Three injured (one pinned) in vehicle crash on 159th Street construction zone

Three injured (one pinned) in vehicle crash on 159th Street construction zone

On Saturday morning just past midnight (September 10), the Orland Fire Protection District and EMS responded to a motor vehicle accident on the 10400 block of 159th Street in the construction zone. A high speed head-on crash occurred around 12:35 am, involving an auto and a pick-up truck.

One person, a female in her early 20s, was pinned in the auto and two individuals, one male and one female, were in the pickup truck, ambulatory at the scene but requiring treatment. A “Pin-In” response was requested and Lifestar Medical helicopter was put on standby, but was not used.

The extrication took 15 minutes and all three victims were transported to Silver Cross Hospital via Orland Fire ambulances for trauma.

Names have not been released on the victims.

(Photos attached Courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District.)

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

9-10-16 Accident 159th Street

Orland Fire District program trains public in emergency procedures

Orland Fire District program trains public in emergency procedures

The Orland Fire Protection District Wednesday (August 10, 2016) held its first training class offering emergency response training to members of the public.

Fire Chief Michael Schofield said the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program gives members of the public hands-on experience in dealing with emergencies they might face every day.

The CERT training class was led by Lt. William Leddin and the final session was held Wednesday at the district’s training center at 10728 W. 163^rd Place. It will be followed by another class that will opened to public enrollment this Fall.

Members of the First CERT Class hosted by the Orland Fire Protection District August 10, 2016

“We have seen many instances where the fast action of people who have emergency response training can make a difference in saving lives, like the most recent incident in which a boy almost drowned but was saved by a party-goer who was at the pool party who had emergency training,” Chief Schofield said.

“This first CERT class was a pilot program and I think it went very well."

Schofield was referring to the emergency call received on July 16 in Orland Park when a young boy was rescued from drowning by an off-duty Chicago Police officer, Cindy Guerra. Guerra was presented with the District’s William Bonnar Life Saving Award at a ceremony July 26 for saving the boy’s life.

Leddin said that the training provided during the CERT pilot program this week included CPR, extinguishing small fires and the proper and effective use of fire extinguishers, helping individuals who may have a wide range of injuries including heart attacks and injuries, and effective responses to severe weather crisis including tornadoes.

Lt. William Leddin (2nd from right) gives instructions to the first CERT Class on emergency responses August 10, 2016

“We hope that in the next emergency 9-1-1 call, and we dispatch our emergency team to respond, they will find that someone will be on scene with the victim offering emergency assistance,” Leddin said.

“Those first few seconds of an emergency can made a significant difference in saving someone’s life. The sooner emergency response is started, the better the chances someone in an emergency situation will survive.”

The 10-week pilot program consisted mostly of members from the District’s Senior Advisory Council (SAC) along with a few senior volunteers.  All volunteers who completed the course and passed the final exam will receive their certificates of completion at the next OFPD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, August 23 at 5:00 p.m.

The district is planning to offer a new class for all district residents 18 and older sometime this fall.   For more information on the CERT Program, visit the Orland Fire Protection District website at www.OrlandFire.org.

Members of the public learned how to respond to emergency situations at a CERT Class offered to the public by the Orland Fire Protection District

Understanding the proper use of a fire extinguisher is critical in responding to a small house fire.

Orland Fire honors Chicago officer who saved pool drowning victim’s life

Chicago Officer presented with the Orland Fire Protection District's William Bonnar Life Saving Award

The Orland Fire Protection District Tuesday honored Chicago Police Officer Sgt. Cindy Guerra for her role in saving the life of a 12-year-old boy from drowning during a backyard pool party in Orland Park.

Guerra, a 22 year Chicago Police veteran, said she was overwhelmed by the public response to what she was “something that comes naturally” to first responders such as police and fire fighters who are trained to save people’s lives.

From left OFPD Trustee Blair Rhode, Trustee John Brudnak, Cortez’s mother, Cortez, Fire Chief Michael Schofield, Cortez’s sister Taylor, Sgt. Cindy Guerra, Cindy’s son Joseph, and OFPD Trustee Jim Hickey.

Orland Fire Chief Michael Schofield present Guerra with the William Bonnar Life Saving Award, named after a longtime Orland Fire battalion chief who before joining the Orland Fire Protection District was a paramedic with the city of Chicago in the 1970s.

“We are very honored to have Chicago Police Sergeant Cindy Guerra here today, and especially Cortez whose life Cindy saved,” Schofield said in presenting the award to Sgt. Guerra.

“Firemen, policemen, or paramedics. When we are on duty or off duty, we are always ready to respond.”

Guerra thanked the board for the honor and the audience for attending the meeting, saying that she just acted out of training and instinct to help. She said she became a police officer after being inspired by seeing women fighting crime in the popular TV series Charley’s Angels.

“I thought it looked cool and decided that helping and protecting people is what I wanted to do,” said Guerra, who worked in the police department's Special Investigations Unit as a sergeant before transferring to the Office of News Affairs a few weeks before the accident.

Cortez, the young boy who was involved in the pool incident, and Sgt. Cindy Guerra, who saved him using CPR

“You don’t do things to expect accolades or praise. You just do it. You act instinctively. To be recognized like this is overwhelming. I appreciate it and am so grateful.”

Guerra, worked as a police officer in a Chicagoland suburb before joining the Chicago police department, introduced Cortez.

“It wasn’t just me. Taylor [Cortez’s sister] came up and alerted an adult that Cortez was at the bottom of the pool,” Guerra recalled.

She said another police officer who was at the pool party celebrating a school graduation helped Cindy lift the boy out of the pool at a graduation party Saturday July 16, 2016 that was being held at Guerra’s cousin’s Orland Park home. Guerra gave the boy CPR, saving his life.

Cortez was with his mother, sister Taylor and relatives at the board meeting and said he was grateful to Sgt. Guerra for saving his life.

Schofield said it was important to remind the public that first responders like firefighters and police officers perform acts of heroism to save lives all the time.

The incident took special significance, Schofield said, in the wake of a series of violent attacks against police officers that has occurred across the country.

Sgt Cindy Guerra and Fire Chief Michael Schofield. Schofield presented Guerra with the William Bonnar Life Saving Award July 26, 2016

Photo: Orland Fire Protection District Battalion Chiefs receive Chief Fire Officer certifications

Photo: Orland Fire Protection District Battalion Chiefs receive Chief Fire Officer certifications

On May 26, 2016, Fire Chief/Administrator Mike Schofield (far right), Battalion Chief Bill Bonnar (2nd from right), Jr, Battalion Chief Nick Cinquepalmi (center) and Battalion Chief Greg Ferro (far left) received their Chief Fire Officer certification.  

This is the highest certification that the Office of the State Fire Marshall recognizes and the Orland Fire Protection District’s Command Staff now all hold this title, as Battalion Chief Dan Smith (2nd from left) completed his certification previously. 

The program consists of: Leadership, Communications, Personal & Professional Development, Community Relations, Intergovernmental Relations, Human Resources, Legal Issues, Strategic Planning, Emergency Management, Code Enforcement & Public Education, Budget & Finance, Life Safety Initiatives, and is designed and intended for Command level officers and/or Administrators who have the responsibilities of supervising and administrating a Fire Department or Fire District.

Fire Chief/Administrator Mike Schofield (far right), Battalion Chief Bill Bonnar (2nd from right), Jr, Battalion Chief Nick Cinquepalmi (center) and Battalion Chief Greg Ferro (far left). Battalion Chief Dan Smith (2nd from left) 

Registration begins June 6 for Fire District Kid’s Camp

Registration begins June 6 for Fire District Kid’s Camp

The Orland Fire Protection District will host the annual Kid’s Fire & Life Safety Camp beginning Tuesday July 12 through Friday July 15 offering programs to educate children between the ages of 8 and 12 on fire and life safety.

The camp is made possible through support from the Orland Fire Foundation and is dedicated to exposing school aged children to fire & Life safety lessons dealing with potential hazards around their homes and schools along with several life lessons that are also important.

Children who live in Orland Park can enroll for free beginning June 1, but they are required to present a report card from their local Orland school. A fee of $30 (Check only, no credit cards) is required for children from outside of Orland Park who can begin signing up June 27 for any remaining spots.

Grade school kids who participated in the 2015 Orland Fire Protection District's annual Fire & Safety Camp which this year will be held June 12, 2016.

The program accommodates up to 40 children in activities from 8:30 am until 11:30 am each day, with certificates presented on Friday.

Applications can be obtained online at www.OrlandFire.org and should be returned to the OFPD Headquarters at 9750 W. 151^st Street prior to July 1, 2016.

The camp is designed to be fun, entertaining and educational; while providing the campers with the knowledge to keep themselves out of harm’s way.  The participants have lectures and lessons each day, followed by hands on opportunities to actively participate in exercises designed to reinforce what they have been taught.

The Injury Prevention Team at Advocate Children’s Hospital and Advocate’s Injury Prevention Specialist Alix McNulty will present Bicycle Safety, Poison Prevention, Concussion and a distracted driving scenario.

Orland Fire Prevention District firefighters will present hands-on first-aid training and the children will be taught about the basics of CPR, how AED’s work and why they are important, and what to do in response to choking. Firefighters will help the kids make First Aid kits and they will be able to view firsthand emergency response equipment including the Fire District ambulances.

The American Red Cross will present “W.H.A.L.E. Tales” which addresses water safety for the children. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4 and most commonly occurs in swimming pools. The children will hear about the importance about being around water.

The American Red Cross will also review basic safety practices to the campers.

During the four-morning program, children will also learn how to prepare for tornadoes, floods, medical emergencies, choking, seizures and burns.  They will learn the tools to be ready for any disaster that may come their way and help families feel comfortable responding to a sudden emergency! By practicing how to prepare for emergencies and understand that by sharing what they have learned with family and friends, they can help create a prepared community.

Gordon Bowe, from Operation Lifesaver, will be back again to discuss the importance of Train Safety! It has hidden dangers that all pedestrians need to be made aware of, especially children, who don’t think about these hazards. Operation Lifesaver is working to change people's behavior around railroad tracks and crossings.

The program is coordinated by Betsy Dine, OFPD Fire and Life Safety Education Coordinator.

Please visit our website for details.  www.orlandfire.org

Sprinkler minimizes fire damage at Orland Park retirement home, saves lives

Sprinkler minimizes fire damage at Orland Park retirement home, saves lives 

A sprinkler system installed at the Lexington Health Care assisted and independent living retirement home, 14601 John Humphrey Drive, is being credited with saving lives and helping to significantly minimize damage caused by a small fire there this morning.

The fire started in the basement maintenance area of the assisted living home just after 8 am on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Investigators identified the cause as a coffee maker that was located on a shelf above a desk.

Sprinkler minimizes fire damage at Orland Park retirement home, saves lives

The fire quickly spread to objects on and around the desk, and up the wall of the room when the water sprinkler system activated and suppressed the fire instantly.

A sprinkler system installed at the Lexington Health Care assisted and independent living retirement home, 14601 John Humphrey Drive, is being credited with saving lives and helping to significantly minimize damage caused by a small fire there this morning.

The Orland Fire Protection District was alerted and responded to a fire alarm activation due to the sprinkler system operating. The initial crews reported a water flow alarm and investigated to find smoke in the basement with water flowing from a sprinkler head. A fire extinguisher was used to completely extinguish the smoldering material.

The smoke that was confined to the basement and workshop area was removed by firefighters using power fans. Because the fire was controlled quickly no residents had to be moved or evacuated and normal operations were maintained throughout the incident.

All floors were evaluated for hazards and deemed safe. Fire damage was limited to the desk and items on the shelves above.

“Every year at our Open House, we demonstrate how important fire sprinkler systems can for businesses, properties like assisted living centers and even in private homes in saving lives, and fighting and preventing damage caused by fires,” Orland Fire Protection District Fire Chief Michael Schofield said.

“This was a perfect example of how the sprinkler system quickly prevented the fire from spreading throughout the property, and minimized the intrusion on the lives of the residents in the home. We didn’t have to evacuate the property or disrupt the healthcare services there. We made the property safe and completely extinguished what could have been a far worse fire.” Schofield also credited the fast response of the District’s fire fighting teams.

Orland Fire personnel were assisted by a fire truck and team from neighboring Tinley Park.

Schofield named full-time Orland Fire Protection District Chief

The Orland Fire Protection District Tuesday named Michael Schofield, 54, as the district’s new fulltime fire chief approving a three year contract effective March 1, directing attorney Jim Roche to negotiate and recommend Schofield’s salary.

One of the district’s top three longest serving firefighters, Schofield became “interim Fire Chief” after Fire Chief Ken Brucki requested a leave-of-absence in August for “personal reasons” and subsequent request for retirement in January.

A 44 year resident of Orland Park, Schofield served as a Battalion Chief and managed the Orland Fire Protection District’s Operational Services before being named interim chief. 

Services included Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Specialty Teams, as well as Training with each area managed by a lieutenant who reported to Schofield. Schofield joined the OFPD in 1977 as a cadet, eight years after the district was created. 

In 1979, Schofield became “paid on call,” which essentially was considered a part-time position. 

“Serving the residents of the Orland Fire Protection District has been my life and I am humbled and honored to be able to continue that service now as the District Fire Chief,” Schofield said. 

 “I want to continue the direction the Fire District has been going in. There are a lot of people in the Fire District, and a lot of great volunteers. Providing and maintaining the highest level of professional emergency and safety services is my goal.” 

 Schofield said he doesn’t anticipate making major changes during his first year, but said he hopes to see the district maintain and enhance training for paramedics and emergency responders. “There are no pressing issues right now, but I will take a close look at everything,” Schofield said. 

Schofield was hired full-time by the OFPD in 1986. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1989 and became a Battalion Chief in 2012. Fire District Board Chairman Chris Evoy praised Schofield saying the board was moved by both his three-decade career in fire service and that he is a longtime resident in the district. 

“We’re confident Fire Chief Schofield will do an exemplary job leading the district and supervising emergency fire response to uphold the safety of the district’s residents,” Evoy said. “He knows this district and what needs to be done.” 

Coincidentally, Schofield will celebrate his 30th year with the OFPD on his March 1 start date as full-time fire chief. During his part-time tenure with the OFPD, Schofield worked from 1983 until 1986 as a paramedic with the City of Chicago Fire Department. 

In 1985, Schofield received the paramedic award of valor from Chicago for the rescue of an employee involved in an industrial accident at the Nabisco plant in Chicago. Schofield also worked in Homer Township as a part-time firefighter from 1995 to 2002, and then in the part-time position as Homer Township Fire Chief from 2002 to 2012. 

Schofield is the co-founder of the Will County Fire Chiefs Association, and Past President of Mabas 19 mutual aid group. Schofield is married to Kathy and they have six kids, Nicole, Stephanie, Michael III, Andrew, Kathleen and Jacqueline. 

Michael Schofield III is an offensive lineman with the Denver Broncos and played in the 2016 50th Super Bowl that the Broncos won.