2013 Annual Report

Orland Fire Protection District Annual Report 2013

ORland Fire Protection District

The Orland Fire Protection District’s staff is dedicated

to preserving life and property while valuing full

accountability to each other and the people we serve.

2013

annual report

mission

statement



Table of Contents

Page Board of Trustees 1 Board of Fire Commissioners 2 Command Staff 2 Message from Fire Chief 3-4 News & Events 5-12 Grants & Donations 13-14 Memorials 15-16 Years of Service Awards 17 Chiefs 18 Citizen Life Saving Awards 19-20 Response Times 21-22 OFPD By the Numbers 22-25 Apparatus Staffing 26 Incidents 27-31 Mutual Aid 31-32 Emergency Medical Services 33-36 Training 37-38 Specialty Teams Water Rescue & Recovery 39 Haz Mat 40 Technical Rescue 41 Finance 42 Dispatch 43 Support Services 44-46 Fire Investigations 47-48 Fire Prevention Bureau 49-50 Public Education 51 Senior Advisory Council 52 Human Resources 53 Staffing 54 Swearing in Ceremony 55-56 Promotions 57-58 Special Recognitions 59-60


As elected officials, the Board of Trustees are the executives of our District. Trustees meet a minimum of once each month to approve, discuss, and direct staff in the operation of our District. Through the direction of President Hickey and the Board of Trustees, our staff is held accountable to delivery of services for our residents. The accomplishments of our District in 2013 were the direct result of our Board’s dedication to the Orland Fire Protection District mission of serving our residents.

President James Hickey Treasurer Christopher Evoy Secretary Jayne Schirmacher

Trustee John Brudnak Trustee Blair Rhode

Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees

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Board of Fire Commissioners

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The Board of Fire Commissioners are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The function of this Board is to conduct the testing of new firefighter candidates, promotional processes and potential discipline process.

Chairman Craig Schmidt Commissioner David Wagner Commissioner James Bianchi

Battalion Chief Raymond Kay

Day Shift—Administration Fire Chief Ken Brucki Battalion Chief Michael Schofield

Day Shift-Operations

Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Jr.

Gold Shift

Battalion Chief Nicholas Cinquepalmi

Red Shift Battalion Chief Daniel Smith

Black Shift

Orland Fire Protection District Command Staff


Message from Fire Chief Ken Brucki

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President Hickey and Board of Trustees,

It is with pleasure that I provide you, the Board, and the Community

with the 2013 annual report. It is truly a privilege to serve as Chief

Administrator for the Orland Fire Protection District. As a member of

the community for the past 14 years, it is my honor to continue the

tradition of the finest Fire District in the State and to lead the District into the future as your Chief

Administrator.

To prepare our communities and the residents we serve, at your direction, we have created a

strategic plan to guide the organization into a sustainable future. With guidance from the Board

Treasurer and implementation of sound fiscal practices, the District continues to control its costs,

measure its efficiencies, while still providing the communities and residents of the District with

exceptional service.

What we would like to highlight this year, is the progress our planning efforts have made through

fiscal 2013. From the beginning of this administration and to date, we have identified the following

core areas of the District and recognized means to ensure future service while operating within our

means. The core focus areas are:

Staffing

Facilities

Vehicles

Equipment

Staffing: The Board has allowed this staff the time it needed to conduct a study measuring

the public safety needs of the communities and our staffing levels. It was concluded, and at full

support of the Board, to set our staffing at the current level and simply maintain that level. It is a

consistent staffing level that minimizes the effects of overtime due to a shortage. To date you have

supported this practice and all studies have concluded the practice of replacing personnel as they

leave is fiscally responsible. The second planning strategy was funding our pension system. With

all the uncertainty of pension systems within the State of Illinois, I am proud to report the efforts of

the Board, have not only stabilized our pension system (Firefighters pension and IMRF for our non-

sworn municipal staff) but, has fully funded the pension system, currently 101% funded.

Facilities: During my first year, we drafted a strategic plan to address the maintenance and

repair needs of all our aging facilities. The newest of the 6 fire houses is 22 years old with the

oldest being 36 years old. They all have original equipment, roofs, furnaces, air conditioners,

kitchens, locker rooms, sleeping quarters, offices, and so on. We live and operate out of our fire

houses 24 / 7 and all materials have an effective life span. Our plan begins repair and

maintenance projects for all facilities in a systematic approach and spreads the work, and cost,

over a 6 year period. We have achieved our project goals for fiscal 2013 and with your continued


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support, within a short time frame can update and modernize our facilities with state of the art

energy saving materials and sustainability for the next 15 to 20 years. More importantly, we can

begin a capital improvement funding plan to prepare for improvement expenditures in the future.

Vehicles: Our strategic plan also incorporates a capital replacement plan for District

vehicles. Being the largest Fire District in the State of Illinois and covering 33 square miles, we

are in need of a very large fleet. To maximize the efficiency of our responses, ensure the latest

safety features in our District vehicles, and control our maintenance costs, this staff has

assembled a replacement plan, incorporating every District vehicle, depreciating it over time, and

planning for its replacement for the next 30 years. Creating such a plan not only ensures a safe

healthy fleet but also allows the District time and opportunity to fiscally manage the plan in a

responsible manner and maximize tax dollar spending. Additionally, the Board has supported a

plan to begin leasing its fleet to further reduce our replacement costs while ensuring the latest

safety features and controlling the age of the vehicles for our employees. This practice has

already begun to reduce the annual financial obligation to the capital replacement account.

Equipment: Our firefighters and personnel are some of the finest trained in the fire service.

Unfortunately, all the training we provide to ensure the safety of our personnel also needs to be

supported with equipment, very expensive equipment. It is just as important to plan for the

replacement of expensive equipment as it is for vehicles. Although we have programs in place to

care and maintain our equipment, all equipment has a life span and is eventually in need of

replacement. We have begun a capital replacement fund to help offset and create a fiscally

responsible program to manage all District equipment.

Our focus over the fiscal year 2013 was to establish practices that responsibly manage some of

the larger financial areas of the District. With your guidance and support, I am excited for our

District’s plan to support a sustainable future for providing emergency to our communities and

residents.

On behalf of the men and women who serve the Orland Fire Protection District, I would like to

close with a statement from our District Strategic plan; The Fire District strives to be leader in

providing fire and life safety services. All the members of the Fire District attempt to realize the

potential in themselves and their fellow employees and desire to continue the District’s tradition of

excellence. We are committed to being good stewards of the Orland Fire Protection District.

Respectfully Submitted,

Message from Fire Chief Ken Brucki


News & Events

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Farewell to Outgoing Fire Commissioners

Farewell to Fire Commissioner Mary Beth Casper who has served on the Board of Fire Commissioners from 2007 to

2013. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Commissioner John Brudnak stepped down from the Board of Commissioners as he was elected to the Board of

Trustees of the Orland Fire Protection District in May 2013. He served as a Commissioner from 2011 to 2013.

Farewell to Outgoing Trustees McGill & Michalek

On April 23, 2013 the District said goodbye to Trustees Marty McGill and Glenn Michalek. Trustee McGill served on the

Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2013 and Trustee Michalek served from 2007 to 2013. The Orland Fire Protection

District’s Board of Trustees thanks them for their years of dedication and service and wishes them all the best.


News & Events

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Swearing in New Trustees to the Board

On May 7, 2013 Jayne Schirmacher and John

Brudnak were sworn into the office of Trustee of the

Orland Fire Protection District by Cook County

Commissioner Liz Gorman.

Trustee Schirmacher will serve as the Secretary of

the Board of Trustees.

Chief Ken Brucki, Trustee John Brudnak, Board President James Hickey, Secretary Jayne

Schirmacher, Treasurer Christopher Evoy, and Trustee Blair Rhode


News & Events

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“Fill the Boot” to Benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association

April Elashik of the Muscular Dystrophy

Association presented the Board with a

plaque for the District’s support of the 2013

“Fill the Boot” fundraiser benefitting MDA.

This year Firefighters Local 2754 raised

$18,573.

On Thursday October 11, 2013, the Orland Fire Protection District hosted seven exchange students from Guangzhou,

China in a cultural exchange cooperative. Visiting members viewed ongoing hazardous materials response training,

cutting edge emergency medical training using life-like simulators and mannequins, Incident Command Training and

communications systems over a three hour period. Visitors are participating in a program sponsored by The 21st Century

Institute, a non-profit organization, working toward maximizing human potential by integrating intellectual, cultural,

economic, scientific, and technological resources from different geographical regions of the world.

Chinese Delegates Tour OFPD Training Facility


News & Events

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Building of Firefighter Memorial

The Orland Fire Protection District is honored to announce the new

Firefighter Remembrance Memorial, built by Eagle Scout candidate

Kyle LaHucik, which is located on the northeast corner of the Fire

District’s Administration Building. Kyle is a scout in Mokena Troop

725 and is working to receive his Eagle Badge. One of many

requirements is completing a service project. Kyle chose to do a

firefighter memorial to remember the firefighters that gave their all

to serve and protect others. The project took two years to plan,

fund, coordinate, and build and includes a flag pole, a plaque

honoring fallen firefighters, and a retired flag mailbox. This

Firefighter Remembrance Memorial reminds all of us what

firefighters do each day to protect their community and conveys the

honor, dedication and passion that firefighters have in serving their

community. This memorial will be used by the Honor Guard for

ceremonies and other events.

http://www.orlandfire.org/emergencyservices/specialtyteams/honorguard


News & Events

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The Kid’s Fire & Life Safety Camp is made possible due to assistance from the Orland Fire Foundation and is dedicated to exposing school aged children to safety lessons dealing with potential hazards around their homes and schools. The camp is designed to be fun, entertaining and educational; while providing the campers with the knowledge to keep themselves out of harm’s way. The participants will have lectures and lessons each day, followed by opportunities to actively participate in exercises designed to reinforce what they have been taught. The lessons center on:

Basic first aid and CPR Water and pool safety Personal safety and injury prevention Safety around utilities Safety around railroad tracks Severe weather preparedness

Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp July, 2013

Bicycle safety Fire prevention Firefighter skills Stranger Danger Hands-on learning and team building activities


News & Events

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The camp is for children ages 8-11 and is limited to a maximum class size. It is free of charge for Orland Fire District

residents and a small fee for out of district residents. Each participant receives a Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp T-shirt, a

certificate of completion, a CD containing pictures from the week, and a binder containing hand-outs and activities.


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Annual Open House The annual Open House was held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10 am until 1 pm at the Fire District's Training

Center. The event featured a wide range of fun and informative activities for children and families while also raising

awareness of fire prevention and public safety.

Representatives of various groups were there to present information to those who attended; teenage volunteers ran

games, did face painting, passed out popcorn, and, firefighters provided various live demonstrations.

Chief Brucki and Public Education Coordinator Betsy Dine awarded the winners of the coloring/essay contests.

A great time was had by all!

News & Events

Various visitors, chiefs, firefighters, employees, contest winners, and volunteers helping make the

Open House a big success!


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News & Events

Orland Fire has a team of specially trained personnel who respond to calls involving different types of emergencies—from

a building collapse to a trench cave-in. Here some members demonstrated their high-angle skills repelling down the side

of a building to rescue someone who is trapped.

The C.A.R.T. Team Shows Off Their Skills

Side-By-Side Fire Sprinkler Demonstration

UNSPRINKLERED: The room 8’ x 8’, started out with an improperly attended candle by a window that is slightly open.

With a slight breeze, in a matter of seconds the fire is doubling in size about every 15 seconds. Just 3 or 4 minutes later the

room is now completely uninhabitable, unsafe, a potential death trap for anyone that did not heed the warning of the smoke

detector. There is nothing salvageable at this point in this preventable tragedy.

SPRINKLERED: You are now in a room 8’ x 8’ but this time there is 1 fire sprinkler head on the job. As before, the fire

starts small with that same candle. Air currents again move the curtains, igniting the corner of the curtain ’s material. The

temperature starts to climb from about 68 degrees F, higher and higher. Then at about 155 degrees there is a “POP” and

there is a light shower of water cooling the fire, coming from that 1 fire sprinkler head. Stopping this uncontrolled rampant

fire, in its tracks. This is the lifesaving action of this simple device developed over 100 years ago. It saved lives then and

it’s still on the job today, in businesses, restaurants, hospitals, daycare facilities and more.


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Grants & Donations

$20,000 Grant By Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

On May 28, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the Orland Fire Protection District unanimously approved a request to replace the existing public safety educational trailer. The trailer is 25 years old and has been placed in limited service because of safety concerns and it is no longer road worthy.

On Friday, August 2, 2013 the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded the Orland Fire Protection District

$20,000 to support the funding of this new public safety trailer, which will provide fire safety, home/office safety and severe

weather preparedness educational programs. The safety trailer is one of the most valuable public safety educational tools

the District has for teaching, and this new unit will allow the District to expand its delivery of programs beyond elementary

school age groups, including the growing senior population in Orland Park.

Life & Safety Trailer Premier at Firehouse Subs

A special thanks to Firehouse Subs for including the Orland Fire Protection District in their 1-Year Anniversary celebration

on December 7, 2013. During the celebration, the Orland Fire Protection District unveiled the new public safety trailer.

Thanks to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the District can now provide better fire safety, home / office safety,

and severe weather preparedness educational programs.

http://www.firehousesubs.com/


Grants & Donations

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$1,000 Grant By IL American Water

In September, 2013 the Orland Fire

Protection District applied for a grant through

the Illinois American Water’s Firefighter

Grant Program to purchase an engineer prop

to assist in the training and education of our

apparatus operators. This prop allows our

personnel to efficiently train to provide a

continuous supply of water from the local

water system to the emergency scene, to

provide all of our personnel with a training

experience that will be realistic, relevant and

repeatable. The grant was approved for

$1,000.

Susan Gram, Municipal Advocate and Henry Maradiaga, Operations

Supervisor, of Illinois American Water presented the check to Chief Ken

Brucki and Lieutenant David Piper on Monday, October 28, 2013

Donation of Smoke Detectors by McGreal Engineering

The Orland Fire Protection District received a donation of 200 smoke detectors and installation systems from Mr. Tim McGreal of McGreal Engineering. These smoke detectors come with a special mounting system and extension pole that will allow a person to install and remove the detector from the ceiling without the need of a chair or ladder. This system was invented by Mr. McGreal and has been featured on The Home Shopping Network. This donation will enable the Fire District to provide smoke detectors to senior citizens and handicapped individuals who reside within the district.


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Memorials

Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Sr. Memorial

On February 25, 2013 the

District held a memorial

service for Battalion Chief

William Bonnar, Sr., a

beloved member of the

Orland Fire District. This

date marked the 15th

anniversary of Chief Bonnar’s

death in the line of duty.

9-1-1 Remembrance Memorial On September 11, 2013 the Orland Fire Protection

District held its annual memorial service to remember

those who so tragically lost their lives to terrorist

attacks on September 11, 2001. This year’s

ceremony marked the 12th year.

“Never Forget”


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Memorials

Dedication of Firefighter Memorial

On Saturday, September 14, 2013 the Orland Fire Protection District

dedicated the new Firefighter Remembrance Memorial built by Eagle

Scout candidate Kyle LaHucik located on the northeast corner of our

Administration Building.

After dedication of this remembrance memorial, a service was held in

memory of Engineer Ray Marquardt’s father, Lieutenant Raymond

Marquardt, who passed away on September 14, 2009, from a line-of-

duty illness.


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Years of Service Awards

20 Years: Engineer Robert Murphy III,

Lieutenant Michael Srncik, Engineer

Joseph Mandekich, Engineer Edward

Dunne, Firefighter/Paramedic Terry

Campagne (Not Pictured: Engineer

Pamela Exline)

35 Years: Lieutenant William Leddin, Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Jr. and

Lieutenant Michael Copple

30 Years: Firefighter/Paramedic Bob Proctor, Lieutenant Gerald Klotz, Lieutenant Joe Leddin

and Lieutenant Nick Anastos

The following personnel were recognized for Years of Service by the Board of Trustees in August, 2013:

15 Years: Fire Inspector Patrick Collier

The following personnel were recognized for Years of Service by the Board of Trustees in July, 2013:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE


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Chiefs 2013


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Citizen Life Saving Awards

At the February 26, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting Jose Cerda was

presented with the Chief Art Granat, Sr. Award of Merit tor the following

incident:

On January 17, 2013, a vehicle was observed facing the wrong way in

traffic. A concerned passerby, Jose Cerda, stopped to offer assistance

and discovered the driver, a young woman, was disoriented. Mr. Cerda

instructed the vehicle passenger to call 9-1-1, moved the driver to the

safety of his own vehicle and moved her vehicle out of oncoming traffic.

Mr. Cerda attended to her until the ambulance arrived. The actions of

Mr. Cerda may have prevented an accident and certainly contributed to

the timely arrival of the ambulance.

At the February 26, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting

Jake Pechukas and Keith Coppens were presented

with the Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. Citizen Life

Saving Award tor the following incident:

On February 10, 2013, a 32 year-old male went into

sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball.

Employees of the Village of Orland Park Sportsplex

Jake Pechukas and Keith Coppens, recognized the

serious nature of the incident and. under direction of

Orland Fire District Battalion Chief Nick Cinquepalmi,

called 9-1-1, retrieved the AED and assisted with the

successful resuscitation of the cardiac arrest victim.

At the August 27, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting Sarah Kane and

Brian Wittmayer were presented with the Battalion Chief William

Bonnar, Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award tor the following incident:

On July 7, 2013 a 16 year-old male went into sudden cardiac arrest

while having lunch at a local restaurant. Quickly responding to a

distressed call for help, Sarah Kane and Brian Wittmayer recognized

the severity of the situation, and performed CPR until paramedics

arrived. Their actions resulted in the successful resuscitation of the

cardiac arrest victim.

Chief Art Granat, Sr. Award of Merit

Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award



Citizen Life Saving Awards

At the August 27, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting the

following were presented with the Battalion Chief

William Bonnar Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award tor the

following incident:

On August 8, 2013 lifeguards at Centennial Pool

witnessed a three year old child under water. Patrick

Melaniphy jumped into the water and brought the child

to the wall with assistance of a pool patron. Lucas

Fritsch initiated the emergency response, pulling the

child to the deck and giving a rescue breath which

prompted spontaneous respirations. Rebecca Mallon

administered oxygen to the now breathing child.

Christie Demas called 9-1-1 while Will Seidelmann

also activated the EMS response with the AED

cabinet alarm, directed arriving companies, gathered

information and debriefed pool staff post response.

This team of well-trained lifeguards was successful in

saving the life of a three year old child because their

training taught them to function as a team.

At the March 26, 2013 Board of Trustees Meeting Orland Park Police Officer

Andrew Martyn was awarded the Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. Life

Saving Award for the following incident:

On February 1, 2013 Officer Andrew Martyn was dispatched to a residence

for an unresponsive subject that was not breathing. Upon arrival, Officer

Martyn witnessed a bystander performing CPR on an 87 year old female.

Officer Martyn then took over chest compressions until the arrival of

paramedics. The patient was successfully defibrillated and delivered to the

hospital with a pulse and blood pressure. Officer Martyn’s actions directly

contributed to the resuscitation of the patient.



Heroism feels and never reasons, and

therefore is always right.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

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2013 OFPD Cardiac Arrest Statistics:

21 Cardiac Arrests where patient was in ventricle fibrillation with 9 saves

resulting in full recovery

Orland Fire Protection District is very proud to report a save rate

of 43% of these cardiac incidents


NFPA 1710 requires four-person companies on fire apparatus responding in a timely manner to both fire and EMS calls.

NFPA 1710 Response Guidelines: ▪ One minute (60 seconds) for dispatch ▪ One minute (60 seconds) for turnout time ▪ Four minutes (240 seconds) or less for the arrival of the first-arriving engine company at a fire suppression incident

and/or 8 minutes (480 seconds) or less for the deployment of a full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incident (15-17 firefighters) ▪ Four minutes (240 seconds) or less for the arrival of a unit with first responder or higher level capability at an emergency medical incident ▪ Eight minutes (480 seconds) or less for the arrival of an advanced life support unit at an emergency medical incident, where this service is provided by the fire department ▪ The fire department shall establish a performance objective of not less than 90 percent for the achievement of each

response time objective.

The performance of emergency responders is often measured by the time it takes personnel to arrive on scene of the emergency call. Many steps take place prior to the arrival of a paramedic at your side or a firefighter with a hose full of water. The steps include call processing time in the dispatch center, notification to the appropriate fire station, crews suit up and mount apparatus, response of apparatus from fire station to scene, arrival of personnel and assembling of equipment, and then intervention. Orland Fire District uses a national guideline as our benchmark of performance. The benchmark (NFPA 1710) is used throughout the country to measure performance of career fire departments.

Three Segments of Response Time

Call Processing:

Dispatch

Turn Out:

Time from alarm to responding

Response:

Active driving to the scene

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Response Times


The Orland Fire District has continued to increase the number of incidents to which it responds over the past ten years.

Incident volume has increased 11% from 2004 to 2013 and 1.5% over the previous year. The graph shows a decrease in

2008 and 2009 which was due to commercial building owners changing from a telephone line connection for their fire

alarm to a radio alarm connection. This change has resulted in a reduction of false alarms as well as reduced expense

for business owners.

Response time is a measure of how quickly we can respond to your emergency. Our goal is to be on the scene of an ambulance call in under 4 minutes and a fire call in under 6 minutes.

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Response Times

OFPD By the Numbers

7,615

7,739

8,046

8,388 8,298

7,967 8,036

8,115

8,393

8,515

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Ten Year Call History

3:31

3:56

4:42

3:53

4:05

4:18

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3

Station 4

Station 5

Station 6

Median Response Time by Station Area


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OFPD By the Numbers

Emergency Medical

57%Fire18%

Rescue8%

Other17%

OFPD Response Call Types

2,760

961 1,135

Advanced LifeSupport

Basic Life Support Ambulance Refusal

Emergency Medical Incidents

18 7 19 26 88

51 27

536

731

32

Fire Incidents

535

365

121 150 112 98

57 12 11 19

Other Incidents


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OFPD By the Numbers

648724 745

658 697 728 732

405476

597 558 565525

454

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

OPFD Fire and EMS Calls by Day of Week

EMS

Fire

434404 397

419 410 417387 402

376

416 409

461

315

227254

276

359

305 292 292316

296 307341

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

OFPD Fire and EMS Calls by Month

EMS

Fire


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OFPD By the Numbers

The charts below, Fire Incident Density and EMS Incident Density, depict the locations of Fire and EMS incidents throughout

the district. Areas shaded in yellow and red represent an increase in call volume in that area of the district. The red shaded

areas have the greatest number of emergency calls during the past year.

2013 Incidents By Station Area


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Apparatus Staffing

Staffed By 2 Paramedics

Advanced Life Support

12 Lead Cardiac Monitor

Primary Function:

Provide advanced life support medical

service; Life-saving medications

Fire Engine

Fire Truck Ambulance

Carries Manpower

Fire Pump, Hose, Water, Tools

Primary Function:

Extinguish the Fire

Carries Manpower

Ladders, Fire Pump, Water, Tools

Primary Functions:

Rescue; Ventilation; Support the Fire Engine Crew

Currently the Orland Fire Protection District staffs a minimum of five ambulance crews, four engine companies and

two truck companies daily, all staffed by paramedics with advanced life support equipment.

Why Do We Send an Ambulance and a Fire Truck to Medical Emergencies? The Orland Fire Protection District utilizes a Computer Aided Dispatch system that identifies the closest available unit in order to respond as quickly as possible to each emergency. All of our units are staffed with paramedics and equipped to provide Advanced Life Support. This flexibility on response provides the best medical care to those in need.

The dynamic response platform may result in a fire truck arriving before or in conjunction with an ambulance for medical emergencies. Regardless who arrives first, the combination of units brings up to five paramedics to each emergency. If the emergency does not warrant all of the paramedics, the extra paramedics return, leaving the appropriate amount of help needed to address the situation.


Incidents

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In the early morning of January 18, 2013 just after 3 a.m., Orland Fire 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

of the vehicle 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.

Car Crash 135th & Partridge Lane

Automobile Crashes Into Home

In the early morning of April 1, 2013 Orland Fire responded to a call

regarding an automobile that crashed into a residential home in the

8600 block of Grace Road. The vehicle crashed through the side of

the house and plowed into the home’s basement. The initial fire

companies secured the utilities, checked 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’s

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 until board up and shoring was completed. Fortunately,

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

released. None of the three people in the home at the time of the

crash were injured.

BLACK SHIFT

BLACK SHIFT On January 10, 2013 Orland Fire responded to a paper recycling truck on fire in the

9200 block of 167th Street. The fire was deep-seated in the center of the truck. This

type of fire presents difficulty in reaching the seat of the fire. The aerial ladder nozzle

offered the best solution to extinguish the fire from a safe posture. Essentially the truck

was filled with water until the fire was extinguished.

Recycling Truck Fire

BLACK SHIFT Vehicle Through Garage Wall

On March 11, 2013 an alarm was sounded for a car into a building in the 7400

block of Catalina Drive. The driver of the car was pulling his car out of the

detached garage when he hit the overhead garage door rail. Instinctively, he put

the car in drive in order to move away from the damaged garage door rail. Instead

of gently accelerating forward, he hit the pedal hard. The car traveled through the

back wall of the garage which was a brick wall. The car continued into the open

area of the electrical transmission line easement where it came to rest. The car

suffered damage but the driver was uninjured. The Orland Park Building

Department came to the scene to determine structural stability. A simple shore

was put in place until construction crews were able to stabilize the building.

GOLD SHIFT


Incidents

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Orland Fire Handles 3 Fire Calls in One Day

On April 10th Orland Fire responded to three home and structure fires in

a thunder/lightning storm that 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 179th) 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 Drive. About two

minutes later, another 9-1-1 was received reporting a house on fire in

the 9000 block of Fairway Drive. A full response was started to that

location also diverting a couple units responding to the Cheswick

incident. 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. 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.

BLACK SHIFT

On April 7, 2013 a thunderstorm came through the Orland area. A townhome on

New York Court received a lightning strike to the roof. A neighbor called 9-1-1

reporting smoke coming from the roof. Engine and Ambulance 6 arrived quickly

and got the elderly resident out of the building as additional fire equipment

arrived. The Orland crews were able to quickly confine the fire to the roof area and

extinguish it. Fire damage was kept to a minimum.

New York Court Fire

BLACK SHIFT

GOLD SHIFT Office Fire—Hunter Court On March 28, 2013 Orland Fire responded

to a Hunter Ridge office at 9208 Hunter.

Upon arrival a small fire on a desk was

extinguished by the first unit. A broken

window was found and the investigation

classified the fire as arson.


Incidents

29

Car Crash with Car Fires —159th & Wolf Road

On April 21, 2013 Orland Fire was called to the area of 159th and Wolf Road

for a motor vehicle crash. An off-duty Berwyn Fire Dept. officer reported the

crash by radio to the Orland Dispatch Center. Engine 3 arrived in the 16000

block of Wolf and reported two vehicles in a rear-end type crash that were both

on fire. Firefighters had checked and reported all victims had been able to get

out on their own. Engine 3 was assisted by Truck 1 and Battalion 3

extinguishing the fire. Gasoline leaking from the pick-up truck’s ruptured gas

tank caused the fire to spread and made extinguishment more difficult. The

pick-up was completely burned while the fire was confined to the engine

compartment of the car which also sustained heavy front end damage. One of

the car’s occupants was evaluated on the scene but refused transport to the

hospital. All others involved were uninjured. Wolf Road was closed for about an

hour until the road was cleared.

On July 11, 2013 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Orland Fire

responded to a vehicle crash with injuries in the area of 8900

135th Street. While responding, Orland Fire Dispatch notified

responders a vehicle had rolled over with reports of entrapment. A

pin-in response was initiated as well as Palos Fire for a response.

Initial units reported the crash involved a single vehicle which had

rolled and occupants were out of the vehicle being attended to by

bystanders. Four patients were injured and required transport to

hospitals. Orland Fire and Palos Fire each had two ambulances

on the scene. The four ambulances transported a female adult

and 3 children to Christ Hospital.

Four Injured in Rollover Vehicle Crash

On July 8, 2013 Orland Fire responded to the 9100 block of Lincoln

Court for a stove fire. Initial arriving firefighters encountered smoke

on the second floor of the three-story building as they moved into the

involved unit. The fire on the stove and the adjacent cabinets were

extinguished quickly before the fire spread in the kitchen. All of the

units in the building were evacuated safely. Minor fire damage and

smoke damage were limited to the unit of origin. Fire companies

removed smoke from the entire building before residents were allowed

back into their homes. There were no injuries at this incident.

Stove Fire—Lincoln Court

GOLD SHIFT

GOLD SHIFT

GOLD SHIFT

Orland Fire units arrived on the scene of the barn fire in the 12000 Block of 179th 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 fires all appear to have been due to

lightning strikes.


Incidents Incidents

30

Marquette Bank Roof Fire

On November 8, 2013 at approximately 1 pm Engine 5 was requested to

investigate an emergency generator that set off the alarm during its testing.

Engine 5 Officer noticed smoke from the roof during the investigation. He

upgraded the alarm and the fire was held to a small area of the roof. Upon

investigation it was determined the wrong size exhaust pipe caused the

overheating of the roof insulation starting the fire.

GOLD SHIFT

BLACK SHIFT Turtlehead Lake—Shotgun Victim On August 11, 2013 Orland Fire responded to Turtle Head Forest Preserve for

a gun-shot victim. Initially unknown location was clarified by another caller as

the west side of the lake. Orland’s initial EMS response was supported with

the ATV from Station 2 to get the patient to an ambulance. The victim was

found by Orland units at the west side of the lake with an apparent self-

inflicted gun shot wound. Due to the location, a Lifestar Medical helicopter

was called and landed near the patient. The patient was treated and

stabilized by Orland medics prior to lift off but the patient’s outcome is not

known due to privacy.

On October 24, 2013 firefighters were dispatched at around 1:09 pm to the

Orland Park Post Office on 144th Street, after a mid-sized SUV drove

through the Post Office's front window. The driver was checked and

released without any injuries but an Post Office customer inside the

building sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital for

treatment. Firefighters also inspected the damage to the building

concluding there was no major structural damage to make the building

unsafe. The Orland Fire Protection District worked with Postal employees

to remove debris and salvage property.

SUV Crashes Into Post Office - 144th Street GOLD SHIFT

Multi-Structure Fire—170th Street GOLD SHIFT

On July 20, 2013 at approximately 2:26 p.m. Orland Fire responded

to a report of an explosion and smoke from a 2 1/2 car garage. Upon

arrival units found a fully involved detached garage extending to the

house and the garage next door. A box alarm was called due to multi

-structures and 90 degree weather. The owner of the garage had

stored white gas, sterno, tents, tables and chairs from a rental

business in the garage. Damage was limited to 2 houses, 2 garages

and there were no injuries.


Incidents

31

Date: Incident Location: Incident Type: 01/02/2013 14300 Block of Woodland Ave, Orland Park Garage Fire

02/20/2013 15700 Block of Old Orchard Ct, Orland Park House Fire

02/25/2013 16700 Block of 90th Ave, Orland Hills House Fire

03/03/2013 14300 Block of Jefferson Ave, Orland Park Structure Fire Comm

03/23/2013 16200 Block of La Grange Rd, Orland Park Residential Fire Alarm

03/29/2013 9200 Block of Hunter Dr, Orland Hills Residential Fire Alarm

04/07/2013 11000 Block of New York Ct, Orland Park Garage Fire

04/10/2013 9000 Block of Fairway Dr, Orland Park House Fire

04/10/2013 14000 Block of Cheswick Dr, Orland Park Smell of Smoke

05/02/2013 16100 Block of Haven Ave, Orland Hills House Fire

05/12/2013 16700 Block of Steeplechase Pkwy, Orland Park Residential Fire Alarm

05/17/2013 10600 Block of Gabrielle Ln, Orland Park Structure Fire Resident

05/29/2013 1 Orland Square Dr, Orland Park Structure Fire Comm

06/12/2013 11000 Block of New Mexico Ct, Orland Park House Fire

06/24/2013 11800 Block of Brook Hill Ct, Orland Park House Fire

07/08/2013 9100 Block of Lincoln Ct, Orland Park Structure Fire Resident

07/12/2013 9100 Block of Brookside Ct, Orland Park House Fire

07/20/2013 9000 Block of 170th St, Orland Hills Garage Fire

07/20/2013 17831 Wolf Rd, Orland Park Structure Fire Comm

08/19/2013 11600 Block of Kiley Ln, Orland Park House Fire

09/03/2013 13700 Block of Tallgrass Trl, Orland Park Structure Fire Resident

09/04/2013 15711 Harlem Ave, Orland Park Structure Fire Comm

09/24/2013 14800 Block of Oakcreek Ct, Orland Park House Fire

10/16/2013 15700 Block of Brassie Ct, Orland Park House Fire

12/31/2013 9200 Block of Hunter Dr, Orland Hills Structure Fire Resident

Working Fires –2013

Mutual Aid

Orland Fire Protection District provides mutual aid to and receives mutual aid from other fire departments. Mutual aid received is noted in other areas of this report. Along with handling incidents within our own jurisdiction, Orland Fire is regularly requested to assist surrounding agencies with their incidents. The request may be to cover a fire station for subsequent incidents or to assist with personnel and equipment on the scene. A single incident can be taxing to the resources of any fire department which has resulted in mutual aid agreements pre-arranging the assistance prior to an incident and specifying who responds with what personnel, apparatus and equipment. The Orland Fire Protection District is a member of MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 19.


Mutual Aid

2013 Mutual Aid includes:

Palos Park North Palos Roberts Park Bridgeview Homer Northwest Homer Tinley Park Crestwood Blue Island Calumet City Lemont Peotone Oak Forest Frankfort Chicago Ridge Dolton Lockport Posen Palos Heights Oak Lawn MABAS East Joliet Manhattan Romeoville Mokena Alsip New Lenox Hazel Crest Matteson South Holland Summit

32

October 10, 2013: Assist to Palos—Orland Fire Truck 1 was dispatched at about 10:30 pm on the initial alarm to a

reported fire on 84th Ct. in Palos Park October 10, 2013. Palos units arrived reporting smoke and fire showing. The alarm

was escalated to the full still level with Orland Engine 5 and Battalion 1 due to the scene. Truck 1 and Engine 5 assisted with

fire control while Battalion 1 assisted the incident commander. Approximately 15

minutes into the fire the ceiling on the first floor collapsed trapping one firefighter and

injuring two. A “Mayday” was called, the alarm was escalated to the box level, all

firefighters were removed from the building, and operations became defensive.

Orland’s Ambulance 5 was also dispatched to the scene when the mayday was

called. Three Palos firefighters were transported as firefighting continued. As

conditions improved and the fire extinguished, the search continued but revealed

there was no one home.

January 11, 2013: Assist Palos Heights—At approximately 9 pm on the night of January 11, 2013, Orland Fire was

dispatched to cover Palos Heights’ fire station when they arrived on the scene of a working house fire in the area of 128th

and McVicker. While Engine 5 was responding the alarm level was escalated to the box level and they were then directed

to the scene and assisted with fire control efforts. Orland’s Battalion 2 was also dispatched to the scene and provided

support to the incident commander. One Palos firefighter was injured fighting the fire. The well involved building was

extinguished while neighbor’s homes were protected from fire.

May 13, 2013: Assist Tinley Park—In the early morning hours of May 13, 2013, Tinley Park Fire was dispatched to the

8100 block of Piute Trail. Orland’s Truck 4 and Battalion 3 were on the initial

assignment. Truck 4’s crew assisted with searching for, locating and removing one of

the residents trapped by the fire. Battalion 3 assisted the incident commander and

Ambulance 4 was dispatched to the scene as the incident escalated to the box alarm

level. The fire was located in the basement. While crews were extinguishing a Tinley

firefighter had fallen through the floor inside the front door where the supports had

burned though. He caught himself and was assisted out by other firefighters without

injury.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

TinleyPark

Palos OakForest

Mokena PalosHeights

Frankfort Other

128

113 110

53 47

10

65

Mutal Aid Given by Town

Fire

EMS

Change of Quarter

0

50

100

150

200

250

300 260238

174148

8

Mutal Aid Given By Apparatus

Fire

EMS

Change of Quarters


Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

33

The EMS Bureau is responsible for the licensing and training of over 100 paramedics.

Orland paramedics maintain certifications in various medical disciplines exceeding the

Illinois Department of Public Health requirements.

Following are a few of the additional certifications and descriptions:

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training focuses on the treatment of cardiac

arrest, stroke and other life threatening medical emergencies as well as the skills to

deploy advanced interventions.

Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) is recognized globally as the leading

educational program for pre-hospital emergency trauma care.

Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Professionals (PEPP) provides comprehensive instruction for the

emergency care of infants and children.

EMS training is conducted monthly utilizing our state of the art simulation lab. Every type of stressful and difficult

medical or traumatic situation can be recreated through simulation. Skills and abilities are built and knowledge

gained through this hands-on teaching and learning environment. Recent training has focused on difficult airway

skills and call management that has resulted in an increased save rate for our cardiac arrest victims. You can find

out more about the life saving program “Community CARE” on our website and on page 36 of this annual report.

Orland’s highly trained medical personnel respond in advanced life support (ALS) ambulances and ALS fire

apparatus. When you call for help, the closest available ambulance and fire apparatus is dispatched simultaneously

which ensures help is arriving as soon as possible.

Paramedics respond with advanced technologies in each of these vehicles to every emergency. One of those

technologies are cardiac monitors that can transmit your ECG to the hospital so the appropriate care may be

assembled prior to your arrival there. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), commonly used to treat sleep

apnea, is utilized pre-hospital for the treatment of acute respiratory failure and may preclude the need for the

patient to be placed on a ventilator.

Other technologically advanced equipment such as video laryngoscopes and Intra-osseous drills save time when

seconds count and life is in the balance. Power assisted cots and ergonomically designed stair chairs make patient

movement and transition of care less stressful for the patient while providing a measure of safety for our personnel.

Orland Fire District provides unequalled emergency medical services delivered by the best trained paramedics

utilizing technologically advanced equipment.

EMS Supervisor Lieutenant Mark Duke

As part of the

District’s Vehicle

Replacement Plan,

a new ambulance

was placed in

service at Station 2

in May, 2013.New Ambulance Placed in Service at Station

2 in May, 2013



Silver Cross Hospital Recognition Awards

EMS Appreciation Week Barbecue

34

Our annual EMS Appreciation cookouts were held in May, 2013 over a 3-day period to honor each shift of our sworn personnel who provide emergency medical service to the community

Pictured: Lieutenant Mark Duke, Battalion Chief Michael Schofield, Lieutenant Robert Stachnik, FF/Paramedic Jeffery

Uthe and Fire Chief Ken Brucki

Medical74%

Trauma10%

Cardiac8%

Respiratory8%

EMS Calls Breakdown

152 198 290

360 405

575

946

1,181 1,149

353

0-5 6-15 16-20 21-27 28-37 38-50 51-65 66-79 80-89 90+

EMS Patient by Age

2,767

1,066

105 36 8 1 1 1 1 44

Transports by Hospital

BLS

EMS


The Orland Fire Protection District hosted an emergency training workshop for doctors and medical personnel from

Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The purpose of this training is to give them a glimpse into some of the

many emergency calls we respond to and what happens before we deliver the patient to them at the Emergency Room.

More than 35 emergency and medical personnel attended the workshop which featured training in five specific and

common scenarios including: providing resuscitation in a closed setting for a victim in a home; providing emergency care

to a victim trapped in an underground pipe; extricating and providing emergency care to an individual trapped in a vehicle;

provide emergency care to someone tangled on outdoor window cleaning or maintenance equipment several stories up

outside a building; and providing emergency care to victims in collapsed building structures.

During the training sessions, mannequins were used and the doctors inserted tubes, provided resuscitation while inside

the simulation training environments that the Orland Fire Protection District maintains at their training center, including a

simulated underground sewer pipe system, collapsed building, four story building, burning vehicles and a replica of a

typical home front room.


35

OFPD Provides Training to Christ Advocate Hospital ER Staff



36

Orland Fire District Introduces Community CARE

Program—Surviving Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

The Challenge: Sixty-one million Americans have cardiovascular disease, resulting in

approximately 1 million deaths per year. One-third of these deaths (300,000-

400,000) are due to cardiac arrest. Survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac

arrest are only 1 to 5 percent.

In 2013 the cardiac arrest survival rate in the Orland Fire Protection District was 43%!

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 (defibrillation). Treatment of witnessed ventricular fibrillation with immediate

defibrillation can result in greater than 90 percent survival. With each minute of delay in defibrillation, nearly 10 percent

fewer survive, so that at 10 minutes, survival is dismal. The average age of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is 65

years old. In 2010 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.1% of the Orland Park community was age 65 or older. 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.

Community Cardiac Arrest Rescue Enterprise (CARE) addresses this emerging trend, saving lives by engaging the whole

community.

Short-Range Goals:

Rapid Dispatch: Our dispatch provides

Emergency Medical to direct callers in CPR. This

program will fine tune this process by training

dispatchers to more quickly recognize signs of SCA.

High Performance CPR: A more effective method

of performing CPR has been established through

clinical research.

Mid-Range Goals:

Public Access to Defibrillators (AED): Early

defibrillation is a key component is SCA survival.

Public access to Automatic External Defibrillators is

imperative.

Cardiac Arrest Registry: Data collection that

measures patient care from initial call for help to

discharge.

Long-Range Goals:

Community CARE Steering Committee: This goal

offers participation from all members of the

enterprise in order to provide direction.

Long-Range Funding: Sustainability is key to the

success of this program. Funding sources need to be

identified to support Community CARE.

Components of the Community

Cardiac Arrest Rescue Enterprise

Learn CPR for FREE! Early CPR is important in

the Chain of Survival.

Take time to attend a

FREE CPR/AED class.

Are you prepared

to save someone

you love? http://www.orlandfire.org/communityoutreach/

Chain of Survival: What we know is that successful treatment of cardiac arrest and

particularly ventricular fibrillation is associated with delivering care

quickly. The chain of survival, with its five links of early access,

early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care, and early post

resuscitative care illustrates the most critical elements of

addressing sudden cardiac arrest.

Battalion Chief Raymond Kay

http://www.orlandfire.org/communityoutreach/classes/emscourses


Training

MISSION

The Orland Fire Protection District Division of

Training is organized to provide the highest quality

training and education to all of our members. The

division will provide realistic, relevant, and

referenced training that will improve operational

effectiveness and increase the safety of our

personnel and the people we serve. Thus, in

return, we can provide a safer, more efficient

emergency response to the customers we serve.

Training

The Orland Fire Protection District had a busy year in the world of training. Our organization is an all-hazard response

district, responsible to respond, stabilize, and mitigate emergency scenes, including structural fires, hazardous materials

incidents, and special rescue situations, including trench, confined space, emergency medical and other various types of

service incidents. We pride ourselves on being prepared to respond to the service demands of our customers in a

professional and proficient manner. We logged over forty-five thousand training hours in 2013. We averaged over four

hundred hours of training for each member of our department. Our organization is comprised of the smartest well-

trained professional in the fire service. It is our goal to continue to work on our craft and maintain a high level of

proficiency. We continue to strive for excellence in all facets of our training and performance.

37

Training Supervisor Lieutenant David Piper

Command Training Center

The Command Training Center (CTC) is a state-of-the-art training facility. The facility is designed to provide realistic,

repeatable training in a safe environment. The CTC provides a media to train our emergency responders in critical

decision making, communication and managing emergency incidents. The center began in operation in 2010, funded

primarily by grant funding and has trained the Orland Fire Protection District personnel, as well as providers from

across the United States.

Last year we delivered Incident Command Training to over two hundred incident commanders. Incident Commanders

attending classes are required to complete fifty hours of online training and then attend a twenty-four hour practical

session over three days to complete the training. The CTC provided seventy-five hours of training to over two hundred

Incident Commanders in 2013. Our training facility provided approximately fifteen thousand hours of training to fire

service incident commanders, providing a safer, emergency scene to our responding personnel, as well as the

customers we serve.


Training

38

Training Facility

The Orland Fire Protection District Regional Training Facility is the instrumental piece to our professional training

program. While our people are the backbone of our service, the training facility serves as the media for our instructors to

deliver high-quality training.

Our profession requires a high level of skill, and to maintain that skill level, we must be able to practice, demonstrate, and

learn skills to maintain a high level of proficiency. In 2013, we worked to improve the facilities by adding forcible entry

props. The doors are built to prepare our members to gain access to areas that are locked or blocked. We were also

able to add a fire alarm demonstration panel. The panel serves to train our members on various alarms that we see

throughout the district. Our training personnel, Fire Prevention Bureau, and local vendors worked to develop the panel.

The panel provides a realistic training model to maintain a high level of proficiency in this area as the technology

continues to change. We developed a prop to facilitate the training of our apparatus operators. The prop provides a

quick and easy way for our operators to practice the pumping procedures of our apparatus, as well as troubleshoot and

critically think through various problem-solving scenarios that may be encountered on emergency responses.

Future

The Orland Fire Protection District Training Division is dedicated to fulfilling the mission of the District, as well as the

Training Division. 2014 will be an exciting year as we develop new innovative training programs, scenarios and media to

challenge our personnel to move closer towards excellence. To maintain a high level of proficiency, we must be able to

repeat skills and critical decisions in a realistic environment. The environment will be recreated at our Regional Training

Facility. We aggressively strive for grants and other alternative funding to develop our facility to provide all the

necessary props and equipment for our members, as well as emergency responders from around the region, to become

proficient at our profession.

The CTC will be wrapping up the grant that provided funding to train over four hundred people in incident command.

The completion of the initial training grant means the focus in 2014 will be to develop continuing education in the area of

communication, critical decision making, and emergency scene management for the region. We have trained fire

service leaders and now look to train all emergency responder. We look to use our Command Training Center to deliver

larger-scale incident simulations to prepare our community in the event of a large-scale disaster. We reflect on 2013 as

a busy and productive year of training. We are excited about 2014 as we continue to train, prepare and develop our

people and organization to deliver the highest quality of emergency service.


Specialty Teams—Water Rescue & Recovery MABAS 19 Dive

39

Firefighter Edgar Tums

The Orland Fire District currently has 10 members of 60 total that are part of the MABAS 19/22

Water Rescue and Recovery Team. Other participating departments include: Alsip, Blue Island,

Frankfort, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Palos, Palos Heights, Peotone, Posen and Robbins.

Our team members are certified in the following disciplines of water rescue: Swift /Flood Water,

Dive, Ice, Surface Ice, Sonar, Underwater Crime Scene and Contaminated Water and are able

to respond and manage most any type of water related emergency. Our team responds to all

water related incidents involving rescue and or recovery within the MABAS 19/22 jurisdiction

(Approximately 450 square miles). In 2013 our team had also responded outside of MABAS

19/22 upon request (MABAS divisions 7, 10 and 24).

In 2013 we focused on scenario based team training, and added new members on to Orland’s roster. MABAS 19

participated in MABAS RRR exercise.

2013 Highlights:

Responded to 8 incidents, highlighted by:

Lake Arrowhead search and recovery of a missing person and vehicle with the use of Sonar, ROV

and Divers

Forestview, Il flood response

Assist to Tinley Park for Weapon recovery

Training was conducted twice a month and consisted of the following:

Annual Swim Test and SCUBA skills review

Scenario based training sessions (surface and subsurface)

Surface Supplied Air Training

Swift Water Technician Training (Fox River)

Underwater Evidence recovery Training

Ice Diver Training

Sector Scan Sonar Training (Kongsberg Sonar)

In 2013 we welcomed 3 new Orland team members:

Chad Erickson

Dan Ritchie

Don Anderson

Goals in 2014 include:

Scenario based training, training of new team members, maintain, update and purchase new equipment to enhance our efficiency.

In 2013 OFPD took delivery of two new 13 ½ ft. Zodiac

inflatable rescue boats, double stack boat trailering system


Specialty Teams—Haz Mat

40

Haz Mat Responses for 2013:

152 Carbon Monoxide Calls

98 Gas Leaks

67 Inside Gas Leaks

23 Outside Gas Leaks

3 Fuel Spill Investigations

12 Investigation Calls

4 Haz Mat Calls

Significant Calls:

Carbon Dioxide Leak – 2/12/13

Odor / CO Call at Carson Furniture - 4/27/13

Oil Spill into the Pond - 5/5/13

2” Gas Line Leak on Haven Ave – 8/8/13

Odor in the Apartment – 8/28/13

Thomas Drive Gas Fire / Lightning Strike - 10/5/13

8 Calls for SWHMRT Advisors

1 Call for SWHMRT Full Team

Activities:

NIAP Pipeline Meeting

Paradigm Pipeline Meeting

Mobil Tank Farm Cleaning / Maintenance Project

Training with Enterprise Pipeline Company

10 people to Tank Farm Fire Training with Shell / Lockport FPD

Praxair – Carbon Monoxide Trailer Training

Grants:

$500 Grant from Enterprise Pipeline Company

$250 Grant from Enbridge Pipeline Company

Department Drills:

Pipeline Company – Enterprise

First In Pipeline Leak Drill

Decontamination Drill

Dry Deon Drill

Live Fire Foam Training

Lieutenant Joseph Moore

First In Drill

Monitoring

Carbon Monoxide Incident Drill

Global Harmonization System

SOUTHWEST HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAM:

7 Active Orland Fire District personnel

12 Team Drills for 114 Man hours of SWHMRT Training

3 Members to Haz Mat Incident Command Class

Foam Training at O’Hare

ORLAND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM

4 Team Drills – 119 Man hours of Orland Team Training

(17 Active Team Members)

2013 SWHMRT Calls:

3/4/13 – Midlothian – Heating Oil Leak - Advisors

3/12/13 – Posen – Leaking Tanker – Advisors

3/24/13 – Calumet Park – Tar in Sewers – Advisors

4/19/13 – Crestwood – Foam in Sewers – Advisors

4/23/13 – Calumet Park – Hydrogen Sulfide – Advisors

10/15/13 – Lockport – Odor in the Building – Advisors

12/13/13 – Alsip – Plant Explosion – Full Team

12/14/13 – Mokena – Rolled Truck – Advisors

12/14/13 – Robbins – Leaking Truck – Advisors

Alsip Plant Explosion and Fire

Open House


Specialty Teams—Technical Rescue Team

41

The Technical Rescue Team responded to four technical rescue incidents in 2013. Three of the

responses were in the Orland Fire Protection District and one was a mutual aid request to the

Tinley Park Fire Department. All of the responses in the district were for vehicles that had

impacted structures. In all instances we assessed the structural damage and constructed the

appropriate shoring system. These actions allowed the residents to continue to occupy the

structure until permanent repairs could be made.

Year In Review:

Obtained 352 hours of grant funded training through the Illinois

Terrorism Task Force (ITTF). The training was in OSFM

certification rescue courses. We were able to recoup tuition,

salaries and any back fill overtime.

Received 896 hours of training in OSFM Rescue Courses

Trained 1006 hours. Training consisted of:

Constructed shoring systems for building collapse

Shored live trenches

Breeched concrete at the Lombard Company using

electric and hydraulic hammers and saws

Performed Confined Space Rescue

Performed High Angle Rope Rescue

Trench vacuum and air knife

All Blue Team drills were mutual aid training exercises with the CART Black Team.

Mutual aid drill on concrete breaching and breaking with MABAS Division 21

Validated twelve team members in rope rescue during annual C.A.R.T. validation.

Through training, we were able to move five team members from the MABAS training

roster to the MABAS deployment roster.

Completed training and certified nine members in various rescue courses to the

technician level. These nine members are now trained to the technician level in all

disciplines of technical rescue. This moves our organization closer to our objective of

NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006 compliance.

Orland TRT Members provided training in high angle litter evacuation to non-technical

rescue trained members of the district.

Orland TRT Members provided training in specialized MABAS issued equipment to non-

technical rescue trained members of the district.

Recruited four new members.

The members of the Orland TRT provided equipment and 544 hours of training in OSFM

High Angle Rope Operations and Confined Space Technician certification courses to

members of the district.

The Orland Fire Protection District's technical rescue team and its members continue to be leaders in the area of

technical rescue throughout state and Chicagoland area and supports Illinois’ urban search and rescue team by

providing nine members with expertise in rescue, search, EMS, logistics and heavy rigging.

Lieutenant Todd Schuneman

Overview:


Finance

The Finance Department is responsible for all financial activities and financial functions of the district,

including preparing the annual budget and property tax levy, paying employees, paying vendors,

collecting revenue, investing funds, recording receipts, expenditures, and other financial transactions,

and preparing financial reports.

In 2013, the District received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial

Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 2012

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This is the 5th consecutive year the district

has received this prestigious award. The CAFR can be found on the district’s website at

www.orlandfire.org.

Budgeted revenue for 2013 was $29,926,046. Approximately 87.5% of revenue is from property taxes. The Board of

Trustees abated $1,275,000 of the property tax levy in 2013 for district taxpayers. Ambulance fees represent 6.0% of

budgeted revenue. The remaining 6.5% of budgeted revenue is from other sources such as dispatch service fees, tower

space rentals, contributions toward health insurance, interest earnings and other miscellaneous sources of revenue.

Budgeted expenditures for 2013 total $31,559,280. Approximately 87% of budgeted expenditures are for personnel

related costs. The labor agreement with Local 2754 was settled in 2013 and retroactive pay was paid in December, 2013.

The graph below describes budgeted 2013 expenditures by major category.

Finance Director Kerry Sullivan

42

87%

5%4%

1% 3%

Expenditures

Personnel

Supplies, Repairs,Utilities, and Fuel

Debt

Equipment

Other


Dispatch

The Orland Fire Protection District operates a fire service only communications/dispatch center

providing emergency medical, fire, and rescue dispatching service to the community it serves.

Those same services are also being provided as a contracted service to the cities of Oak Forest

and Calumet City. In 2013, emergency communications dispatchers for Orland Fire processed

nearly 20.904 alarms incidents for the center. Orland Central Dispatch is the primary dispatch

center for three Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Divisions (19, 22, and 24) covering much

of the South and Southwest suburban area. At the time these Southland communities request

assistance for incidents beyond their resource capability, communications are passed to Orland

Central and the alerts and requests for mutual aid to that agency along with incident

communications are through Orland Central. In 2013, there were nearly 350 incidents for all three

Divisions that required the activation of the MABAS system for assistance through Orland Central.

Orland Central is the back-up to the primary statewide MABAS Communication System operated

out of Red Center in Northbrook. Activation for assets and specialty equipment/teams is done through these two centers in

the event of a large incident or disaster in the State or those surrounding Illinois. Orland Central is also the back-up dispatch

center for Chicago Fire Englewood (South) Communications. Orland Fire employs 10 full-time, including a supervisor, and 8

part-time personnel to operate the Dispatch Center with three staffed positions 24 hours a day.

Communications Supervisor William Neumann

43

Orland Central handled over 250 incidents for MABAS 19,22 and 24 for 2013. These ranged from:

EMS, box alarms, extra alarm fires, and task force requests for other divisions. Numerous

statewide drills were conducted with Red Center. These drills are essential for the deployment of

resources during disasters such as flooding, severe storms, and all other natural disasters.

Orland Central trained over 536 hours for dispatchers in 2013, this ranges from new hires

continuing education and new classes provided by APCO.


Support Services

44

Support Service Supervisor Lieutenant Jim Hynes

Support Service provides behind the scenes support required to maintain optimal and efficient

front line operational service to our residents. Support Service encompasses the maintenance

and repair of OFPD: Facilities, Fleet Vehicles, SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus),

Tools, Equipment and Hose, as well as the procurement and distribution of various supplies.

2013 was a very productive year with many significant accomplishments

Station 2 Remodel – this building was originally constructed in 1980 and was in desperate

need of major renovation. This included replacing the dated façade with a classic fire house

look. Breaking the floor to replace defective plumbing, new HVAC, in addition to completely

renovating the living quarters. This project, while extensive, was a cost effective alternative to

constructing a new facility.

Facility Maintenance Bureau

This project was started August,

2013 and is expected to be

completed in May, 2014.


Support Services

45

Station Remodels

Station 1 Kitchen Remodel – this building was originally constructed in 1974; the kitchen had been previously

updated in 1990 however after 23 years the kitchen had seen better days. This project greatly enhanced the overall

efficiency and appearance of the kitchen, restroom and adjacent day room areas. This project was completed on time

and on budget.

Station 6 Kitchen Remodel – Station 6 was originally constructed in 1992; the kitchen was original to the building

and required renovation due to issues with mold. Cabinetry, countertops, appliances and flooring were replaced. The

floor plan was changed to provide a more efficient and open space. This project was completed on time and on budget.

Fleet Maintenance Facility Roof Replacement – this building was constructed in 1988 and required a new

roof. The roof was replaced with an energy efficient product in addition to insulation being upgraded to current energy

standards.

General Repairs – The OFPD employs building maintenance technicians with extensive backgrounds in HVAC,

plumbing, electrical and building maintenance systems. Most repairs are handled in house which allows us to address

issues in a prompt, efficient manner which keeps costs down and minimizes any impact to operations.

Other Updates/Repairs


Support Services

46

Fleet Maintenance Bureau

Ambulance Remount – the remount process involves refurbishing

the rear portion or patient compartment, of an ambulance and installing

it on a new chassis. The new chassis includes a new cab, frame and

drive train which meet all current safety and emission standards in

addition to carrying a full manufacturer’s warranty on those items. The

patient compartment is completely refurbished with new upholstery,

flooring, paint lighting and safety features. An ambulance that has gone

through the remount process is essentially new and can be difficult to

distinguish from a brand new ambulance. This is a first for the OFPD

and we estimate that the remount process saved tax payers

approximately $40,000 versus the purchase a new ambulance. This

ambulance is currently in service as Ambulance 4.

New Fire Engines Ordered – an order for two, 2014 Pierce, Impel chassis

fire engines or pumpers was placed in December of 2013. These units will be

placed in service as front line fire engines while other units are rotated to reserve

status and the current reserve units, two, 1999 Pierce, Saber chassis engines will

be retired and sold. This process is very involved and requires a tremendous

amount of leg work and research to develop specifications that will best meet the

needs of the OFPD.

General Repair and Maintenance – The OFPD employs two ASE certified

technicians and maintains approximately 60 pieces of equipment. All OFPD fire

apparatus, ambulances, and support vehicles are serviced at regular intervals in

addition to required repairs. OFPD vehicles are extremely well maintained which is

imperative given the need for 100% reliability and the severe duty associated with

emergency response.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus – are worn by firefighters to protect them from inhaling

toxic and super-heated gases found in fires and hazardous environments. Compressed air is stored at a

pressure of 4500 psi in cylinders worn on each firefighter’s back similar to a backpack. Due to the

extreme pressure and exposure to hostile environments this equipment must be thoroughly tested and

maintained. The OFPD practices a regimented routine of daily, weekly and annual testing, maintenance

and repair of each SCBA.

Tools & Equipment The OFPD utilizes thousands of various pieces of equipment used for anything from

vehicle extrication (Jaws of Life) to infra-red cameras used to find victims in smoke filled,

zero visibility environments. This equipment must also be extremely well maintained

and kept in a constant state of readiness so that it can be reliably deployed in any

emergency.

Hose

Each OFPD fire engine carries nearly 3000 feet of various diameter fire hose. These hoses

are designed to operate at pressures ranging from 80 psi to as high as 250 psi. Each length

of hose is tested annually and repaired in house by OFPD personnel.


Fire Investigations

The Orland Fire District's Origin and Cause Team is responsible for investigating all fires within

the fire district including vehicle fires, structure fires, as well as all other incidents involving fire or

explosive circumstances. Fires can be accidental or intentional in nature and we work with local

police jurisdictions when a fire is determined to be suspicious or incendiary in nature. Intentionally

set fires are criminal in nature and are set primarily for personal or financial gain.

In 2013, the Orland Fire District Origin and Cause Team investigated 7 intentionally set fires as

well as 4 fires that are currently still under investigation at this time. These incendiary fires are

suspicious in nature, intentionally set, and involve the crime of arson. Arson fires unlike many

other crimes has no statue of limitations and remain open pending a final conclusion of the case.

Many of these open files are solved many years later with the help of the public.

The Orland Fire District Investigation Team works in conjunction with the Orland Park Police,

Orland Hills Police, The Office of the State Fire Marshals Office, The Cook County Bomb Squad, and the Alcohol,

Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) The Orland Fire Investigative Team is also a member of the MABAS 19 Origin and

Cause Team as well as a charter member of the Will-Cook-Grundy Fire Task Force.

The Orland Fire District currently has 13 certified fire investigators including 4 that are certified arson investigators. The

team has to re-certify every 4 years and must maintain certification to remain on the team. Orland Fire investigators attend

monthly training as well as monthly on line training that focuses on the newest information and technology. In 2013 the

Orland team logged more than 1000 hours of training including classes, seminars, and on line training.

The Orland Fire District continued to co sponsor the 40 hour Advanced Origin and Cause seminar as well as other classes

throughout the year. The Orland Fire District sponsored a Vehicle fire investigation class held by the IAAI that was held at

the training facility.

The Orland Fire District is already preparing for two classes that will be sponsored and held during 2014. The first will be a

16 Advanced Vehicle Fire classes with the practical be held at the Orland Fire District Training Facility. The other class wi ll

be held in conjunction with the Illinois Fire Service Institute. Orland will be sponsoring the Certified Fire investigator

modules and will train fire fighters throughout the state.

The Orland Fire District unfortunately had one civilian fire fatality in 2013. The fatality was accidental and directly related to

cooking. The fire victim was a senior using the stove when their clothes caught fire and the victim died as a result of

complications from the fire. There was very little damage to the structure and reminds us the importance of fire education

to all our residents regardless of their age. Education is the key to survival and we use fire scene scenarios to educate the

public on what to do "after the Fire". The Orland Fire District Origin and Cause team works with fire victims after the fire to

make sure that occupants are protected and that they receive assistance getting their lives back in order. Our Chief and

administration prides them self on putting our residents first and foremost. Every fire victim is treated as family and family

helps each other.

47

Fire Investigations Team Leader William Leddin

Unintentional40

Under Investigation 4

Intentional 7

Other7

Failure of Equipment

13

Act of Nature5

Cause of Fires


Fire Investigations

48

In September, 2013 the Orland Fire Protection District hosted an Advanced Vehicle Fire Investigation class offered by the

International Association of Arson Investigators, instructed by Special Agent Barry Grimm ATF and Capt. Chris Elrod from

the Wilmington North Carolina Fire Department.

The Orland Fire District working in conjunction with the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Arson

Investigators secured the necessary salvaged vehicles from Auto Medics Orland Park, IL, West and Sons Towing

Addison, IL, State Farm Insurance, and Quad City Salvage Auction (QCSA) Hammond, IN. Without the donations of these

businesses this type of class would have not been possible.

Orland Fire District, Fire and Arson

Investigators and members of the IL-

Chapter of the IAAI worked with the

instructors to develop 11 vehicle fire

scenarios for the students to

determine the origin and cause of the

vehicle fires during the practical

portion of this advanced class. During

the preparation for this class a pre-

burn of the vehicles was conducted.

Advanced Vehicle Fire Investigation Class


Fire Prevention Bureau

49

The Fire Prevention Bureau protects people by eliminating potential emergency situations before

they occur. We use the term “proactive firefighting” to describe how we analyze new building

plans in an attempt to anticipate potential life-safety issues. We also use this term to describe

how we look for potential life-safety hazards while doing our annual inspections and bring them to

the property owner’s attention. Our public education programs are designed to address current

life-safety issues that we see occurring within the Fire District. Ultimately the goal of the Fire

Prevention Bureau is to keep emergencies from occurring; thus keeping people out of harm ’s way.

We believe that Fire Prevention plays a crucial role in making our community safer. Inspection, enforcement and public

education work together to not only identify and correct safety issues, but also to help change people’s attitude toward

safety. Through the diligence and hard work of the members of the Orland Fire District’s Fire Prevention Bureau, we

have been able to achieve our annual goals. We anticipate fiscal 2014 to bring greater challenges as we set loftier goals

to ensure the safety of the public and our firefighters.

The Fire Prevention Bureau inspected commercial occupancies, multi-family occupancies, public/private schools,

daycare centers and group homes within the district.

Conducted numerous new construction and new life/safety system inspections due to the surge of new

construction projects throughout the Fire District.

Fire Prevention Bureau Personnel made 5867 field contacts in 2013.

Fire Prevention Bureau members taught life-safety classes for Condo Associations, businesses, senior groups

and schools.

Planned and conducted the Kids Life/Safety Camp in July.

Planned and conducted our annual Open House in October.

Participated in the Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event in September.

The Fire Prevention Bureau worked with business owners to convert problematic telephone fire alarms to Keltron

radio transmission systems.

New Public Education Coordinator hired.

New Fire and Life Safety Trailer delivered.

Received grant from Firehouse Subs for the Fire & Life Safety Trailer.

Received a donation of a fire alarm system trainer from Fox-Valley Fire & Safety.

Received a donation of residential smoke detectors from McGreal Engineering.

Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Fire Prevention Bureau to educate the community about the benefits of proper safety practices, and to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions which pose a threat to life, property and the environment

FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES FOR 2013:

Fire Prevention Supervisor

Mike Ercoli


Fire Prevention Bureau

50

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU STATISTICS

2013 Inspection Breakdown:

Less than 5000 sq. ft. commercial inspections: 1,153

Greater than 5000sq. ft. commercial inspections: 280

Restaurant Inspections: 187

Multi-family Inspections: 630

Re-inspections: 1,537

Final occupancy inspections: 322

Complaint investigations: 101

School inspections: 31

Rough inspections: 241

Carnival inspections: 1

Haunted House Inspections: 1

Fireworks inspections: 3

Kiosk inspections (Mall): 14

Group Home Inspections 11

Tent inspections: 4

Total: 4,516

Total FPB Inspectional Activities for 2013:

Inspections: 4,516

Problem fire alarm checks: 710

Hydrostatic test of sprinkler systems: 88

Fire alarm acceptance tests: 91

Fire pump tests: 6

Hood fire suppression system tests: 29

Underground flushes: 5

Knox Box issues: 315

Misc. events: 107

Total: 5,867

2013 Fire Alarm Statistics:

Total number of fire alarms directly connected to the Orland Fire Protection District: 714

Total number of Full-Fire activations (Commercial Fire Alarm Systems): 354

Total number of Full-Fire activations (Residential Fire Alarm Systems): 235

Total number of Trouble Alarm activations: 731

Total Radio Alarms: 608

Total Telephone Line Alarms: 106

2012-2013 Fire Alarm Comparison:

2012 2013

Commercial Alarms

Full Fire Activations: 259 354 + 95

Trouble Alarm Activations: 616 731 + 115

Residential Alarms

Full Fire Activations: 195 235 + 40

Alarms directly connected to O.F.P.D

Total Telephone Line Alarms: 139 106 - 33

Total Radio Alarms: 549 608 + 59

Total # of Alarms Monitored: 688 714 + 26 Fire Inspector Patrick Collier demonstrates the “side-by-

side” burn at our annual Open House


Public Education

The Public Education Division provides education on several fire and life safety issues. The

job of the Public Education Coordinator is to start educating children as young as pre-school

with the idea of teaching them simple steps to prevent fires from starting. Everyone needs to

be made aware of making smart choices to reduce the risk of injury, harm or death. Some of

the programs in which we offer are Fire/Life Safety, First Aid/CPR, car seat installations, fire

extinguisher training, fire drills, senior citizen home safety, apartment/condo safety, business

evacuation planning and emergency preparedness. Our most recent program will include a

new “Safety Trailer” in which we teach fire/life safety skills along with weather preparedness.

46 51

Public Education Activities for 2013:

Conducted numerous fire station tours

Conducted numerous car seat checks

Conducted numerous Safety Trailer events

Public/Parochial safety lectures

Senior Citizen safety lectures

Numerous Health and Safety Fairs

Applied for Public Education Grants

Planned and conducted the Annual Open House

Collected & donated toys to the Treasure Chest Foundation

Collected & donated toys to the Toy Box Connection

Public Education Statistics for 2013:

Event Breakdown:

Block Party: 15

Car Seat Checks: 120

CPR Classes: 18

Fire Drills: 9

Fire Extinguisher Classes: 4

Parade: 6

Public Display: 24

Safety Trailer: 6

Safety Lecture: 22

Stand by: 11

Station Tour: 24

Other: 14

Senior talk/Events: 4

Total Events: 277

Total Attendees: 5,133

Public Education Coordinator

Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Dine

Grant Received in 2013:

Fire House Subs “Safety Trailer” Grant

Fire Prevention Month (October)

All 27 schools within the Fire District received fire/life safety

education for the children in pre-school, kindergarten and first grade.

Many have visited our different stations for tours and safety talks as

well.

Public Education Coordinator Betsy Dine teaches a

Fire Safety lesson at a Station Tour field trip.

Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp, July 2013—This fun and informative

camp teaches children many fire & life safety issues.


Senior Advisory Council (“SAC”)

52

The Orland Fire Protection District introduced the newly reorganized Senior Advisory Council (SAC). This newly formed

group includes past members and new members and plans to grow to be as representative of the senior community as

possible, focusing all its energies on the interests of the OFPD and the needs of the Fire District's senior members. The

goal is to not only respond to the needs of seniors professionally, efficiently and successfully, but to also ensure that our

senior community has a means of directly communicating with us what they expect and what they need.

The Senior Advisory Council

were introduced to the Orland

Fire Protection District Board of

Trustees at the October, 2013

Board Meeting.

Chief Brucki and Fire

Prevention Supervisor Mike

Ercoli meet with the Senior

Advisory Council to begin

planning

Board President Jim Hickey

meeting our newest SAC

members

Members Diana Husband (pictured with Orland Fire Foundation Board

Member Patti Brucki) and Mane Pritza helping out at the Open House


Human Resources

I have the privilege of serving as the Director of Human Resources for the Orland Fire Protection

District. The Division of Human Resources is committed to cultivating and embracing the

District’s superior service-oriented culture by providing innovative and efficient talent solutions in

the recruitment, development, and retention of exceptional and diverse talent for public service.

Under the leadership of our Board of Trustees and Fire

Chief Ken Brucki, the Division of Human Resources is

dedicated to support our workforce of approximately

163 employees by striving to provide best HR practices

and objectives in leadership, services and support as

well as superior benefits that promote health, wellness,

and a sound work/life balance to the employees of the

Orland Fire Protection District.

To help employees maximize health, Human Resources continues to offer

annual health screenings, assessments and coaching to all firefighters in an

effort to provide early detection, a reduction of health issues, and to motivate

employees toward living healthier lifestyles. In all areas of work, the Division

of Human Resources firmly upholds the tenets of confidentiality,

accountability, and trust.

Over the past year, the Human Resources Division has made significant

advances in streamlining benefit services offered to OFPD employees in

announcing the rollout of an innovative digital HR communications tool

called HRConnection developed in coordination with our benefits solution

team, the Horton Group. By redesigning work and leveraging technology,

this innovative application has proven to be an instrumental tool in

simplifying search and providing easy access for important OFPD employee

benefit information 24-hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. Not only has this shared

services approach resulted in a more efficient benefits administration

process, it has also reduced costs associated with duplication and

administrative paperwork.

The Human Resources Division has implemented major reforms in the testing/hiring

process. The District’s online application program for Firefighter allows for faster

submittal, compliance review, and provides easy electronic retention of applications.

On July 13, 2013, the Human Resources Division administered the entry level

Firefighter Exam after an open application period for those wishing to pursue a career

as a Firefighter. Over 2,150 respondents submitted applications; and after a lengthy,

competitive process, the OFPD Board of Fire Commissioners successfully approved

the 2013 OFPD Final Eligibility List for Firefighter/Paramedic. Pay rate for the position

of Firefighter/Paramedic is negotiated between the OFPD and the International

Association of Firefighters Local #2754. Eligibility testing for firefighter/paramedic

occurs every other year. The Orland Fire Protection District is an equal opportunity

employer, and a proud member of the Firefighters Diversity Recruiting Council.

The Division of Human Resources continues in its efforts to transform and implement new methods for streamlining

HR related processes for the OFPD and to maintain a culture of service excellence in our quest to provide exceptional

talent for public service.

Human Resources Director Lucy McGlynn

53

“The Division of Human

Resources is committed

to cultivating and

embracing the District’s

superior service-

oriented culture by

providing innovative

and efficient talent

solutions in the

recruitment,

development, and

retention of exceptional

and diverse talent for

public service.”


SWORN STAFF

Administration

Fire Chief 1

Administrative Battalion Chief 2

Program Supervisors

EMS Lieutenant 1

Maintenance Lieutenant 1

Training Lieutenant 1

Sworn Shift Personnel 111

Total Sworn ______________ 117

NON-SWORN STAFF Administration

Human Resources Director 1

Executive Assistant 1

Administrative Assistant 1

Receptionist 1

Administrative Clerk 1

Finance

Finance Director 1

Assistant Finance Director 1

Accounting Assistant 1

IT

IT Technician (full-time) 1

IT Technician (part-time) 1

IT Assistant (part-time) 1

Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention Supervisor 1

Fire Inspector 1

Fire & Life Safety Educator 1

Fire Prevention Bureau Secretary 1

Communications/Dispatch

Communications Supervisor 1

Telecommunicators 10

Telecommunicators, Part-Time 8

Maintenance

Fleet Maintenance Technician 2

Building Maintenance Technician 1

Maintenance, Part-Time 1

Summer Employees 8

Total Non-Sworn 46

Total Employees 163

54

Elizabeth “Betsy” Dine Public Education

Coordinator

Kevin Morrin Dispatch (PT)

New Employees

Orland Fire District welcomed its newest staff members in 2013:

Ad

min

istr

atio

n

Co

mm

un

icati

on

s

Staffing

Employee Appreciation—December 2013

Shift 1 Shift 2 Shift 3

Battalion Chief 1 1 1

Lieutenant 10 10 10

Engineer 10 10 10

Firefighter/Paramedic

16 16 16


Swearing In of Probationary Firefighters

The Board of Trustees, the Fire Commissioners, and Chief Ken Brucki of the Orland Fire Protection District are proud to

welcome the following 11 new firefighters:

Donald Andersen James Karp Timothy Sierazy

Douglas DePersia Michael Neubauer Jennifer Smith

Chad Erickson Daniel Ritchie James Wooten

Kevin Frawley Isaac Salazar

These firefighters began with 8 weeks of training at the Orland Fire Academy on September 5, 2012 and were then

assigned to shifts, rotating at the 6 fire stations for the remainder of the one-year probationary period.

The Oath of Office was administered by Fire Commissioner Craig F. Schmidt on September 5th, 2013.

55


Swearing In of Probationary Firefighters

56


Engineer John Purtill to Lieutenant

Promotions

57

On October 29, 2013 Engineer John Purtill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and FF/Paramedic Robert Griffin III

became an Engineer. Congratulations to both!


58

Firefighter/Paramedic Bob Griffin III to Engineer

Promotions


Special Recognitions

The Orland Fire Protection District is proud to

announce that Communications Supervisor William

“Stuey” Neumann has been awarded the Supervisor

of the Year for 2013 by Illinois APCO, the agency

providing standards and oversight for

communication centers. The awards recognize

individuals who perform in an outstanding manner

throughout the year. This award honors the “best of

the best”- those who peers consider to be the

leaders based on many aspects in many areas.

William has worked at the Orland Fire District since

2001. He was promoted to Supervisor in 2006, and

most recently to Director of Communications in

2013. As Director of Communications he manages

all of the communication needs of the OFPD and all

the day-to-day operations of the 9-1-1 Center. His

involvement with MABAS 19, 22 and 24 is

instrumental in effective communications.

William Neumann “Supervisor of the Year”

Lt. David Piper “Instructor of the Year”

The Orland Fire Protection District is proud to

announce that Lieutenant Dave Piper has been

chosen as the Instructor of the Year for 2013

through the Illinois Society of Fire Service

Instructors. This is a tremendous honor that puts

Lieutenant Piper in an elite group of past recipients

and firefighters that have excelled in the

advancement of education and training throughout

the State of Illinois. It takes a special person that is

filled with drive and a willingness to accept personal

sacrifice to help others all in the name of

professional development. Lieutenant Piper has

worked very hard for each and everyone at the

Orland Fire Protection District, as well as impacting

firefighters throughout the region and state.

Lieutenant Piper was awarded this honor in October

at the Fire Chief/Instructor Conference in Peoria.

59


Congratulations to Battalion Chief Raymond Kay on receiving “Chief Fire

Officer” certification. This program replaces the Fire Officer III Program

and meets the requirements for OFSM certification at the newly

established Chief Fire Officer level. This program meets all the

requirements at the N.F.P.A. Fire Officer III and IV level. The program is

designed and intended for Command level officers and/or Administrators

who have the responsibilities of supervising and administrating a Fire

Department or Fire District.

Fire service personnel currently certified at the Fire Officer III level wishing

to attain Chief Fire Officer Certification will need to meet the requirements

of the new standard. For most, completion of the Life Safety Initiative’s

class will satisfy this requirement. Once the objectives are fulfilled, an

application for Chief Fire Officer must be submitted.

Today’s Fire Service leaders and members are challenged to effectively

and efficiently implement and address change in the workplace. All Fire

Service Chief Officers and Administrators face a “sense of urgency” to

provide the quality of services that is expected and demanded by all

whom we serve.

The successful Chief Officer of any organization must possess diverse

knowledge and skills not prevalent in the traditional aspects. However,

there is a growing recognition of the critical role that education must play

in building a quality organization. The Fire Officer III certification program

addresses those current issues and will provide the Chief Executive

Officer with the tools needed to be a progressive leader.

B/C Raymond Kay Receives Chief Fire Officer Certification

Special Recognitions

60


Orland Fire Protection District

9790 West 151st Street

Orland Park, Illinois 60462

(708) 349-0074

www.orlandfire.org

Documents

2013 Annual Report