Orland Fire Protection District handles three fires in one hour

Orland Fire Protection District handles three fires in one hour

Orland Fire District responds to three home and structure fires in lightning storm April 10

On April 10, 2013 a heavy thunderstorm moved through the Orland area. Fires were reported at homes and a barn: Cheswick Drive (home fire); a home on the 9000 Block of Fairway Drive; and a barn on a farm near Southwest Highway and Will-Cook Road (12000 Block of 179^th) in Homer Township.

At 8:52 am, the Orland Fire Protection District was dispatched with a full response for a house struck by lightning on Cheswick Dr.

About two minutes later, another 9-1-1 was received reporting a house on fire in the 9000 block of Fairway Dr.

A full response was started to that location also diverting a couple units responding to the Cheswick incident, said OFPD Fire Chief Ken Brucki.

Dispatch was receiving confirming reports of a fire and upgraded the response to a working fire. The initial arriving engine was on scene in 4 minutes and reported fire showing from the roof.

As fire crews worked to extinguish the fire in the roof they used salvage covers below to protect the home and its furnishings from debris, smoke, and water. A hole was cut in the roof and siding removed to expose the burning area and extinguish.

The fire was under control in about 10 minutes and fire damage was confined to the roof structure. There was light smoke damage inside but it was limited due to the quick actions of the firefighters on scene.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a lighting strike to the East roof. Orland Fire was assisted by Oak Forest, Tinley Park, and Palos fire companies on the scene. There was one person at home at the time of the fire, who escaped without injury.

The fire on Cheswick was also caused by a lightning strike and was confined to a wall space. Orland Fire crews opened the wall spaces to assure it had been extinguished. Damage was confined inside the wall. No injuries were reported on this incident either.

Barn fire at farm

While fire crews were still on the scene at these two fires, a report of a barn on fire in the area of Southwest Highway and Will-Cook Road was reported.

The Fire District was able to respond quickly along with Mokena Fire and Palos Fire departments to the reported Barn Fire.

Orland Fire units arrived on the scene of the barn fire in the 12000 Block of 179^th in Homer Township and found a barn on fire with two Oxen in a pen next to the barn.

Crews from Orland and Mokena quickly attacked the fire as the farmer moved the Oxen to a safe location.

Homer Fire was called for water tender since there are no fire hydrants in that area. The fire was quickly controlled with the barn suffering extensive damage to the roof, no livestock were injured, this fire; along with the other three appear to have been due to lightning strikes.

(Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District)

end

Automobile crashes into Orland Park home, no injuries

Automobile crashes into Orland Park home, no injuries

On early Monday morning, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to a bad automobile crash that had, fortunately a good outcome.

At approximately 3:07 am Monday morning, there was a report of an automobile that crashed into a residential home at 8681 Grace Road. The vehicle crashed through the side of the house and plowed into the home’s basement.

Fortunately, there were no injuries. The driver was treated at the scene and released.

There were three people at home in the residence none of them injured.

The initial fire companies secured the utilities, check for hazards and stability of both the vehicle and the structure. Firefighters did a primary search of the structure for occupants and then controlled access to the structure pending further evaluation. Members of the district technical rescue team and the village of Orland Park building department determined the structure elements in the basement had been damaged and the home needed to be tagged as no occupancy till board up and shoring was completed.

The vehicle was removed from the basement with no additional damage.

(Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District.)

end

OFPD Creates new Senior Advisory Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            Ray Hanania

Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013                                                                    rayhanania@comcast.net

OFPD Creates new Senior Advisory Council

OFPD –Orland Fire Protection District Chief Ken Brucki will propose the creation of a new Senior Advisory Council that will attract broader representative and avoid political partisanship.

Brucki said a senior council that focuses on two goals of educating seniors and the public and District services, as well as providing a structure for senior involvement will fill a void created when the former council was disbanded.

The prior council became mired in politics and many of its members resigned.

“Seniors are an important part of our community and important recipients of services and it is important that they have an organization that can provide them with information and support,” Brucki said.

“One of our most important functions as a Fire District is not only to respond to fire emergencies, but to also respond to emergency health needs. Our seniors, who are most important in our community, face many of these health problems and we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to address their needs.”

OFPD Board President Jim Hickey said the district has been without an effective senior advisory council for far too long.

“Unfortunately, we know that politics can get in the way of many things but I believe our new Fire Chief, Ken Brucki, and this new structure will result in a council that focuses on serving the needs of our senior community,” Hickey said.

“I want to thank Brucki and also Rosemaria Genova who is our communications liaison with the new senior group for their hard work in structuring this new council.”

Brucki said that the new council will seek volunteers to fill 12 seats on the council’s board. The council will look for two seniors from each of the district’s six fire station areas.

Brucki said he will present the council proposal and new by-laws to the OFPD Board at its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The proposal was developed by Senior Advisory Council coordinators including Fire Prevention Supervisor Mike Ercoli, consultant Rosemaria Genova, Acting SAC Secretary Diana Husband, OFPD Trustee Marty McGill and SAC members Joe Gleiter, and Mane Pritza. The group have proposed a reorganization and created new By-Laws, Policies and Procedures with other supporting documents.

The coordinating committee identified several areas that the Senior Advisory Council can address, including:

• ·         Studying of issues
• ·         Performing independent research
• ·         Participate in district activities
• ·         Educate seniors about health and safety issues recommended by staff and district Analyzing the impact of policies on the senior population within the district, and
• ·         Make recommendations to the Board of Trustees based on thoughtful and unbiased discussions from a senior perspective.
• ·         Informing seniors about our residential Knox Box (key box) Program
• ·         Educating seniors about the Community Care Program
• ·         Helping the bureau obtain the names and phone numbers of condo association board members in some of the senior complexes
• ·         Participating in our annual Open House scheduled this year for October 5, 2013, and
• ·         Assisting OFPD staff at public events such as the Taste of Orland.

END

Quick thinking by Battalion Chief and 17-year old life guard saves 32 year old heart attack victim

Quick thinking by Battalion Chief and 17-year old life guard

saves 32 year old heart attack victim

OFPD/Feb. 10, 2013 – Officials of the Orland Fire Protection District are praising the fast thinking, quick response of a Battalion Chief and a 17 year old life guard who saved the life of a young man who had a heart attack while playing basketball Sunday night at the Sportsplex, 11351 W. 159th St.

Orland Fire Protection District Chief Ken Brucki said that Battalion Chief Nick Cinquepalmi was watching his son play basketball at the Sportsplex Sunday night at around 4:30 pm when people from a nearby court ran up to him asking for his help regarding a friend who “just collapsed.”

Brucki said Cinquepalmi saw that a young man collapsed on the court floor with what appeared to be severe Cardiac Arrhythmia, also referred to as Ventricular Fibrillation. He was immediately assisted by a Sportsplex Life Guard, 17 year old Jake Pechukas who brought an AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillation) and the two began CPR.

“Battalion Chief Cinquepalmi reacted without hesitation and so did the young life guard and immediately responded to the emergency with CPR and an AED,” Brucki said.

“The ambulance had been called and was only minutes away. But Cinquepalmi applied the AED electrical pads to the victim’s chest and shocked him back into regaining consciousness and breathing.”

Brucki said the incident demonstrates the importance of having an AED nearby in the event of a cardiac incident, and said the Orland Fire Protection District is in the process of establishing a training program with local businesses and restaurants to make AEDs and trained employees available to respond to similar circumstances.

“Every minute that a patient is not breathing negatively impacts the chances of recovery,” said Brucki.

Brucki praised the Village of Orland Park and the Park District for ensuring that this important piece of lifesaving equipment, the AED, and having the staff trained in its use were available.

“The ambulance arrived and was able to continue professional emergency support and the patient is now recovering. Incidents involving cardiac issues can be unpredictable and the faster you can provide assistance the better the chances of survival,” Brucki said.

Pechukas said he was excited but proud that he was able to help the victim.

Cinquepalmi praised Pechukas for his quick action.

“The victim was in real trouble. I had an AED in my car but the lifeguard, Jake, told me they had an AED. I shocked him one time and the suspect’s body jumped and started to do 30 or 40 compressions and he just woke up,” said Cinquepalmi, who has been a fireman since 1983 including the last 24 years with the Orland Fire Protection District.

“The fact that we had an AED there saved this man’s life. He was 32 years old with no medical history and goes into sudden cardiac arrest. Now he is fine.”

The victim, who is from Orland Hills, lost a few teeth when he collapsed face down on the court. Cinquepalmi said the victim’s friends were so excited that they were able to save his life.

end

Orland Fire Protection District presents meritorious awards at Board meeting

On Dec. 18, 2012 at 9 am, the Orland Fire Protection District responded as a support unit with Truck 4 to a hostile structural fire in Oak Forest. Resources were taxed, a lot of black smoke emanated from the building there were a number of potential victims in the structure. Firefighters did a search in the basement where they found one civilian who came out. He was put him in an ambulance and as operations to fight the blaze were under way.

“It was an Unsafe, unstable environment,” said Fire Chief Ken Brucki at a meeting of the OFPD board on Jan. 22. “There was chaotic communications on the scene. Our people did an exceptional job. There was a dispatch employee who was off duty but in the district and he jumped in and started to do his work to help in the 9/11 center.”

During the Board meeting on Jan. 22, Brucki and Bat Chief Nick Cinquepalmi presented awards to the firefighters and personnel who supported the effort to get the fire under control.

Individual Performance Award

Dispatchers Tim Neal, Karen Gallo, Chief Brucki

Chief Brucki said ,“They are recognized for the professionalism and support in a difficult emergency.”

 

Individual commendations

Jennifer Smith, Firefighter and Jeff Ruchniewicz, Firefighter

“When a community member is in need, they call 911. When a community is in need, as a fire department, we also call 911 and the surrounding communities also come out and help. We sent two ambulances there, one to handle the victim and treated and transported him The second was sent there for any unknowns that might have come up," Brucki said.

 

Firefighter Paramedic Kevin Frawley, Engineer Paul Pokorny, Chief Brucki

Said Chief Brucki, “You provided every effort to save the victim and I know you provided every effort possible.”

  

Firefighter Paramedic George Schick, Engineer John Purtill, Lieutenant Dan Turner, Chief Brucki

 Individual commendation award

“They put their men in jeopardy to save victims," Chief Brucki said. “Your quick and efficient techniques provided for the victim to survive. Your techniques also kept your members safe.”

Bat. Chief Nick Cinquepalmi with Fire Marshal Ken Brucki also receiving an individual commendation award. “Battalion Chief Cinquepalmi monitored the circumstances as they happened. He knew there was going to be a call for service. Outstanding and excellent leadership showed through in this call.”

Trustee  Marty McGill, Board President Jim Hickey, FF/P Kevin Frawley, Dispatchers Tim Neal and Karen Gallo, FF/P Jim Ruchniewicz, FF/P Jennifer Smith, Engineer Paul Pokorny, FF/P George Schick, Engineer John Purtill, Lt. Dan Turner, B/C Nick Cinquepalmi, Chief Brucki, Trustee Blair Rhode, Trustee Chris Evoy.

(All photos courtesy Battalion Chief Dan Smith and the Orland Fire Protection District.)

END

Orland Fire Prevent District announces new program to reduce Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths

Orland Fire Prevent District announces new program to reduce Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths

The Orland Fire Protection District is launching a new program called Community CARE (Cardiac Arrest Rescue Enterprise) to increase survival rates for cardiac arrest victims by providing additional CPR training and putting Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the hands of the public.

The new program will engage the public’s assistance by making AEDs more accessible for members of the public at locations including restaurants and businesses, and also make them available to local police.

OFPD Chief Ken Brucki said the program will be supervised by Battalion Chief Raymond Kay, who has already identified grant funding to help with CPR training and to help underwrite the purchase of equipment.  Battalion Chief Kay will also identify partners in the public who wish to help save lives by learning CPR and will host the AEDs.

“When we receive an emergency 911 call for a Cardiac incident, we immediately dispatch the closest unit by GPS location and another vehicle for support and assistance, one Ambulance and one fire suppression vehicle, both of which are equipped with Paramedics and Advanced life Support equipment. And while this happens very quickly and in a matter of one or two minutes, each passing second reduces the patient’s chances of survival,” Brucki said.

“What Community CARE will do is provide CPR and AED training that can be used at the scene by members of the public to provide emergency support while the ambulance and professional care is on its way giving the victim an extra few seconds that increase the patient’s chances of survival.”

Kay, who has been working on the program for the past year, said he will begin a program to educate the public about how Community CARE can work.  He said that the OFPD emergency teams responded to 42 cardiac arrests in 2011 and 46 cardiac arrests in 2012. 

“The concept is simple. When someone experiences Sudden Cardiac Arrest at a public location, we want an AED unit to be available to help support immediate care until the emergency fire team arrives on the scene,” Kay said.

“Every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim looses a 10% chance to survive.  Those additional seconds and minutes of life support given to the patient while waiting for the ambulance to arrive will dramatically increase the victim’s survival.”

Kay said that the district does not have quality data on how many of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest patients returned to a normal life because all are taken to a hospital where medical treatment continues.  The Community CARE program helps to acquire this data which is instrumental in the constant desire to improve service.

“We know that more than 61 million Americans have cardiovascular disease, resulting in approximately 1 million deaths per year and one-third of these deaths are due to cardiac arrest, the sudden and unexpected loss of heart function. Survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are only 1 to 5 percent,” Kay said.

“Most often cardiac arrest is due to chaotic beating of the heart (ventricular fibrillation), which can be restored to a normal rhythm if treated early with electric shock or ‘defibrillation’. Early defibrillation is a key component in sudden cardiac arrest patient survival.  Public access to Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) is imperative.”

Kay said that performing CPR and using the AEDs during those first few moments of a cardiac arrest can result in a survival rate of more than 90 percent.

“The average age of victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest is 65.  In 2010 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.1% of the Orland Park community was age 65 or older,” Kay said.

“Over the next 16 years it is estimated that the 65 and older population will grow to over 30% of the population in Orland Park.”

Kay said he estimates the costs of AED units to be between $1,500 to $3,000 dollars.

“I want to first speak with business groups and community organizations and the police in Orland Park and Orland Hills and then get their support.” Kay said.

Chief Kay will make a detailed presentation at tomorrow’s (Tuesday Jan. 22) OFPD board meeting.

“The Orland Fire Protection District will always continue to explore ways to improve the services and public safety we provide to the residents,” Brucki said. “We can think of no better partner than members of the public to join us to help ensure a safe life for all of our residents.”

END

Carcrash 135th and Patridge Lane Orland

Early Friday morning just after 3 a.m., the Orland Fire Protection District responded to 135th and Partridge Lane for a motor vehicle crash. Initial units arrived to find a vehicle that had struck a tree on the South side of the street resulting in heavy damage to the car.

The driver of the single vehicle involved in the crash was pinned in what remained it after being split behind the front seat sending the engine up to neighboring homes. Additional Orland units were dispatched on a pin-in response to assist extricating the driver from the vehicle. The driver was removed from the wreckage in approximately twenty minutes from arrival and transported to Christ Hospital for treatment.

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Orland Park Police Department.

(Photo by Orland Fire District)