Orland Fire District demonstrates training exercises to fight fires at Media Day event Sept. 28

Orland Fire Protection District hosts "Media Day" Friday Sept. 28 -- meet new recruits, officials, and view training strategies

The Orland Fire Protection District is hosting a special “Media Day” at the district’s Training Center, 10728 west 163^rd Place to chronicle the Academy training and processing of our new Firefighter hires. The event will be held on Friday September 28, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

The OFPD has a replica garage, replica four-story building, replica frame home and replica auto accident scene where firefighters and recruits train to maintain their level of professional services.

Fire Chief Ken Brucki explained that although the scenarios are controlled replicas of potential emergencies, they pose a serious threat to firefighters. The fire in the four-story brick building, for example, reaches temperatures of 1,100 degrees inside the building during exercises.

Firefighters trained in putting out garage fires, fires in an office tower, fires in a home and extricating victims from vehicle accident scenes. 

The media will be allowed to view firsthand a series of fire training exercises including:

·         Live fire training

·         Engine operations

·         Hose line advancement

·         Forcible entry

·         Search and Rescue Techniques

·         Fire Extinguishment

PPhotos

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Orland Fire Protection District hosts "Media Day" Friday Sept. 28 -- meet new recruits, officials, and view training strategies

Orland Fire Protection District hosts "Media Day" Friday Sept. 28 -- meet new recruits, officials, and view training strategies

The Orland Fire Protection District is hosting a special “Media Day” at the district’s Training Center, 10728 west 163^rd Place to chronicle the Academy training and processing of our new Firefighter hires. The event will be held on Friday September 28, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM

The media will be allowed to view firsthand a series of fire training exercises including:

·         Live fire training

·         Engine operations

·         Hose line advancement

·         Forcible entry

·         Search and Rescue Techniques

·         Fire Extinguishment

Lunch will be provided afterwards at 11:30 am.

OFPD Hosts Open House Oct. 6 to promote Fire Prevention Week

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                Ray Hanania

Sept. 17, 2012 Monday                             rayhanania  @  comcast  .  net

OFPD Hosts Open House Oct. 6 to promote Fire Prevention Week

Many residents unprepared if their home catches fire

(OFPD) – Nearly one-third of American residents are unprepared to escape a fire if one were to occur in their homes, a recent study commissioned by the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) concludes.

Most Americans, according to the study, believe that 6 minutes is more than enough time for them to gather their family and flee a fire if it were to occur in their homes.

But that time period is higher than what officials believe is the safe time zone and would put many families in jeopardy in a life threatening fire.

Two help raise awareness, the Orland Fire Protection District has teamed up with NFPA to showcase the problem during Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012. The OFPD and NFPA urge residents to “Have Two Ways Out!” which is the theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

“One structure fire in a home was reported every 85 seconds in 2010,” says Chief Ken Brucki of the Orland Fire District.

“Fire is unpredictable and moves much faster than most people realize.  Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should fire break out in your home. Six minutes is not enough time to escape life threatening circumstances and I am hoping the emphasis on that this year during Fire Prevention Week will encourage more families to recognize the significance of fire escape planning and practice.” 

The Orland Fire Protection District recommends the following tips for planning your family’s escape:

• ·         Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• ·         Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they have escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
• ·         Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
• ·         Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• ·         Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have your family practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.

The Orland Fire Protection District will be hosting an Open House on October 6, 2012, to kick off Fire Prevention Week to promote “Have Two Ways Out!”

Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of fire escape planning and practices, as well as the power of prevention, visit our website for more details.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and the Orland Fire Protection District, contact Nancy Mulvihill at 708-873-2742. To learn more about “Have Two Ways Out!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.

The Open House will be held at the Orland Fire Prevention District Training Center, 10728 W. 163^rd Place from 10 am until 1 pm Saturday Oct. 6, 2012.

Also, there will be a coloring contest ceremony announcing winner at 12:30. Students from local schools have submitted Coloring Contest pictures and the winners will be picked from the entries. The top 3 in each grade will get a trophy.

And, the OFPD will host a blood drive from 8 until 2 pm.

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Orland Fire Protection District Commemorates 9/11

Orland Fire Protection District Commemorates 9/11

The Orland Fire Protection District held a commemoration service Tuesday to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans.

Among those killed on September 11 were 343 New York Fire Fighters and paramedics, 23 members of the New York Police Department, and 37 members of the New York Port Authority.

Organized by OFPD Chief Ken Brucki, the event featured Commander Edward P. Dunne and was held at Fire Station 1 adjacent to the Fire District Headquarters at 9790 W. 151st Street.

“We assemble here today joining Americans across the country to commemorate the 11^th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks. We will never forget the losses suffered on Sept. 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” Dunne told a gathering of firefighters and community residents.

“This ceremony is a salute to all the fallen firefighters, law enforcement, military personnel and civilians alike. We give thanks to the extraordinary response of the entire American Fire Service to the tragic events that have changed all of our lives.”

During the ceremony, the American Flag was lowered to half mast. Local 2754 provided the Honor Guard to ring the ceremonial bell, a total of three rings done three times to symbolize the devotion that firefighters share, and to remember those who have sacrificed their lines in the line of duty.

(Photos courtesy Battalion Chief Dan Smith)

Fire at home at 157th Chapel Hill Rd, Orland Park

Saturday night August 11, 2012 at 7:26pm, Orland Fire received 911 calls reporting a house fire in the 15700 block of Chapel Hill Rd. in Orland Park. A structure fire response (2 engines 2 trucks 1 ambulance 1 chief) was dispatched and first arriving units within 4 minutes reported smoke showing from the second floor windows and fire on the first floor in the kitchen area.

Prior to arrival dispatch upgraded the alarm to a working fire response due to multiple 911 calls bringing in an additional Orland Engine Ambulance and 2 Chiefs. A fire attack was started along with an aggressive search for occupants as neighbors reported they may be home but could not be accounted for. The search revealed there was no one home at the time of fire and the family dog was located and removed to fresh air in good condition.

Strategic location of fire stations along with adequate staffing provided personnel on the scene to control the fire within 20 minutes and confined the damage the fire caused to the 1^st floor kitchen area. The Orland Park Police were successful at locating the homeowners who arrived back home about two hours later. There were an additional 3 medical incidents (tow of which were in the first few minutes of the fire) handled by Orland personnel during this fire incident.

Due to multiple concurrent incidents , the fire was escalated to the full still level to bring in neighboring fire departments to cover the Orland Fire stations. There were no injuries and the family dog was taken by family member to the emergency veterinarian in Mokena for evaluation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Report from Battalion Chief Dan Smith, OFPD)

Mercury Hazmat response; House fire 8100 Ann Dr

Mercury Hazmat response

On Tuesday August 7, 2012 the Orland Fire Protection District responded to 7400 159^th Street at 3:10pm for a small mercury spill in the Goodwill Industries loading dock area.  As a routine practice, Goodwill sorts the donations that they receive looking for potentially hazardous chemicals.  During this sorting procedure a small amount of mercury was identified by a worker that spilled outside of the container but inside of a carrying tub.

The mercury was collected and properly sealed in plastic bags for disposal.  There were no injuries at this incident or exposures to mercury.  Goodwill will have a waste disposal company take the mercury as part of a regular hazardous waste removal procedure. 

Quick Response by Orland Firefighters saves family home

(Photos attached Courtesy of www.OrlandFire.org)

Orland firefighters responded to a house fire in the 8100 block of Ann Drive.

Engine 2 and Ambulance 2 arrived within minutes of the call and reported heavy fire coming out of the garage which was attached to the house. Engine 2 made a quick attack with their hose line stopping the fire from reaching the inside of the house. Engine 5 which was 2 minutes behind them went inside the house with a hose line and stopped the fire from advancing to the rest of the home.

Additional units from Orland fire quickly followed along with a Tinley Engine and helped extinguished the fire. The quick response from Orland Fire units saved the family’s home but more importantly saved irreplaceable items that the family has accumulated over a life time.

Members of the Orland Fire District assisted the residents with finding housing for the night, retrieving valuables and assisting with Insurance Company notification.

(Photos courtesy www.OrlandFire.org)

end

OFPD Votes to hire 11 firefighters

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      Ray Hanania

July 24, 2012                                                              rayhanania@comcast.net

OFPD Votes to hire 11 firefighters

OFPD, Orland Park, IL., – The Orland Fire Protection District board Tuesday voted to authorize the hiring of 11 firefighters. The new hires will have to be confirmed by the three member OFPD Board of Commissioners.

Fire Chief Ken Brucki said the hiring is based on the staffing needs assessments and are needed and Board President Jim Hickey said the new hires will strengthen the fire district’s response time and commitment to public safety.

Hickey said the District’s Board of Commissioners will have to decide whether to hire the firefighters from the list that was approved and later frozen last year or from a more recent list of qualified candidates.

“By taking this action, we are making sure we have enough manpower to strengthen fire response time for the OFPD,” Hickey said predicting they could be on the force before Thanksgiving or possibly sooner.

Hickey said nine of the new hires will fill vacancies created over the past year. The vote was three to one with Hickey, trustees Marty McGill and Glenn Michalek voting to hire the 11 firefighters and Trustee Blair Rhode voting no. Trustee Chris Evoy was not at the meeting Tuesday.

Hickey said that the former board voted in April 2011 to hire 12 firefighters between the election and when the two new trustees were sworn in to office. Rhode and Evoy had urged the old board not to take any major spending decisions. Hickey voted with the old board in order to allow for a reconsideration vote once the new trustees were sworn in to office.

“I was against the hiring but the vote by the former board could only be reconsidered by the new board if someone who supported the measure decided to reverse their vote, which I did,” Hickey explained.

The hiring decision was put on hold by the new board until a staffing study could be completed and a permanent fire chief was appointed, both done this year.

“The taxpayers demanded accountability. They wanted an end to the past practices where money was spent without true accountability. This board has carefully and comprehensively examined the issue, reviewed the budget and costs and the manpower needs and we’ve concluded that at this time, new hires are justified,” Hickey said.

Brucki, who was hired earlier this year as the permanent fire chief, said he evaluated staffing levels against the proficiency of services.

“I have had the opportunity to study staffing and have concluded we need to hire based on several factors,” Brucki said.

“Public safety needs will always be my priority, and the Board of Trustees has done an excellent job of balancing fiscal responsibility of tax payer money and addressing the service needs of our communities.”

Brucki said the factors are:

·     -  We have a significant safety issue with regard to our personnel working excessive overtime to fill our staffing needs.

·     -  We have a significant amount of overtime to fill our staffing needs and the most productive way to meet those needs are to hire more people. 

·     -  In an effort to be more fiscally responsible to the tax payer, at this time given our current make-up it is more responsible and more productive to hire people rather than combat an escalating overtime expenditure.”

“We will continually measure the public safety needs and compare those needs with the service we provide.  Our main mission is to continually evaluate our response time and maintain the most professional service with the quickest response this District has established,” Brucki said.

McGill and Michalek both voted for the original hires in 2011 and said they were pleased the board finally moved forward with the hires.

“I’ve always been in favor of the hiring,” McGill said.

"I am against any hiring until a real discussion about minimum staffing and staffing changes.  I am for evaluating call volumes and basing staffing accordingly.  During the meeting, I could not get an answer on 7 pm to 7 am call volumes," Rhode said.

"The public sector needs to take a hard look at the current state of affairs.  We need to take a hard look at legacy costs and realize the, to quote president Obama, fundamental change is required.  We can no longer sustain business as usual.  The long term costs of this staffing volume will ultimately bury this district."

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