OFPD Public Service Announcement: Preventing Winter Fire Hazards

OFPD Public Service Announcement: Preventing Winter Fire Hazards

With the cost of heating a home rising, many homeowners have turned to alternative sources for warmth that go beyond simply using their fire places more often. They are buying wood burning stoves, kerosene heaters and electrical and gas space heaters.

Some have even turned to using their gas ovens and gas stoves.

Some of the alternatives are popular and acceptable, but they also are a part of  rising incidents in residential fires.

Many of these fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips offered by the Orland Fire Protection District can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter.

Before using any alternative heating source, make sure they are legal. Many municipalities prohibit the use of kerosene heaters, for example.

Here is a checklist of some important precautions you can take to protect your family.

·         Have your heater checked to ensure it is burning fuel efficiently and safely.

·         Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes.

·         Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer.

·         NEVER introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type fuel.

·         NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace.

·         Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.

If you have any questions or concerns about any situation involving your safety, you can call the Fire Department at 708-349-0074. Always dial 9-1-1 in an emergency situation.

MORE TIPS:

·         Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house.

·         Never fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling.

·         Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep young children away from space heaters—especially when they are wearing night gowns or other loose clothing that can be easily ignited.

·         When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Wood Stoves And Fireplaces

·         Wood stoves and fireplaces are becoming a very common heat source in homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize their fire hazard.

·         To use them safely:

·         Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36”) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.

·         Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be laboratory tested.

·         Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.

·         Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.

·         Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.

·         The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.

·         Don’t use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.

·         Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

·         Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite theses materials.

·         Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.

·         If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. NEVER break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.

Furnace Heating

·         It is important that you have your furnace inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition.

·         Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition.

·         Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified. Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required.

·         Check the flue pipe and pipe seams. Are they well supported and free of holes and cracks? Soot along or around seams may be an indicator of a leak.

·         Is the chimney solid, with cracks or loose bricks? All unused flue openings should be sealed with solid masonry.

·         Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

Other Fire Safety Tips

·         Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.

·         Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.

·         If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry an amp load. TIP: Choose an extension cord the same size or larger than the appliance electrical cord.

·         Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water.

·         Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blow torch or other open flame, otherwise the pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the wall structure inside the wall space. Use hot water or a laboratory tested device such as a hand held dryer for thawing.

·         If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, practice using them in the event fire should strike. Be sure that all the windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.

·         If there is a fire hydrant near your home you can assist the fire department by keeping the hydrant clear of snow so in the event it is needed, it can be located.

FINALLY...

·         Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke alarm, and be sure to check and clean it on a monthly basis.

·         Plan and practice a home escape plan with your family.

·         Contact your local fire department for advice if you have a question on home fire safety.

Courtesy of the  Department of Homeland Security U.S. Fire Administration, Maryland.

OFPD presents awards for citizen emergency responses

OFPD presents awards for citizen emergency responses

Chief Ken Brucki and the Orland Fire Protection District board presented awards at the meeting of the OFPD Board on Tuesday November 27. The following awards (with photos attached and captions) were presented.

Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award:

On October 23^rd a 48 year old male patron of the Riviera Country Club became unconscious in the Spa due to a medical condition. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation Riviera Country Club employees began a sequence of events that included calling 911, removing the unconscious patient from the water and beginning CPR. Paramedics continued care and because of the unselfish actions of the aforementioned employees the patron was successfully resuscitated. 

Awarded To: Alexander Izguerra  - Employee; Dave Carlson – Employee; Larry Yakutis – Patron

Lt. Mark Duke, Riveria C.C. Employee Dave Carlson,

Riviera C.C. Patron Larry Yakutis, and Chief Ken Brucki

Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award:

On September 3^rd a 61 year old husband and father suffered sudden cardiac arrest in his home. The patients’ family began a series of life sustaining actions that included calling 911, following the direction of the Emergency Medical Dispatcher, initiating CPR and providing history to the paramedics upon arrival. Paramedics continued care on arrival and because of the prompt actions of Matthew & John Weimar, their father was successfully resuscitated.

Awarded To Sons: John Weimer and Matthew Weimer

Lt. Mark Duke, Matthew Weimar, Chief Ken Brucki, John Weimar

Matthew Weimar, Jack Weimar, John Weimar

Chief Art Granat Sr. Award of Merit:

On October 27^th Orland Police Sergeant Troy Siewert responded to an emergency at the Orland Bakery. On arrival Sergeant Siewert observed a woman unconscious on the floor, recognized the need for immediate action, quickly evaluated and began chest compressions.  

Patient care was turned over to paramedics on arrival. The patient, whose airway was occluded, subsequently regained consciousness, was transported to the hospital for evaluation and recovered fully. The successful outcome can be attributed in part to the actions of Sergeant Siewert.

Awarded to: Sergeant Troy Siewert

Orland Park Police Commander Tom Kenealy, OFPD Lt. Mark Duke, Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy, Orland Park Police Officer Troy Siewert, OFPD Chief Ken Brucki

“Oftentimes we forget that firefighters and police work 24/7 and are constantly on-duty even when they are off of work,” said Brucki. “But we also recognize that many of our citizens have the training and experience to provide support until professional help can arrive. In all of these cases, the efforts of civilians contributed to positive outcomes. And we salute them all.”

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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.)

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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

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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/

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