the Northern Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, which is comprised of 125 fire departments from Chicago to the Wisconsin state line.
In 1986, he was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the International Fire Chiefs Association.
In the last 10 years, he served on search committees recruiting fire chiefs for surrounding suburbs. In the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He earned degrees in fire science and management from various universities.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Carothers is survived by his wife, Gloria; three daughters, Sherri Olson, Sheila and Angela; his parents, Herta and Harvey Sr.; a sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, Palatine. Services will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Cutting Hall, Palatine. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sartell, Minn.
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