Orland Fire Protection District showcases shirts honoring veterans

Orland Fire Protection District showcases shirts honoring veterans

The Orland Fire Protection District’s personnel will wear special shirts every Friday designed to salute America’s active duty military men and women, and veterans who have served or sacrificed their lives in past service to their country.

Firefighters will be given the option to wear the special red shirts as an alternative to their regular Class B uniforms every Friday beginning this month as a salute to Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11 and for the next year to recognize the sacrifices of veterans and those in active duty military service.

“Many of our employees are veterans and I felt this was a very appropriate way to recognize their service and the service of others, and also as a way to emphasize that our firefighters are like all of the men and women in our community who commit themselves to our safety and our way of life,” said OFPD Chief Ken Brucki.

Brucki, who last month directed Fire personnel to wear shirts in support of the fight against breast cancer, said “the community needs to know that we are not only vigilant to protect their interests, but that their interests and safety are also our interests and safety.”

Brucki said it was important that the public recognize the commitment Fire District employees have not only to their mission but also to the society as a whole. He said wearing the shirts is not mandatory but a choice for employees.

Photo

Personnel pictured from left to right are:  Engineer Steve Kovats (USAF), Lt. Tom Grossman (USMC), Chief Ken Brucki, Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Agle (Il. National Guard, active), Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Frawley (Il. National Guard, active), Lt. Kevin Kitchen (US Army), and FF/P Brian Thompson (US Army Reserves, active).

(Not Pictured: Engineer Jim Mazurkiewicz (US Naval Reserves), Firefighter Wally Rafacz (US Army), Engineer Steve Rivero (US Navy), Lieutenant Todd Schuneman (USMC, US Air Force Reserves.)

END

Orland Fire responds to emergency call: Man’s hand caught in meat grinder

Orland Fire responds to emergency call: Man’s hand caught in meat grinder

The Orland Fire Protection District received an emergency call on Saturday (Nov. 3) involving a worker whose fingers were caught in a food meat grinder. The seriousness of the circumstances were aggravated when firefighters trying to extricate his hand from the machine had accompany the many to the hospital.

Fire Chief Ken Brucki said it was an extremely unusual incident.

“Once on the scene, the firefighters and paramedics were presented with an extremely serious incident which would test their skills and experience,” Brucki said.

“The worker had his arm stuck in a machine that grinds meat. The paramedics quickly began to treat the worker as the firefighters developed a plan to extricate the worker. It became quickly apparent that the extraction would be difficult and time consuming, the rescue team began to dismantle as much of the machine as possible on the scene.”

Brucki said that paramedics recognized that the patient had to be immediately transported to the hospital where the extrication had to be completed in the emergency room.

“It was obvious to the paramedics that the this rescue would require medical staff and an Emergency Room for the best outcome,” Brucki said.

“The decision was made to transport the worker with his arm still in the grinder part of the machine to Silver Cross Hospital where doctors could assist the rescue team in the removal.”

Brucki said it was the patient was taken to Silver Cross Hospital.

“This was a first in the history of the Orland Fire Protection District, we had never gone to a hospital to continue an extraction, Engine 3, Truck 1, Battalion 1 and Ambulance 3 all proceeded to Silver Cross hospital,” Brucki said.

“Once at the hospital firefighters conferred with Emergency room Doctors, it was decided that the extrication could not be done in surgery and that the firefighter would perform the extraction in a sub room of the ER where the firefighter could use a smaller version of the “Jaws of Life” to meticulously cut away the grinder portion of the machine.”

Brucki said it was “like a scene from a movie” with firefighters cutting the machine apart under the direction of the Emergency Room Doctors.

“The extrication lasted about 20 minutes and was successful the ER staff immediately took over care as the firefighters began to put their equipment back in service,” Brucki said. “This is another example of how well trained our Orland Firefighters are to handle unique situations.”

end

Two automobile rollovers in two days in Orland Park

Two automobile rollovers in two days in Orland Park

On Wednesday October 30, 2012 at approximately 11:16 in the morning, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to the intersection of 144^th Place and La Grange Road for the rollover vehicle accident.  The driver of a SUV was trapped in the upside down vehicle along with his approximate 100 pound dog. 

The driver was extricated by fire crews while simultaneously distracting the dog – protecting the driver and the responders in the vehicle.  The driver was extricated from the vehicle, treated and transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center.

(Click photos to display larger hi-resolution images. Right click to download)

The Orland Park Police animal control officer was able to remove the dog from the vehicle.

A second vehicle was involved in the incident.  The driver of the second vehicle was not injured.

On October 31, 2012 at approximately 11:54 AM, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to the 14700 block of Wolf Rd for the roll over single vehicle accident.  The driver of the vehicle was able to get out of the vehicle by himself.  The driver was transported to Silver Cross Hospital with minor injuries.

(Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District)

Orland hosts local premiere of new movie on Firefighters

Orland hosts local premiere of new movie on Firefighters

The Orland Fire Protection District was a proud co-sponsor of the recent premier showing of a new documentary on the challenges of firefighters in Detroit called “Burn: One Year on the Frontlines of the Battle to Save Detroit.”

The premier was held at the Orland Park Marcus Theaters 400-seat UltraScreen theater with two showings on Thursday October 18 that featured the documentary producers and stars.

Producer/director Brenna Sanchez was at the theater to introduce the film to a packed audience of firefighters and supporters including a large representation from the Orland Fire Protection District.

Above, pictured from left: Ted Copley, Chief Ken Brucki,

Brendan “Doogie” Milewski and David Parnell

Above, pictured from left: Ted Copley, Chief Ken Brucki,

Brendan “Doogie” Milewski, David Parnell and Engineer David Nagle and Lt. William Leddin.

“We were told there was no interest in a film about fire fighters,” Sanchez said before the premiere. “We have waited two years to see this film and I want to thank all of you for your support. This film can make an impact. It has a potential to change minds. We need your help to spread the word.”

Burn follows the crew of Engine Company 50 – one of the busiest firehouses in America. Located on Detroit’s blighted East Side, E50 stands at “ground zero” of the city’s problems, the film’s website explains. The starting salary of a Detroit fire fighter is only $30,000 a year and they haven’t seen a raise in 10 years, the documentary points out.

Sanchez thanked MSA, the leading manufacturer of high-quality safety products for police, fire and emergency service personnel, saying that “They got involved with us very early on and we couldn’t do it without their help.”

Representatives of MSA premier channel partners, Air One Equipment, Inc from South Elgin, Illinois attended the opening. Owners Dave and Sandy Frey and a staff of over 10 volunteers donated their time and worked the premieres at the theaters in Orland Park and Rosemont to help with the set up and the sales of merchandise which all went directly to “BURN.” MSA President William Lambert was featured in the film.

The film focused on the lives of a handful of firefighters in Detroit, which is described as having more fires each year than any other majority city in the country. Detroit has more than 80,000 abandoned structures, which accounts for the high fire and arson rate, the movie details.

“I was very impressed by how the film captured the challenges that the firefighters in Detroit have to face,” said OFPD Chief Ken Brucki.

At the start of the film showing, the district’s Color Guard posted the American Flag.

Several of the Detroit firefighters who are featured in the in the film including Ted Copley of Detroit’s Ladder 12, retired fire fighter Brendan “Doogie” Milewski, and retired Fire fighter David Parnell came to Chicago for the premiere which also included sold-out showings at theaters in Rosemont.

Parnell served as a Field Engineer Operator for Engine 50 until his recent retirement. Milewski was paralyzed from the chest down when the bricks of a burning building collapsed and him and other firefighters on Friday August 13, 2010.

Milewski became a fire fighter at age 20 serving 11 years before his tragic accident.

“I remember that day very well. Friday the 13^th. I had a bad feeling when I saw the building as soon as I saw the fire,” Milewski said during a question and answer session that followed the documentary showing.

Sanchez said that they hope the film will receive national distribution, but currently is being slated in select theaters across the country. It returns for a second Chicagoland engagement Dec. 7 through the 13^th. The documentary is not yet fully funded for national release, Sanchez said.

The film’s web site is www.DetroitFireFilm.org and the Facebook page is www.Facebook.com/burnfilm.

It is backed by Hollywood start Denis Leary who established a foundation to help fire fighters who have been injured fighting fires and the families of firefighters who have been killed. Parts of the profits from the documentary will go to the Leary Firefighters Foundation (www.LearyFireFighters.org.)

Photos courtesy of Ray Hanania and OFPD Battalion Chief Dan Smith

end

Chinese exchange students and government officials tour OFPD facilities

Chinese exchange students and government officials tour OFPD facilities

A delegation of students and government officials toured the Orland Fire Protection District on Thursday, Oct. 11, viewing firsthand how firefighters train and battle fires.

The delegates, which included Chinese officials working in public works, police and fire, and government from the Guangzhou Province in China, are touring American government and public agencies through The 21^st Century Institute, a not-for-profit agency based on Oak Park.

OFPD Chief Ken Brucki said the Fire District worked with the Village of Orland Park in coordination of the tour, noting Fire District officials allowed the guests to view firsthand district responses to simulated emergencies, on-going training and reviewing EMS equipment and procedures.

“We had our experts like Training Battalion Chief David Piper and EMS Coordinator Mark Duke closely supervised the tour,” Brucki said.

“They were very interested in how we work with local government asking questions about taxation, cooperation and also with how we respond to specific emergency situations.”

Brucki said that the guests visited the Training Center, the Administration Building, several Fire Houses and also the Dispatch Center. They were able to watch several ongoing training exercises and were particularly interested in the rigorous training the District requires for firefighters.

“We were in the process of conducting a hazardous decontamination exercise which they were allowed to witness,” Brucki said.

“We took them to our EMS Simulator and demonstrated a cardiac arrest response using our computerized mannequin. They were able to witness firsthand how we address several emergency scenarios and how we also monitor responses on our computer systems.”

The 21st Century Institute was founded in the early 1990s and is a non-profit organization based in Oak Brook, Illinois with branch offices in New York and Los Angeles, and in Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming in China.

The goal of the institute is to maximize human potential by integrating intellectual, cultural, economic, scientific, and technological resources from different geographical regions of the world. The Institute strives to be a strong and vital link in bridging the diversity of nations. The current focus of the Institute is networking between the United States and Asia-Pacific region.

Information below/website for the 21st Century non-for profit organization   http://www.tci21.org/

# # #

The Orland Fire Protection District trustees accept budget recommendations

The Orland Fire Protection Diistrict trustees accept budget recommendations

The Orland Fire Protection District held a special meeting Tuesday Oct. 16, 2012 to accept budget recommendations from the district's department heads. The recommendations were presented to the board by Budget Director Kerry Sullivan and Fire Chief Ken Brucki.

Sullivan explained that the projections were merely recommendations that still must be approved by the board, once a budget document is finalized.

The board voted to direct the district to display the tentative budget to the public beginning on Oct. 26, Friday, 30-days before the board is expected to vote to approve the budget on Tuesday Nov. 27. Sullivan said that members of the public will then be allowed to review the spending proposals and submit their own comments when the budget is voted on during the board hearing Nov. 27.

Brucki and Sullivan explained the proposed tentative budget, which is still subject to revisions of trustees, is for $29 million, with $29.9 million in projected revenues. There is no change from last year’s budget and includes expenditures for the 11 firefighters hired recently, and projects funds for union wage negotiations (two contracts expire Dec. 31, 2012).

Sullivan said the budget will be “a break even budget.”

“This is the 2nd time that our budget would be under $30 million in the past six years now. Previously, our budget was over $30 million and was on its way to hitting $40 million based on prior spending habits. That was unacceptable. But we believe the budget reflects our continued concern for the needs of taxpayers who want great fire service at a better managed cost,” said OFPD Board President Jim Hickey. Hickey noted that last year was the first time the budget was under $30 million in the prior five years.

Chief Brucki said that department heads presented their budget needs and he and the budget department reviewed and made recommendations that are included for the board. Brucki said the proposed budget will be made public next week at the regularly scheduled Tuesday October 23 board meeting, and then voted on at the November 27 board meeting following a public budget hearing.

“There isn’t a lot of wiggle room in the budget, About 86.5 percent of the budget represents fixed costs for personnel,” Brucki said. “This year the process was streamlined and we made everyone justify every cost request. My goal was to tighten the process.”

Trustee Chris Evoy said, “This budget proposal keeps everything within the boundaries we have wanted. It is very considerate of the needs of the taxpayers who have demanded more accountability and a tighter control on spending. I think this budget achieves those needs.”

The budget process was opened to the public for the first time in 2011 when the new board held a special budget meeting to allow department heads to explain their recommendations. That was the first time the public was allowed to witness the detailed budget process, Hickey explained.

This year's budget recommendations so closely paralleled last year's recommendations that the requests were submitted by Sullivan and Brucki to the trustees who got their first look at projected numbers on Oct. 16.

New documentary "Burn: One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit" premieres in Orland Park

New documentary "Burn: One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit" premieres in Orland Park

The Orland Fire Protection District is supporting the release of a new movie called “Burn: One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit,” an independent documentary film that features the Detroit, Michigan Fire Department but represents fire departments across the U.S.

There is a preview showing of the documentary “Burn” at the Marcus Theaters on Thursday October 18, 2012 at 7 pm and at 9:30 pm.

There are a limited number of showings around the country in order to raise awareness and to help encourage public financial support for a full nationwide release of the film.

Here is a link to the film for more information:

BURN: One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit http://detroitfirefilm.org/

# # #