Rollover multi-vehicle accident 171st Street and LaGrange Road with fatalities

Rollover multi-vehicle accident 171^st Street and LaGrange Road with fatalities

OFPD/April 15, 2012 -- At 8:39 pm Sunday April 15, the Orland Fire Protection District responded in conjunction with the Tinley Park Fire Department to 171^st Street and LaGrange Road for a rollover automobile accident.  Initial responders found seven patients in three vehicles.  One vehicle was rolled over onto the driver’s side and another vehicle had extensive damage requiring heavy extrication.

The dual response agreement between the Tinley Park Fire Department and the Orland Fire Protection District quickly brought two ambulances, two fire companies with extrication equipment and two chief officers to the scene within four minutes of receiving the alarm.

The alarm was upgraded immediately upon arrival of the first unit to include four additional ambulances, three additional extrication units and additional chief officers.  Extrication was extensive, removing three patients from the same vehicle.

Two patients were transported to Palos Hospital and one patient to Silver Cross Hospital.  Two additional patients refused treatment.  Two patients suffered fatal injuries on the scene.

The incident is being investigated by the Orland Park Police Department.

Photo courtesy of Karl Klotz and the OFPD

Abandoned home fire extinguished by Orland Firefighters

Abandoned home fire extinguished by Orland Firefighters

On April 13, 2012 the Orland Fire Protection District responded to a structure fire in the 11200 block of 159th Street at 11:01 am. Initial arriving companies encountered heavy fire conditions in an abandoned house. This house was known to be abandoned with dangerous structural conditions inside.

A defensive fire attack was initiated meaning multiple hose lines were deployed on the outside of the house only. Fire extinguishment took place while protecting the safety of the firefighters. Smoke conditions and embers were monitored protecting any nearby structures from the spread of the fire.

Traffic was controlled by Orland Park Police (OPPD) on 159th Street as hose that supplied the fire apparatus were deployed crossing the street. This fire is an example of the close working cooperation with the OPPD.

The fire was extinguished by 12:30 pm. No injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation.

Acting Fire Chief Raymond Kay said he is always concerned about abandoned buildings for the safety of the public and responders when firefighters are called to these buildings.

"Through a pre-plan process, we knew that the building that burned today was dangerous. It have been abandoned for several years and the building was deteriorating. As firefighters, we will risk a lot to save a lot. It does not make sense to take extra risk on a dangerous building," Kay said.

"We are careful to place firefighters outside of collapse zones and use equipment like our tower ladder truck to extinguish the fire more remotely. Safety is very important. Our firefighters responded today appropriately, extinguished the fire and remained safe. I appreciate the close cooperation and coordination working with the Orland Park Police in controlling traffic on a 159th Street."

Pictures courtesy of OFPD Inspector Nancy Mulvihill

Suspicious fire reported Friday night at 9208 169th Place, Orland Hills

Suspicious fire reported Friday night at 9208 169th Place, Orland Hills

The Orland Fire Protection District responded to a 911 call on Friday night at 9:39 pm by a diligent neighbor who reported seeing smoke in the area of 9208 169^th  Place.  

Initial arriving OFPD crews arrived in four minutes from the time of the alarm, said Acting Chief Raymond Kay, and found smoke in the building. They also found an apparent forced entry into the home.  Within 10 minutes, the fire was located in the vacant house and was extinguished.  The house did sustain significant fire and smoke damage.

There were no injuries.  The cause of the fire is suspicious.

Watchful neighbors made a difference in the early detection of this fire.

Photos courtesy the Orland Fire Protection District

Orland Fire Prevention District responds to home fire in Orland Hills

Orland Fire Prevention District responds to home fire in Orland Hills


(Photos below)

This morning at 3:59 am, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to a fire at 16835 Highview in Orland Hills.

The family in the home was awakened to the fire by smoke detectors and one of the three family members living in the house called 911 to report the fire. 

Fire dispatchers instructed the caller to evacuate the building and obtained critical information confirming that all of the residents were safely outside of the building.  This information was relayed to responding fire companies prior to their arrival at the fire. 

“Knowing that all occupants are out of a burning building is key information enabling responders to change priorities, focusing on fire extinguishment and saving property,” said Acting Orland Fire Chief Raymond Kay.

Initial fire companies arrived within 3 minutes of the 911 call and found heavy smoke conditions particularly in the rear of the building near one of the bedrooms.  The fire was extinguished within approximately 10 minutes following arrival of the first fire companies.

There were no injuries at this fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“This family practiced sound fire prevention principles by keeping their smoke detectors in good working order.  There is no doubt that early identification of smoke and early notification of the sleeping residents by smoke detectors allowed self rescue, saving three lives,” Kay said.

“The greatest majority of fire fatalities are the result of smoke inhalation regardless of the size of the fire.  Please remember to maintain your smoke detectors and change the batteries twice each year. Smoke detectors save lives.”

Orland Fire Protection District President Jim Hickey praised the fast response to the fire.

“Our job is to save lives and promote safety and I am relieved that no one was injured in this incident,” Hickey said.

Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District.

OFPD receives $302,400 Grant for MABAS Training

OFPD receives $302,400 Grant for MABAS Training

ORLAND Fire Protection District – U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski presented officials of the Orland Fire Protection District a Federal grant in the amount of $302,400 that will provide training in “incident management.”

The goal of this grant is to offer a direct delivery training program (Officers Training for Excellence Program) in incident management to the 44 agencies that make up MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) 19, MABAS 22, and MABAS 24 mutual aid organizations to which we belong. 

The Officers Training for Excellence Program utilizes the Blue Card Command Hazard Zone Certification Program to facilitate interoperability and efficiency among the participating agencies. 

The project will assist departments in meeting the requirements of NFPA 1026 Standard for Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications, NFPA 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications and NFPA 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications, 1521 Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer, and 1061 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Tele-communicator. 

An increase of knowledge and skill from the Officers Training for Excellence Program will benefit the safety profile of approximately 400 officers who are responsible for nearly 1,500 firefighters serving over 750,000 people in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs.

The Officers Training for Excellence educates and provides hands on instructor lead training in the top 5 causes of firefighter deaths: Inadequate or improper risk assessment, lack of incident command, lack of accountability, inadequate communications, lack of established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or to follow SOP’s. 

Attached are three photographs (with captions below)

Battalion Chief Dan Smith, Trustee Marty McGill, Congressman Daniel Lipinski, President James Hickey, Acting Chief Raymond Kay

Grant Team: BC Michael Schofield, Engineer John Purtill, Finance Director Kerry Sullivan, Congressman Daniel Lipinski, Lt. Joe Moore, Lt. David Piper

Finance Director Kerry Sullivan, Engineer John Purtill, Lt. Joe Moore, Lt. David Piper, Congressman Daniel Lipinski, President James Hickey, Trustee Marty McGill.

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Orland Fire Official Presidents says district has more cuts to make

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            Ray Hanania

Wednesday March 28, 2012                                                        rayhanania@comcast.net

Orland Fire Official Presidents says district has more cuts to make

Orland Fire Protection District President James Hickey said that the board faces a decision to reduce spending by cutting equipment or by raising taxes, but said he opposes proposals raised by members of the public suggesting one of the district’s six ambulances be eliminated.

Hickey said the options that have been discussed including cutting of one the district’s six Ambulances, one of the district’s engines, laying off employees or raising taxes at Tuesday’s board meeting.

During the meeting, Orland Park Village Trustee Pat Gira said she opposed trimming an ambulance but offered no solutions to the district’s problems. Hickey responded later that the Village should consider taking over the Fire Prevention department’s 5 employees since revenues collected from tickets issued by that division go to the Village.

But Hickey said that he opposes cutting back an ambulance but might recommend that the choice be put to voters on a referendum.

“I don’t want to cut any service but we have to either cut a truck, an ambulance, fire prevention, or even raise taxes to cover our expenses,” Hickey said after the meeting.

“If we have to do something, I would rather trade a truck for an ambulance. The biggest service the Orland Fire Protection District provides is ambulance and life support services to our residents.”

Hickey said that am ambulance costs about $1 million and with 25,000 households, it would mean a tax increase of $40 per year.

“The challenge we have is that about 90 percent of the costs of fire service are for wages and salaries and that is locked in with the unions right now. We are going to begin negotiations with the unions and they understand our situation. Mandated pay raises last year cost the taxpayers about $600,000 for 110 union employees,” Hickey said.

“We had two people who came to the board saying they didn’t want to cut an ambulance, including Trustee Gira. But I wonder what they would support doing as opposed to increasing property taxes. The issue is how do we cut back costs rather than increase taxes in order to continue with our mission which is to save lives? An ambulance saves more lives.”

On other issues, Hickey said that he expects the board to have the names of five finalists for the position of permanent Fire Chief and select a permanent chief sometime in May. Hickey said the board has received more than 40 resumes including from Acting Fire Chief Raymond Kay, the only member of the Orland Fire Prevention District to apply in the public call.

“We did receive resumes from firefighters who live in Orland Park but who work elsewhere. We even had one resume from a candidate who thought he was applying to be the chief of Orlando, Florida. He kept asking, why did he have to fly to O’Hare for an interview? Needless to say, he’s not on our list,” Hickey said.

“There are a lot of very qualified candidates, including Chief Kay. Chief Kay’s resume is phenomenal and he has done a great job stepping up to the plate to fill the vacancy created when Chief Bryant Krizik departed.

Hickey also said that the Fire District is again looking for applicants for the Summer Internship Program.

“They must be at least 16 years of age. This is a good program to instill a love and appreciation for the Fire District in our young people,” Hickey said.

Hickey said that he expects to hire all of the Intern applicants as he did last year.

“We have a certain number of hours and we want to give everyone a chance to learn and benefit the Fire District,” Hickey said.

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Orland Fire Protection District Responds to Prairie Fire

Orland Fire Protection District Responds to Prairie Fire

The Orland Fire Protection District issued a Brush Fire Box call today at 1:30 to battle a fire located in a prairie near home on 151^st Street between Wolf and Will Cook Roads today.

The cause of the fire was not identified but firefighters from the Orland Fire Protection District received support from five nearby fire districts to battle the prairie fire which threatened as many as a dozen homes.

Acting OFPD Fire Chief Raymond Kay said that there was a concern for many of the homes nearby because of floating embers that spread through the region during the fire which lasted about two hours before it was extinguished.

“We were very concerned about the safety of the nearby homes. That was our priority,” Kay said. “Our firefighters responded quickly and did a great job fighting this fire. Brush fires can be unpredictable and very dangerous. The embers from the fire raised a concern for the safety of the nearby homes, many of which had wooden roof shingles. We were able to contain the fire and put it out.”

Kay said it took about two hours to fully extinguish the brush fire. He said fighting a brush fire requires special equipment that allows firemen to get into the brush.

“We have the equipment but firefighters from neighboring districts joined us with their equipment and we quickly got the fire under control and then extinguished,” Kay said.

Kay said that traffic was stopped on the busy street for about one hour because heavy smoked made it difficult to see.

Photos attached show the intensity of the fires in the prairie. (Photo credits OFPD. www.OrlandFire.org)

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