OFPD Firefighter recruits will be sworn in May 12: Nine new recruits begin year long training

OFPD Firefighter recruits will be sworn in May 12

Nine new recruits begin year long training

The Orland Fire Protection District this month began a year-long training for nine recruits hired to fill existing department vacancies, and will official swear-in 10 recruits hired last year.

The nine fire recruits will bring the OFPD manpower to 111, said Fire Chief Ken Brucki.

The nine recruits began an intensive training course Friday (April 17, 2015) learning the latest in fire fighting and emergency services strategies in a training academy program, and also exercise techniques to help prevent and reduce injuries.

Their predecessors, hired last year, recently completed their year-long training program and will be sworn-in on May 12 at 6 pm at a special ceremony at the Orland Fire Protection District’s Training Facility, 10728 W. 163^rd Place in Orland Park.

The 10 firefighters hired last year are: Brian Paliga, James Logan, Jason Postma, Justin Dublin, Kory Tuburan, Mark Hogan, Martin Majda, Matt Giermala, Matthew Hoover, and Steven Prohaska.

Brucki and members of the OFPD training team leadership hosted a public demonstration of the rigorous training new firefighter recruits receive from the district.

Leading the training for the OFPD are Lt. David Piper, the Training & Safety Officer, and Mike Seifert and Carl Jones, both firefighters and graduates of the district’s training academy program.

Brucki said the district’s nine firefighter trainees are evaluated in a variety of fire and emergency simulations including fighting fires, rescue and equipment management. Every OFPD recruit must be professionally trained both as a firefighter and as a paramedic, he said.

“The recruits train 8 hours every day. Their day begins with a regimented exercise program to help eliminate injuries caused by muscle strains & sprains, which is one of the most frequent injuries firefighters experience,” Brucki said.

The recruits began training with special sessions at the Pro Sports Performance gym, 10649 163rd Place in Orland Park, located one block east of the OFPD Training Center.

The exercise program at Pro Sports Performance helps the recruits prepare for the physical stress involved in carrying and moving large equipment at emergency scenarios.

The recruits were led through a specific series of exercises. They included fighting a fire on the first floor of the Training Centers fire range. Teams of trainees, led by instructors, covered each of the key areas, connecting the hoses to the fire hydrant, scoping out the scene to identify any civilians in the building, and coordinating the response to the fire and smoke. One team approached to extinguish the fire, a second team climbed to the building’s roof to perform ventilation, while another scaled the building via ground ladders from the front to “rescue” several “victims.”

The nine new recruits are: Chad Mezzera, Daniel Fagan, Garrett Flavin, Jon Kendra, Joseph Miller, Marc DeSardi, Matt Delestowicz, Shaun McDonald, Zachary Zweizig.