OUR MISSION: TO LIMIT THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY THROUGH PLANNING, PREVENTION AND RESPONSE FF/PM Schneider (pictured below) and other staff members worked to keep people informed of the storm recovery efforts in Park Ridge, by passing out information door to door and at public places such as the train station. Volume XI Issue VI www.parkridgefd.org
Highlight of the Month The June 2011 storm proved very ominous for many residents. The above picture shows a tree that blew onto a vehicle with a woman inside, in the 1500 block of South Ashland. Engine #35 worked to get the woman out of her vehicle unharmed. Hydrant helpers are being utilized to test all the City s fire hydrants. Testing began in June and will be finished in September. Over 1,400 hydrants will be tested at the completion of this process. 1
Personnel News FF/PM Laube will be running the Chicago Marathon October 9, 2011. FF/PM Laube will be running in support of World Vision. World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. They are dedicated to working with the world s most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Response Statistics Fire Administration CODE MONTHLY REPONSES 2010 MONTHLY REPONSES 2011 MONTHLY PERCENT 2010 MONTHLY PERCENT 2011 1 ambulance 216 209 57% 47% 2 single vehicle 91 160 24% 36% 3 full fire 38 40 10% 9% 13 mutual & auto aid 33 39 9% 9% TOTAL RESPONSES 378 448 100% 100% 2
600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Code 1 Code 2 Code 3 Code 13 Total 2009 2010 2011 4600 4100 3600 3100 2600 2100 1600 1100 600 100 CURRENT MONTH TOTAL ALARMS YTD Incident Response Deputy Chief Sorensen June 10 Companies responded to the 700 block of West Oakton Street for the vehicle off the road. A vehicle went through some landscaping and struck another vehicle that was parked unoccupied in the driveway. One patient was transported to Lutheran General Hospital from the scene. The second potential patient had fled the scene upon our arrival. June 12 Engine #35 responded to a fire in a commercial occupancy in the 9700 block of West Balmoral in Rosemont. Engine #35 connected to a standpipe to supply water to interior companies and evacuated occupants from a stairway. June 17 June 26 Companies responded to the rollover car crash at Lahon and Park Plaine. Ambulance #35 transported one patient, the teenage driver, to Lutheran General Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Ambulance #36 and Engine #36 responded to a fire in the 8500 block of Roseview Dr. in Niles. This was a basement fire in a single-family home. Engine #36 was assigned to a second hose line and to ventilate on the first floor. Ambulance #36 was assigned to EMS standby for any potential injuries on the scene. 3
Vehicle crash into a tree The Engine cleaning up the street for safety FIRE INVESTIGATION Lieutenant Derek Decker June 1 Engine 36 responded to the 1500 block of W. Oakton for a vehicle fire. A fire was confirmed involving the engine compartment of a small passenger vehicle. The fire was quickly extinguished with a single 1 ¾ preconnected hoseline. The damage resulting from the fire was estimated to be $5000. Investigators were unable to find the cause of the fire that originated in the engine compartment. The fire is being classified as undetermined. June 2 Engine 35 responded to the 800 block of Glenlake for an outside fire. Upon arrival, a small fire on the top of a concrete stand was burning. Park Ridge Police were extinguishing the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher. No monetary damage resulted. The investigation did not identify a cause of the fire. The fire was classified as undetermined. June 8 Engine 36 responded to the 300 block of W. Touhy for an outside fire. Upon arrival, a small fire involving mulch was found. The fire was extinguished with a water extinguisher. No monetary damage resulted. The investigation did not identify a cause of the fire. The fire was classified as undetermined. June 29 All Park Ridge Fire equipment along with auto aid companies responded to the 200 block of S. Home for a cooking fire. Upon arrival, Engine 35 reported there was a small fire inside a microwave. The fire was quickly extinguished with water. No monetary damage resulted. 4
The investigation revealed the fire originated in the microwave as a result of unattended cooking (food left in the microwave too long). The fire was classified as accidental. June 30 Engine 36 responded to the 700 blocks of W. Edgemont and Austin for outside fires. Engine 36 found fires involving trees at both locations. Single 1 ¾ preconnected hoselines were used to extinguish the fires. No monetary damage resulted. The investigation concluded the fires resulted from the tree limbs coming in contact with electrical lines. Both fires were classified as accidental. Certification Fire/Arson Investigator Kurt Skinner was recertified through the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal as both a Fire and Arson Investigator. FF/PM Skinner met the State s requirements for recertification by acquiring more than 80 hours of continuing education and gaining practical hands-on experience conducting fire investigations. Training Battalion Chief Scott Sankey Daily Quick Drills Each week the Training Division assigns a quick drill to be discussed at the morning roll call. The quick drills for June included Intersection Safety Actions, When to Mask Up, Outrigger Plate Placement, Ground Ladder Reach, and Road Trailer Classifications. Word of the Week Each week a shift member at each station is assigned a word. The member researches the word as it relates to the fire service and presents his/her findings to the rest of his station during the morning roll call meeting. The words for June were exothermic, belay, gamma radiation, oxidizing agent, and flash fire. Lutheran General Hospital (LGH) Walk-through Fire Marshall Plach conducted multiple days of building familiarization tours at LGH for Park Ridge Fire Department shift personnel as well as automatic aid companies from North Maine, Niles, and Des Plaines. NFPA 1410 Evolution #8 Station 36 personnel participated in three days of joint training with North Maine at Maine East High School. The objective of the drill was to place an elevated master stream device in service flowing a minimum of 500 gpm. Park Ridge Tower 36 was supplied water from North Maine Engine 1 using 300 of 5 diameter supply hose. 5
OSHA Respirator User Exams and NFPA 1582 Physicals All fire department personnel received their annual OSHA respirator user medical exams. All HAZMAT, Dive, and Technical Rescue team members received their annual NFPA 1582 physicals. Blue Card Incident Command All department Lieutenants continued working towards completion of the 50-hour Blue Card Incident Command online training program. MABAS Division III Special Teams Members of the Fire Investigation, HAZMAT, URRT (Dive), and TRT teams participated in Division III training drills. Outside Training No outside training this month. A crash with a rollover at the intersection of Summit and Touhy. Special Teams Battalion Chief Scott Sankey Underwater and Rescue and Recovery Team (URRT) On June 16 th, members of the dive team participated in the MABAS Division III dive drill hosted by the Winnetka Fire Department. The dive was held at Gillson Park Beach on Lake Michigan. The training involved an exercise in boat operations and underwater compass navigations. 6
Apparatus & Equipment Battalion Chief John Hanson Due to the high amount of miles and the stresses that the vehicles are put under, it is critical that we perform routine and emergency maintenance in cooperation with City Garage. Below is a list of the maintenance completed for the month: F-41 1995 Engine - Annual pump test passed F-42 1996 Engine - Pump panel discharge gauge replaced - Rear brake air tanks replaced - Manual cab lift assembly replaced - Annual Pump Test passed F-43 2005 Engine - Rear amber rotator light assembly repaired - Annual pump test passed F-45 2001 Aerial Platform - Annual pump test passed 2011 Annual Pump Testing Conducted by Underwriters Laboratories 7
Fire Prevention Lieutenant Kevin Plach Activity Monthly Totals 2010 Monthly Totals 2011 Initial Inspections 49 51 Re-Inspections 25 49 Pre-Permit Meetings 1 0 Construction Visits 7 7 Final Inspections 4 3 Plan reviews 16 25 Sprinkler Hydros 1 1 Storage Tank Installs 0 0 Storage Tank Removals 0 0 Residential Sprinklers 0 0 Fire Flow Tests 2 1 Fire Alarm Tests 2 1 Fire Pump Tests 0 0 Key Box Insp./Installs 1 3 Hood Test 0 0 Single Family Home Inspections 1 1 Citations 0 0 Meetings 7 23 Fire Drills 2 1 Seminar/Schools 2 3 Complaints 2 0 Shift Tours 0 4 Public Education Tours 0 1 Total 122 174 Year to Date 635 687 Public Education Lieutenant Kevin Plach Car Seat Safety Checks 13 car seat safety checks were performed in June. CPR and First Aid classes 35 people attended CPR and First Aid classes in the month of June. 8
The following classes were provided: 1 Health Care Provider class 1 Heart Saver First Aid and CPR classes 1 Heart Saver AED class CPR and First Aid training was provided to: 17 faculty and staff from School District 64 18 people in our 2 public classes Park Ridge Fire Explorer Post 3536 Thirteen Explorers s attended both meetings held in June. During these meetings, emphasis was placed on training the Explorers in the use of and donning & doffing an SCBA, emergency procedures, daily checks, and monthly checks. The purpose of this training was to ensure the Explorers were comfortable with their SCBA s for the trip to the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) in Champaign, Illinois held June 23 rd -26 th. IFSI hosted a Fire Explorer hands on training academy, allowing Explorers to train with live fire and IFSI instructors. Besides the live fire training, the Explorers had hands on training for the following: SCBA s, ventilation, ladders, hoselines, search & rescue, saving your own, and hose deployment. Eleven Explorers and four advisors attended making the Park Ridge group one of the larger groups there- over 370 people were in attendance. While there, the Explorers stayed in a University of Illinois dorm and ate there or on the IFSI grounds. During their stay, they were kept busy and active throughout the day. This is the fifth time our post has gone and we are very impressed with how well the academy is put on and ran. Our trip to U of I is always the highlight of the year for the explorers that go, and we all look forward to next year. Explorer Pictures in Champaign 9
Monthly Tip The U.S. Fire Administration and Safe Kids USA Encourage Everyone to Practice Fire Safety During Independence Day Celebrations Contact: USFA Press Office, (301) 447-1853 EMMITSBURG, MD The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and Safe Kids USA are encouraging families and individuals to prepare for a safe and memorable Fourth of July by practicing safe grilling and leaving the fireworks to the professionals. Independence Day is a major highlight of the summer and for many people there s a lot of excitement around setting off colorful fireworks and starting up the grill, said Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. Meri-K Appy, President, Safe Kids USA joins Deputy Administrator Gaines in urging all Americans to have a fun and safe weekend. We are reminding everyone of simple steps they can take to protect their children who are most vulnerable to fire-related burns, injuries, and deaths, says Appy. Fireworks Many children and adults are fascinated by fireworks, but they can be extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission s (CPSC) annual death and injury report (PDF, 325 Kb) on fireworks, approximately 40 percent of fireworks injuries occur to children younger than 15 years of age. In addition, CPSC received reports of three fatalities related to fireworks in 2010. The best way to protect your family and friends is not to use any fireworks at home. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals. Fireworks Fire Safety Tips Sparklers are not toys. They can reach 2,000 o Fahrenheit--hot enough to melt some metals. Leave pieces of fireworks on the ground after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode. Stand several feet away from the professionals lighting fireworks; fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. For more information, please visit the USFA s Focus on Fire Safety: Fireworks webpage and Safe Kids USA at www.safekids.org. Grilling Every Fourth of July Americans look forward to picnics, camping, and other outdoor activities. The holiday, however, also brings fires and injuries due to outdoor cooking. By taking a few fire safety precautions, you can ensure that everyone enjoys a safe Independence Day. 10
Grilling Fire Safety Tips Propane and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces such as tents, they pose a fire hazard and a risk of exposing occupants to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic. Grills should be positioned at least 10 feet away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Keep, matches, lighters, and starter fluid out of the reach of children in a locked drawer or cabinet. Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "kid-free zone" around the grill. Use long barbeque mitts and long-handled grilling tools to protect the chef from heat and flames when cooking. Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill. For more information, please visit Safe Kids USA at www.safekids.org and the USFA s Focus on Fire Safety: Summer Fire Safety webpage. The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan. 11