CITY OF ELMHURST FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2016
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF On behalf of the Mayor, Manager and City Council / Elected Officials, the Elmhurst Fire Department thanks you for your interest in our 2016 Annual Report. Our department is charged with providing the highest skilled response to our residents and users in a time of need. We are ever challenged with the task of improving upon the Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Specialized Rescue that we provide, and work to be there whenever the need arises. The Elmhurst Fire Department continues to meet the challenges of change. That within itself is a great accomplishment. But, the real accomplishment is the positive attitude and the sheer determination of our personnel to make this Fire Department the benchmark of quality service in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services arena. Our continued promise is a doctrine to be a professional, well-prepared Emergency Services Provider, made possible through the commitment of the nation s greatest firefighters. We continue to make the City of Elmhurst a better and safer place in which to live, work, and play. On behalf of our Officers, Firefighters and Administrative Staff, thank you for the privilege of serving you! If I can be of any additional service to you on behalf of the Elmhurst Fire Department, please contact me. WE EXIST TO HELP PEOPLE! Thomas K. Freeman, Fire Chief 2 2016 Annual Report
2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS & STATISTICS Purchased a new E-One Tower Ladder. The ladder has replaced an existing ladder truck that was purchased in 1997, had over 110,000 miles and required increased maintenance. The ladder truck is housed at Fire Station 2 and is expected to last 20 years. Continued to work towards the consolation of dispatch procedures. All members of DuPage Public Safety Communications have been working the past several months preparing the new computer-aided dispatch system along with the live move up module that was purchased through the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). Chief Officers from 10 neighboring departments continue to meet on a monthly basis as a cooperative group to discuss training opportunities, group purchasing, and ideas for streamlining operations. Elmhurst Police, Fire and ESDA personnel participated in a Response to an Active Shooter Drill at Elmhurst College. The lessons learned will be used to improve our relationships and increase efficiency during an actual response. 2017 GOALS CALL VOLUME BREAKDOWN FIRE RESPONSES 2016 TOTAL EMS RESPONSES 2016 TOTAL Structure Fires 50 Cardiac 311 Medical Asst. w/mutual Aid 159 Stroke 92 Rescue 75 Seizure 95 Hazardous Condition 230 Vehicle Accident 381 False Call 732 Overdose/Psych Eval 305 Service Call/Other 454 Diabetic 61 Other Fires 49 Sick Person/ Trouble Breathing 1,079 Severe Weather 0 Assistance/Falls 1,577 TOTAL CALLS 1,749 TOTAL CALLS 3,901 TOTAL EFD 2016 CALLS 5,650 Replace a 1994 E-One Rescue Squad with a 2017 Pierce Rescue Squad/ Pumper. The new Squad/Pumper will offer the latest versions of rescue equipment and will also have a 1500 gpm pump with hose that can be used to extinguish fires. Update and re-organize all fire department standard operating procedures and directives. Provide necessary training to all members and continue to utilize the training facility to ensure our members meet all of the training required through the Illinois State Fire Marshall and the Department of Labor. Work with the records management division, water department, and the training division to improve the fire department ISO Rating from a 2 to 1. MISSION STATEMENT The Elmhurst Fire Department consists of competent and valued professionals dedicated to providing life safety, emergency services, and educational programs for the protection of life and property in our community. The mission is accomplished by holding devotion to duty above personal safety and comfort, and continually challenging our members to enhance the quality of services provided. VALUE STATEMENTS FAMILY AND FRIENDS We value our family and friends. TRUST We value the trust of the community and each other. INTEGRITY We shall act in an honest and ethical manner. RESPONSIBILITY We will do what we say we are going to do. 2016 Annual Report 3
TRAINING DIVISION The Elmhurst Fire Department trains seven days a week on various topics that include: structural firefighting, motor vehicle accidents, emergency medical services, building construction, driver training and special operations such as water rescue, hazardous materials and technical rescue. The Elmhurst Training Academy is located on the north side of town and is where a majority of the training is conducted. Firefighters are able to simulate real structure fires utilizing natural gas fed training props, raise ladders for victim rescue, stretch hose lines, and practice search and rescue drills. The training facility is also used by the Elmhurst Police Department, Public Works, and surrounding towns rent the facility for their own training scenarios. In addition to the tower, there is a confined space habitat that is used by our technical rescue teams, a free standing confidence course that is used to train firefighters in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and a classroom that holds 40 students. 4 2016 Annual Report TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS 2016 Developed standard Job Performance Requirements which will be utilized to reformat and update expired training performance objectives. Developed company drills for the officers to train with their crews to build on continuity. Attended and participated in regional disaster drill in Downers Grove. PLANS FOR 2017 Implement Class A live burns in the training tower to improve on realistic training. Completely re-roof the Roof Simulator and improve on the design. Implement a list of training alternatives for inclimate weather that can be used by the officers.
PUBLIC EDUCATION The Public Education Division delivers safety and education programs to various groups throughout the year. Fire drills were witnessed in Elmhurst schools, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Park District buildings and senior living facilities. The Public Education Division presented several safety programs, such as Please Return on Monday (P.R.O.M.) and babysitting safety programs for students at York and Immaculate Conception High Schools. The Public Education Division utilized the Safety Trailer to conduct classes at the Elmhurst Park District Safety Town facility. The Public Education Division attends numerous functions during the year to promote fire safety and education and has made presentations at senior living, nursing and assisted living facilities as well. Each fall, the Department participates in National Fire Prevention Week by hosting several tours of both stations, delivering presentations to school students, and ending the week with the Fire Department Open House at Fire Station 2. 2016 HIGHLIGHTS Attended the Elmhurst Farmers Market at York and Vallette where fire prevention and educational materials were handed out and firefighters greeted market attendees. Installed or checked over 120 car seats for both residents of Elmhurst and the surrounding suburbs. Delivered the Cool Rules for Fire Safety program to first grade students, and Learn Not to Burn program to fourth grade students throughout the City. These programs were presented at 13 schools and reached approximately 800 students in total. 2016 Annual Report 5
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HOW DO I GET A COPY OF A FIRE OR MEDICAL REPORT? Call the Fire Department Administrative Assistant at 630-530-3090, during regular business hours of 8 am- 5 pm Monday thru Thursday, for proper procedures to obtain a report. WHAT IS A KNOX BOX AND WHERE CAN I OBTAIN ONE? A Knox Box is a secured locked box that is placed on the front of a building/house and contains keys to the building or residence. The fire department keeps a key that opens the Knox Box locked and secured on their vehicles. This allows the fire department easy access to a home or business. Information to purchase a Knox Box can be obtained by calling 630-530-3090. IF MY CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR ACTIVATES, WHAT SHOULD I DO? It is recommended that you install a Carbon Monoxide detector on each level of your home and if a detector activates, CALL 911 and leave your home. The fire department will come to your home and check the level of Carbon Monoxide (if any). WHY DO FIREFIGHTERS CUT HOLES IN THE ROOF AND BREAK WINDOWS OF A BUILDING ON FIRE? This is called ventilation. There are two basic reasons for ventilating a structure. The first is, removal of dangerous gases, heat, and dark smoke that accumulate in a burning building reducing visibility and greatly impeding rescue and firefighting efforts. Second, ventilation allows firefighters to relieve the structure of superheated gases and smoke which spread fire and contribute to dangerous situations like flashover and backdraft explosions. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH HOT FIREPLACE ASH? DO NOT remove hot ashes from the fireplace immediately. Wait up to 48 hours and let the ashes cool completely in the fireplace until there are no remaining hot embers before removing them. Place cool ash in a metal container and store outside away from the home and all combustibles. WHO DO I SPEAK TO REGARDING MY AMBULANCE BILL? Call Metro Paramedics at (630) 530-2988. WHAT DO I WITH MY OLD SMOKE DETECTORS? Old smoke detectors can be dropped off for recycling at City Hall and Fire Stations 1 & 2. 6 2016 Annual Report FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU The primary goal and mission of the Fire Prevention Bureau is to reduce the risk of fire and accidents, while improving life safety in the City of Elmhurst. The Bureau reviews new construction and renovation plans to assure that fire protection systems are laid out according to the International Fire Code. Over this past year, the Fire Prevention Bureau has experienced an increase in the number of plans it has reviewed. The Elmhurst Fire Department places a high priority on fire prevention activities. The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for Fire Inspections, Life Safety Building Code review and enforcement, Fire Investigations, Public Education, and maintenance of Firefighter Right-to-know data. Our mission is to educate the community about the benefits of proper fire safety practices and how to identify and eliminate all types of hazardous conditions which pose a threat to life, the environment and property. The Fire Prevention staff is comprised of the Fire Marshal, and two Fire Prevention Inspectors/Investigators. The main focus of fire prevention is to protect the residents of the City of Elmhurst by enforcing the Illinois State Fire Code. 265 FIRE ALARM INSPECTIONS 69 PLAN REVIEWS 12 WIRELESS RADIO INSTALLATIONS 1,434 OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS Plan reviews are followed by field inspections to confirm the necessary work is proceeding and that is completed according to code. The Fire Prevention Bureau also started an extensive process of updating records in the fire house records management system to ensure critical information is accurate and up to date. Fire Prevention staff conducted hundreds of inspections of various buildings in the City including but not limited to public & private schools, hospitals, churches, senior housing, senior centers, day care centers, hotels & places of public assemblies.
EMERGENCY SERVICE DISASTER AGENCY The mission of the Office of Emergency Management is to prevent, prepare, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards, natural or man-made. Our philosophy is to build community partnerships before a disaster occurs so that we are able provide capable leadership during high stress community wide disasters while deploying highly trained emergency response forces. The City of Elmhurst s Office of Emergency Management is one of only a few Accredited Emergency Management Agencies in the State of Illinois. The Office of Emergency Management has established relationships with critical community partners and has conducted training to ensure that residents are protected and each agency is prepared to handle large scale incidents. 2016 HIGHLIGHTS Conducted the first tornado drill that has been done at the First Baptist Church of Elmhurst. There were approximately 150 to 200 people in attendance at the drill which took place at the end of their service. City of Elmhurst staff and other agencies participated in a table top exercise at the city s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Fire Station 1. The planned event provided participants an opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities to a tornado touch down in the City of Elmhurst. The exercise was developed by the City of Elmhurst Disaster Exercise Committee. Participated in the State of Illinois 2016 Strategic National Stockpile full-scale exercise at Elmhurst Hospital. Representatives from fire, police, and emergency management met to develop a procedure for active shooter incidents. MUTUAL AID BOX ALARM SYSTEM (MABAS) The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was established in the late 1960 s to provide and coordinate in an automated, effective and efficient manner, the response of mutual aid fire, EMS and specialty team personnel and equipment. Today, the MABAS organization includes approximately 35,000 of Illinois 40,000 firefighters who staff emergency response units including more than 1,500 fire stations, 2,495 engine companies, 469 ladder trucks, 1,100 ambulances (mostly paramedic capable), 297 heavy rescue squads, and 788 water tenders. Fire/EMS reserve (back-up) units account for more than 1,000 additional emergency vehicles. MABAS XII is comprised of 18 municipal fire departments and fire protection districts located mainly in DuPage County. DUCOMM, the MABAS XII dispatch center, supports all of the Specialty teams who respond to hazardous material, water rescue and technical rescue incidents. All MABAS Division 12 team members meet on a monthly basis which allows an opportunity to strategically plan, discuss and coordinate activities, needs assessments and training. Additionally, MABAS Division 12 agencies participate in multi-agency training, gaining operational familiarization when operating at a large scale events. DUPAGE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS DuPage Public Safety Communications (DU-COMM) is an intergovernmental agency established back in 1975 to provide emergency communications services to police, fire, and emergency medical services. DU-COMM, the 911 dispatch center for Elmhurst Fire and Police is situated in Glendale Heights is a consolidated public safety communications center in Illinois and currently serves forty-one (41) member agencies and over 800,000 residents in DuPage and neighboring counties. DU-COMM receives requests for Police, Fire, and EMS via 45 incoming 911 lines. In 2016 DU-COMM processed over 1.1 million phone calls and 589,000 police and Fire/ EMS incidents. Municipalities and fire districts have worked together to provide a high level of service to their citizens in public safety communications. 2016 Annual Report 7
EMERGENCY SERVICES: 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Service Fire Suppression FIRE STATION 1 (HEADQUARTERS) 404 N. York St. NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES: (630) 530-3090 Car Seat Installation Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education Programs Fire Station Tours Incident Reports Juvenile Fire Setter Counseling Knox Box Lifeline/Premise Alert Program Smoke Detector Installation and Battery Replacement FIRE STATION 2 601 S. York St. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (630) 530-3097 Citizen/Community Emergency Response Training Disaster/Crisis Planning Emergency Preparedness FIRE PREVENTION Building Evacuation Planning Fire Code Enforcement Fire Code and Fire Protection Systems Questions Fire Inspections Fire Investigations TRAINING ACADEMY 910 N. Addison Ave. PARAMEDIC BILLING SERVICES Paramedic Billing Concerns (630) 530-2988 4TH GRADE POSTER CONTEST May 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FILL THE BOOT June FIRE PREVENTION WEEK October 8-14 FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE October 8-14 elmhurst.org/fire-department facebook.com/cityofelmhurst @CityofElmhurst