Orland Fire District promotes Healthy Heart Awareness fundraiser

Orland Fire District promotes Healthy Heart Awareness fundraiser

David Nocera, owner of Mercedes Benz of Orland Park hosted a “Healthy Heart Awareness" Fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association on February 20, 2014.  

The Orland Fire Protection District was proud to participate along with a number of other invited guests and offered demonstrations on CPR, Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and techniques on how to save choking victims.

OFPD Battalion Chief Raymond Kay participated in the event to give attendees an opportunity to view firsthand how life-saving strategies are applied during emergency situations.

Kay is also leading the Orland Fire Protection District’s Community CARE program which seeks to place AEDs at various local communities.

“Having an AED and a staff person who is trained in operating an AED can assist in saving lives,” Kay said. “Those first few minutes can often determine whether a person survives sudden cardiac arrest. Having an AED and a staff person trained in its use can help sustain the patient during the first few minutes as emergency medical personnel and dispatched. It makes a difference and the Orland Fire Protection District is supporting a campaign to make more available through local businesses.”

                      

During the “Healthy Heart Awareness” fundraiser, officials from Mercedes Benz of Orland Park and the Orland Fire Protection District presented demonstrations on life saving techniques and presented information about the Community CARE program.  As a result of this event, Mercedes Benz of Orland Park owner David Nocera plans to purchase two AEDs.

"Community CARE is a comprehensive community oriented program geared to save lives of cardiac arrest victims,” Kay said. "The Orland Fire District offers FREE CPR and AED classes in an effort to increase the chances to save a life.”

For more information on Community CARE or how to schedule a presentation at your event, Contact Battalion Chief Kay or visit the Orland Fire Protection District’s website at www.orlandfire.org.

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Garage Fire in Orland Park (Crystal Tree) Sunday morning

Fire hydrant in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Garage Fire in Orland Park (Crystal Tree) Sunday morning

On Sunday February 2, 2014 at 08:27 we had a report of a fire in a residence at 14537 Crystal Tree Drive.  The initial dispatch had Battalion 4, Truck 1, Engine 3, Engine 5, and ambulance 3 responding.  Upon our arrival Engine 3 reported heavy smoke coming from the attached three car garage of a large 4000 square foot home.  The alarm was upgraded to bring additional companies to the fire and additional units into the District to maintain emergency response District wide. 

The initial crews responded within 1 minute of the call and were on the scene within 4 minutes.  Engine 3 was the initial arriving company and made an aggressive interior attack while the first arriving Truck conducted a primary search to ensure the safety of the residents. 

There were two residents in the home at the time of the fire, both left the home immediately and are in good condition.  The fire was contained to the garage due to the quick response time and aggressive interior attack from the first arriving companies.  Although the fire was contained to the garage compartment, the rest of the home did suffer heavy smoke damage.  The fire companies doing salvage and overhaul did little additional damage making sure the fire did not extend to any other areas of the residence.  The fire is still under investigation and the focus of the investigation is being directed at one of the two vehicles located in the garage. 

Fire Chief Brucki said, "I was very proud of the rapid response and aggressive fire fighting techniques of the first arriving crews.  Given the weather conditions and the other various challenges, our crews acted quickly to prevent further damage to the residence.  The safety of the crews responding and the residents we serve is our main priority, however, we take pride in our ability to preserve property and assist the residents with cleanup after an incident.  We realize the trauma and devastation a fire has on our residence and make every attempt to assist them in their time of need."

One additional public safety note, with all the snow and the plowing efforts to maintain safe travel on the roadways, please make sure all hydrants are clear and snow removed from around the hydrant so that fire companied can first find the hydrant and then utilize it in the event of a fire, Brucki said.

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OFPD Orland Hills home damaged by Fire Wednesday night

OFPD Orland Hills home damaged by Fire Wednesday night

The Orland Fire District responded to a house fire in the 9300 block of Hunter Ct. Wednesday, January 29. Orland Fire dispatch received a 911 call reporting a fire in the garage at about 7 p.m.

Initial arriving units reported a small fire in the back of the garage with smoke showing from the roof and second floor. The fire in the garage was extinguished but it had burned inside and up the wall to the second floor. Orland Firefighters assisted by Tinley Park held the fire at the second floor before it had gotten into the attic. Due to the open truss flooring system used the fire had spread through much of the enclosed floor space above the first floor. There was significant smoke damage throughout the home. The occupants were home at the time of fire, were alerted quickly to the fire, and able to escape without injury.

The cause of the fire, at the time of this release, is under investigation.

Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District

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OFPD Chief Ken Brucki responds to inaccurate news report on District Pension Funds

Orland Fire Prevention District Chief Ken Brucki responds to an inaccurate story which suggested recently that the District had failed to provide information to the Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas on the district's Pension Fund. In fact, the district provided the correct information but the county system isn't built to accommodate pension fund data that is "fully funded." The OFPD Pension Fund is fully funded at 101 percent. It is one of the best maintained pension funds in the MidWest. Very few pension funds can claim to be fully funded and to have a cash reserve on hand. Over the past four years, the district has consolidated expenditures, eliminated wasteful spending and held the OFPD budget to under $30 million for the past few years, only slightly growing this past year. The District's Budget management has saved taxpayers more than $5 million over the past four years by holding the line ons pending and eliminating waste. One of the jewels of the OFPD budget management is the maintenance of the Pension Fund which is one of the best in the MidWest and possibly the country. In this video, Brucki also discusses the impact of the severe weather on the fire department.

OFPD pushes use of AEDs in retail and public locations at Rotary Club speech

OFPD pushes use of AEDs in retail and public locations at Rotary Club speech

On December 19, 2013 the Orland Park Rotary Club hosted an Orland Fire Protection District presentation on Community CARE at Silver Lakes Country Club.  Approximately 30 members of the Rotary Club were present to hear Battalion Chief Raymond Kay speak about the districts program to save lives.  Community CARE is a program geared toward saving victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). 

Early CPR and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) are the key public components of the Community CARE program.  State laws like the Colleen O'Sullivan Law, which requires all indoor physical fitness facilities operated by any local government to have an AED on premises, is complimentary with the Community CARE program.

The program detailed how nearly 1,000 people each day in the country experience SCA.  While the national average rate to save SCA victims is approximately 10%, the average save rate in the Orland Fire District is approximately 46%.  

The rate in the district is due in great part to early CPR and AED use.  Members also had the opportunity to watch a CPR demonstration and to try CPR for themselves.

The Community CARE program is driven to work with community service groups like the Rotary Club, and retail establishments, in order to share the message about SCA, AEDs and how to sign up for FREE CPR classes.  To learn more about Community CARE go to the website at:  www.Orlandfire.org

Pictured above is (left to right): Battalion Chief Kay of the Orland Fire Protection District and John A. Bibeau, President of the Orland Park Rotary Club

OFPD Board of Trustees announces new union contract that offers taxpayers significant longterm savings

OFPD announces new contract with firefighters that cuts costs and reduces expenditures

Orland Fire Protection District — The Orland Fire Protection District is proud to announce the renewal of its contract with the firefighters union, holding the line on pay raises to under 3 percent each year over the next three years and significantly reducing longterm costs.

The new three-year contract, which takes affect immediately, projects a reduction of ranking officers through attrition and their replacement by firefighters, and savings in healthcare, overtime and tougher requirements for drug testing and safety.

Members of the Orland Fire Protection Board said the new contract, which does not require board action because it was agreed to as a result of binding arbitration, would increase the number of lower-paid firefighters by reducing the number of higher paid ranking officers including lieutenants and engineers.

“This single change could save the taxpayers as much as $1 million a year by putting more firefighters on the force and less higher paid officers,” explained Orland Fire Trustee Chris Evoy, who noted the change will come through attrition over the life of the contract. The number of fire lieutenants, for example, will be reduced from 33 to 24, a savings of about $300,000 a year when fully implemented.

Additional savings will come by shifting the responsibility for overtime to senior management, a move OFPD Trustees said they hope will cut overtime expenditures by 50 percent.

“We want to thank the union leadership and negotiating team from Local 2754 for agreeing to these terms that will help ease the pressure on the budget and help the district achieve its goals of reigning in excessive spending,” Evoy added.

“The new contract will help the district save money and reduce expenditures by allowing a tougher management of overtime, shifting responsibility to battalion chiefs to better plan personnel schedules.”

In the past overtime needs were often slotted using higher paid ranking firefighters in ranking positions. Under the new plan, lower paid firefighters will get the majority of the overtime assignments when needed.

“We anticipate that this will be a very large savings to the taxpayers,” Evoy said congratulating his colleagues on the board including President Jim Hickey, and Trustees Blair Rhode, John Brudnak and Jayne Schirmacher.

Other concessions include requiring union members to increase their contributions, through payroll deductions, for healthcare benefits, and to adhere to a tougher and more stringent Drug Policy, lowering the tolerance level from .08 (which is the highest in the state) to .02 (which is the lowest in the state).

Employee contributions will increase from 7 percent to 9 percent in 2014 and 11 percent in 2015. And, he said, Kelly Days (other paid leave days) will be required to be scheduled and will not be permitted to be converted to sick days when not used.

“We think this reflects the best interests of the residents and the taxpayers,” Rhode said. “I know the board would like to express their gratitude to the leadership of the Local 2754 Union for their support in helping to achieve the district’s budget goals.”

Hickey added, “The mandate of the new board has been to maintain services while reducing the burden on taxpayers and I and the board have been working hard to balance both. We have saved many millions of dollars over the past few years that had we not acted, costs would have skyrocketed. This new contract is very favorable to the taxpayers and we’re proud that it achieves so much with their interests in mind."

The contract went to binding arbitration as a result of the union rejecting board offers. The arbitrator’s decision is final and does not need to be ratified by the board of trustees, Evoy explained. The contract is retroactive through Jan. 1, 2013.

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Statement from Orland Fire Protection District Fire Chief Ken Brucki

Statement from Orland Fire Protection District Fire Chief Ken Brucki

Power lines, trees down but no structural damage reported in Orland Park

“Our community of Orland Park was very fortunate. We skirted the major brunt of the storm. It was headed towards us but turned to the east before creating damage to our community. As of now, we are not seeing much damage. We are investigating wires down, trees down and power outages on 143rd Street between Wolf and West Avenue … but we have not received any reports to the OFPD of damage to any structures.

“As a precaution, we were extremely prepared for this storm and tracked this for quite some time, called in additional dispatchers to handle a potential increase in calls from residents. We put up our backup dispatch center just in case there was an interruption of our communications so we could switch to our backup centers to keep our communications.

“We also went into ‘Storm Mode in our dispatch center to put all of our equipment, vehicles and personnel on ready and radio communications so our notification is instant. It puts all of our on-duty personnel on an immediate notice in the event of putting out a call.

“Assistance has not been requested from the other communities around us but are ready if there is a need.

“Our technical rescue teams are on standby and we are prepared to respond if we receive a call for assistance.”

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