Official blog of the Orland Fire Protection District President & Board reflecting news, information, clarifications to news media stories and links.
Friday, October 7, 2011
What will you do to protect your family from fire during Fire Prevention week this year?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Orland Fire Protection District Budget opened to public for first time
Monday, September 26, 2011
It’s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire! Orland Fire Protection District Encourages Residents to Keep their Homes Safe During Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, 2011
Nancy Mulvihill/Public Educator
708-873-2742
n.mulvihill@orlandfire.org
October 8, 2011 -- What’s the best way to protect your family from fire? Be ahead of the game, of course. With more than 360,000 home fires reported in the
“In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed,” says Acting Chief
The Orland Fire Protection District offers the following tips for protecting your home and family from fire:
- Stay in the
kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the
kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- Keep anything
that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the
furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
- Have a
three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Replace or
repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
- If you smoke,
smoke outside.
- Use deep, wide
ashtrays on a sturdy table.
- Blow out all
candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in
the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
The following tips will help keep your family safe if there is a fire in your home:
- Install smoke
alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level
of the home (including the basement).
- Interconnect all
smoke alarms in the home so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Test smoke
alarms at least monthly and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10
years old or sooner if they do not respond when tested.
- Make sure
everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds.
- Pull together
everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and
inspect all possible ways out. Households with children should
consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each
room, including windows and doors.
- If you are
building or remodeling your home, consider installing home fire
sprinklers.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in the Orland Fire Protection District, please contact Nancy Mulvihill at 708-873-2742 or visit our website at: www.orlandfire..org for more information about the Open House or any other event going on in the community. To learn more about “It’s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
OFPD responds to house fire
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Orland Fire Protection District recognizes fast action by citizens and police officials
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Fire District responds to home fire started by lightning strike during Sunday's thunderstorms
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Southtown's Columnist Phil Kadner explores the OFPD move to make public records truly public
Phil Kadner, the columnist for the Southtown/Star, wrote a column in the Saturday (July 23) newspaper edition that detailed efforts by local governments, including the Orland Fire Protection District to publish all public records online.
Click here to read the column.
The Orland Fire Protection District took the first steps to provide full public transparency and that was quickly followed by announcements that others would follow, including from the Village of Orland Park which announced it will do the same but is still working on making the documents public.
Employees of the Orland Fire Protection District should be proud that they are leading the way to give the public full transparency and full information about how their tax dollars are being spent.
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Friday, July 22, 2011
Orland Fire Protection District posts salary, compensation and benefits listing
Although the Orland Fire Protection District has in the past published the general non-specific overview of employee wages as required by law, the board has directed the posting of the specific details of all employee wages to provide complete transparency for the public.
The posting allows the public to better understand how its taxpayer funds are spent by the OFPD.
Click here for the link to the full wages and compensation document.
Click here for the link to the annual Treasurer's report which lists wages based on "ranges."
Full Press Release from OFPD Board President Jim Hickey:
- · Releasing the full wages gives the public a complete understanding of the Fire District
- · In no way is releasing the list of full wages a criticism of the firefighters, although clearly it does show that during the past eight years the union has had more leverage over costs than the needs of the taxpayers
- · I support the unions but believe the district has been too generous; our firefighters are among the highest paid in the state and probably in the region which directly impacts taxpayer costs
- · I think we can provide a high quality of firefighting services to our taxpayers without paying so much. Today's economy demands that we re-asses what we have been doing
- · Chicago, which has a very professional and effective fire department pays far less. Mayor Rahm Emanuel also this week released the complete wages of all of the employees in the City of Chicago including firefighters. I think the village of Orland Park and other government agencies should do the same. A better and fully educated public can be more supportive of public service employees like firefighters.
- · here is what the numbers show. Most workers contribute from their salaries to their own pensions but in the case of the OFPD the taxpayers are almost fully paying the pension contribution .. the firefighters are being paid very well in the OFPD and they can contribute to their own pensions and still do better than most people when they retire. The pension contributions are among the largest added benefit to the firefighters but this is closely followed by overtime costs which are too high and must be curbed
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Southtown/Star news report on OFPD wages and insurance costs
The Southtown/Star this morning ran a story on the Orland Fire Protection District's wages including a discussion on the costs of insurance. Click HERE to view the story.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
WBBM News report on neighbors helping to alert homeowners of fire
News report by WBBM AM Radio on neighbors who alerted a homeowner of a fire.
Click here to read and listen to the report.
Click here to read the former news report.
Chicago Tribune looks at all sides of wage debate
The Chicago Tribune has a frontpage story this morning that explores the issue of wages for the Orland Fire Protection District. The story is based on the release of last year's full wage accounting, a document that is expected to be posted online later this week.
The story addresses comparisons between the OFPD and other districts, and has the pros and cons of the wage rates reflected in a wide range of comments.
The release of the wage document for calendar year 2010 is the result of the new board's decision to make all public documents actually available to the public, including contracts and important board policy decisions, documents that in the past have remained secret and unavailable to the public.
The Village of Orland Park also announced this week plans to publish their complete wage document for all employees including basic pay, overtime and all compensation. The release of this information is considered public information and should be released to insure that the public has an accurate understanding of how their taxpayer dollars are being spent.
Here are the links to stories:
Tribune story Wed July 20, 2011
Tribune graphic July 20
Orland Park Patch story
Southtown/Star story on Village of Orland Park plans for transparency by next month
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Alert neighbors and quick fire response helped save family in fire this morning
Ray Hanania
TUESDAY JULY 5, 2011
Alert neighbors and quick fire response helped save family in fire this morning
Orland Park -- Alert neighbors and a fast response from the Orland Fire Protection District played major roles in saving the lives of a family and preventing further damage to a home where a fire broke out very early this morning.
Acting Fire Chief Raymond L. Kay credited the neighbors and the Fire District response with keeping the fire damage to a minimum and savings lives. Orland Park police were also fast on the scene alerting the homeowners and family.
Chief Kay said the family of seven including three young children were asleep when the fire broke out in the home's attached a garage area around 1:16 AM. The first fire truck arrived at the scene at the corner of Clearview and Terry Drive at 1:19 AM. Firefighters discovered the two car garage in heavy fire.
Firefighters quickly contained the fire preventing it from expanding into the living areas, Chief Kay said.
"The owners, who were asleep, were alerted to the fire by neighbors pounding on the front door," Chief Kay said.
"It was 1:15 in the morning and the residents were sleeping. Fortunately, the neighbors saw this. Had the neighbors not responded and had this fire gone unchecked, it would have gotten in to the living area of the house. I think our quick response and the role of the neighbors and the police were clearly instrumental in saving those lives."
Kay said none of the occupants, including four adults and three children, were injured.
He said that the investigation has not identified a cause but he could not rule out the fire being started by any fireworks from the 4th of July celebrations that evening.
"The construction features of the home prevented smoke and fire from entering the living areas and that's just a reminder about how important these features are to protecting lives," Chief Kay said.
The quick response of multiple Orland FPD fire, police and EMS companies provided for simultaneous search and rescue, fire extinguishment and fire extension operations, Chief Kay explained. These simultaneous actions prevent the loss of life and the protection of property.
"These actions proved to be vital," Chief Kay added.
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For first time in history, OFPD posts detailed budget documents
Click here to view the budget audit.
Hickey and members of the board has promised that all public documents will be placed on the OFPD web site for easy public viewing.
"The public has a right to know exactly what the district is doing," said President Hickey.
Hickey's directive is endorsed by two new board members, Blair Rhode and Christopher Evoy.
"I think it is very important for the public to know exactly how their tax dollars are being spent so they have an accurate understanding about the district," Rhode said.
The OFPD budget office is also working on converting the annual budget for placement on the web site. That should be completed this month.
For more information on public information, visit www.OrlandFire.org
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Friday, July 1, 2011
OFPD Board trims nearly $500,000 in spending during first 60 days
- June 28, 2011: OFPD Board votes to retire two bond issues, one set to expire in 2016. Retiring the bonds early will save taxpayers $110,000 in interest payments on the bonds. Expected to be implemented at next board meeting.
Potential Savings: $110,000
- Not filling the vacant position of Battalion Chief.
Savings $215,000
- Reducing board meetings to one per month.
Savings $60,000
- June 2011: Change in the wages of the Human Resources Director from $73,000 to $68,000.
Savings $5,000.
- June 2011: Elimination of the Public Education director, salaried at $47,000.
Savings $47,000.
- June 2011: Reduction in the salary of the Executive Secretary to the board, salaried at $65,000 reduced to $37,000.
Savings of $28,000.
-June 2011: Reduction in the consulting fee for communications, previously $48,000 reduced to $36,000 for Urban Strategies Group.
Savings of $12,000.
-June 2011: Hiring lobbyist Cheryl Axley to monitor OFPD Interests and grant opportunities in Springfield.
Cost $60,000
- May 25, 2011: hiring Del Galdo Law Group.
Savings $48,000
- May 25, 2011: Two trustees (Blair Rhode, Chris Evoy) declining their trustee salaries.
Savings $6,000
- May 25, 2011: Hiring Cindy Katsenes ($25,000) replacing Tom Dubelbeis ($40,000).
Savings $15,000
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Board cites fast action at TGI Friday with saving life
The Orland Fire Protection District Board on Tuesday recognized the fast action and life saving training of an employee working at TGI Friday in Orland Park who responded to a female patron who was choking. Lea Elliot was credited with using the Heimlich Maneuver after noticing the customer choking to save the customer's life.
"We are very proud of what Lea Elliot did. Knowing life saving techniques such as the Heimlich Maneuver is very important for public safety," said OFPD Acting Chief Raymond Kay. Elliot was given a plaque to commemorate her lifesaving actions.
The plaque was presented to Lea Elliot by Lt. Mark Duke, OFPD EMS Administrator. The plaque reads:
"On April 8, 2011 a patron of TGI Friday was choking on food that had occluded her airway. The choking patron approached Lea Elliot for help and without hesitation a series of abdominal thrusts were applied and the airway obstruction cleared. As a result of Lea’s quick action a more severe consequence was averted and the patron recovered without injury."
Read a story in the Tribune Local on this citation.
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Orland Fire Protection District to begin job postings online Will expand public participation at board meetings
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Orland Fire Protection District dedicates new headquarters Sunday June 26, 2011
On Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzsh0G7oVLs
On Vimeo:
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Dedication of OFPD Headquarters Bldg Sunday 2 pm -- Open to the Public: 9790 W. 151st Street
Friday, June 17, 2011
Personnel Changes announced by Orland Fire Protection District Board
Statement sent to the SouthtownStar regarding hiring needs
Statement on recent contracts adopted by the board of trustees
Jim Hickey, Board President
Questions have been raised about the decision to bring on a consultant to help us target waste and a lobbyist to protect the interests of the Orland Fire Protection District in Springfield.
Cynthia Katsenes has both the experience from serving on the OFPD board and knows the ins and outs of the system. She provides a critical eye to address the concerns raised by the voters and residents of the OFPD in the last election. This is a part of a major review of the OFPD to insure that it is maximizing its financial resources to produce the highest quality firefighting services possible. Again, this is what I believe the voters demanded and we plan to address the voter's concerns without any hesitation. We owe it to the taxpayers.
Her salary of $500 per week ($25 an hour) was determined based on a fair wage charged by other consultants; her fee comes out to be $25 an hour which is well below the typical consultants' rates which oftentimes exceed $75 and $100 an hour. She is an Orland District resident and we feel strongly about tapping our local resources and talents first.
Cheryl Axley's work for the OFPD will be to protect the interests of the OFPD in Springfield and in so doing will be constantly vigilant to identify any opportunities to benefit the OFPD including in terms of identifying grant funding sources to strengthen our Firefighting services. Her fee also reflects what we feel is below the typical fee charged by other lobbyists.
The change in the law firms will bring a difference and long term savings to the Orland Fire Protection District from our old firm, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins and our new law firm Del Galdo Law Group. Although the Del Galdo hourly rates are slightly lower than the KTJ rates, producing a savings, the real savings comes in from the far lower rates for the people who actually do the legal administrative work and research. The senior partners at KTJ also charge a far higher rate than Del Galdo Law Group and we expect overall that there will be a significant savings in the long run.
More importantly, we wanted an independent legal firm representing the OFPD district that does not have the sometimes conflicting ties to local politics. They represent the Village of Orland Park and other political entities. It gives us a fresh perspective on how to deal with issues that confront the OFPD.
Overall, I also want to say that while these savings may seem incremental at first, the fact is that we have engaged in an overview of spending and the total savings to the taxpayers will be significant in a cumulative way including other savings that we have initiated in personnel, communications and PR, etc. So while someone might single out one example to compare contracts, the real perspective would be to look at the bigger picture of overall savings that the cumulative impact of all the actions will bring.
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