Volume XII Issue V

OUR MISSION: TO LIMIT THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY THROUGH PLANNING, PREVENTION AND RESPONSE The Park Ridge Fire Department responded to a two-car crash at Cumberland Avenue and Cedar Street. Upon arrival, they found one car heavily damaged along Cedar Street in the lot where the Bailey's restaurant used to be located. After the second vehicle rear-ended the first, it launched itself up a 15-ft. hill, crashed through a chain link fence and ended up on the center track at Cumberland Avenue. Two injuries resulted and both patients were treated and transported to Lutheran General Hospital. Volume XII Issue V www.parkridgefd.org

Highlight of the Month Fire Administration 1

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Personnel News Fire Administration Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have made a commitment to serve and protect and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country- all armed forces, all wars. A hearty "thank you" to the following Park Ridge Fire Department veterans for their present and prior military service: Tony Zermeno, US Navy and USMC Brian Pavone, US Air Force Jeff Laube, US Army Bob Kelly, US Army Greg Garland, USMC Robert Sempoch, Polish Army World Trade Center Steel Update Fire Administration Park Ridge s proposed 9/11 memorial could cost as much as $220,600. The Commission met this month to discuss details of the memorial, which may feature a sloped, translucent wall surrounding the glass-encased steel beam at the fire station on Devon and Cumberland. Plans included a bench attached to the inner part of the wall, which will have engraving explaining the memorial s purpose. Myefski Architects. Inc. suggested incorporating a long walkway leading to the memorial and moving the station sign. They believe it could take up to three and a half months to build. During the meeting, discussion regarding fund raising, creating a 501 (c3) organization, the overall design, as well as the cost were some topics addressed. The commission hopes to give a presentation about its plans to the City Council on June 25. 4

Response Statistics Fire Administration CODE MONTHLY REPONSES 2011 MONTHLY REPONSES 2012 MONTHLY PERCENT 2011 MONTHLY PERCENT 2012 1 ambulance 227 237 64% 63% 2 single vehicle 42 56 12% 15% 3 full fire 38 45 11% 12% 13 mutual & auto aid 48 38 14% 10% TOTAL RESPONSES 355 376 100% 100% 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Code 1 Code 2 Code 3 Code 13 Total 2010 2011 2012 4600 4100 3600 3100 2600 2100 1600 1100 600 100 CURRENT MONTH TOTAL ALARMS YTD Incident Response Deputy Chief Sorensen May 1 May 1 Companies responded to two vehicle crashes in a matter of 20 minutes time. In the first collision, a car traveling Northbound on Cumberland Avenue struck another vehicle as it approached Cedar Street, North of Touhy Avenue. The vehicle veered after the collision and traveled up the embankment and onto the railroad tracks, shutting down train traffic during the afternoon commute. One patient, the driver, was transported to Lutheran General Hospital. A second crash, this one at Oakton Street and Riverside Drive, resulted in one patient injured who was transported to Lutheran General Hospital. Des Plaines 5

Fire Department was called in to assist due to other companies working the previous crash along the railroad tracks. May 8 May 9 May 23 May 25 May 25 May 28 Companies responded to Canfield Road and Yost Avenue for a utility pole on fire. Hose lines were set up in case the fire extended to the garages in the alley. Com Ed arrived and shut down the power to the area, and the fire was quickly extinguished. Companies responded to a fire in a house started by a washing machine. Engine #35 responded to a fire in a hotel in the 6600 block of Mannheim Road in Rosemont. Engine #35 responded to Des Plaines on a change of quarters while the Des Plaines Fire Department was fighting a house fire. Engine #35 was first to respond to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle call while covering Des Plaines. Companies responded to the reported crash between a fuel- tanker truck and two passenger vehicles. A total of four (4) patients were transported to Lutheran General Hospital. The Rosemont Fire Department responded to a subsequent EMS call in the City of Park Ridge during this incident. Companies responded to the reported crash, with a car that struck the building, at Cumberland and Touhy Avenues. One patient was transported to Lutheran General Hospital. FIRE INVESTIGATION Lieutenant Derek Decker Investigation Details May 2 All Park Ridge equipment along with the Rosemont and Norwood Park Fire Departments responded for an outside fire near a structure along the 1000 block of W. Glenlake. Upon arrival of Engine 35, a personal watercraft was found on fire along with a medium-sized gasoline container. A combination of methods was used to extinguish the fire including a pre-connected hoseline and a dry chemical extinguisher. The siding of the nearby structure as well as a gas-powered generator was also damaged as a result of the fire. The resulting monetary damage was estimated to be $6000. The investigation concluded that the fire resulted when a candle being used for light ignited gasoline vapors that were present when a generator was being filled. The burning gasoline container was kicked away from the structure resulting in the watercraft igniting. The fire was classified as accidental. 6

May 9 All Park Ridge equipment along with the Rosemont and Norwood Park Fire Departments responded for the report of a structure fire along the 1500 block of Brophy. Companies arrived to a small two-story single-family residential and found light smoke on the first floor and heavier white smoke in the basement. A small fire was discovered under a washing machine and was quickly extinguished by using a water extinguisher. The fire was confined to the appliance. The resulting monetary damage was estimated to be $500. The investigation determined the fire resulted from a non-specific failure of the washing machine which had repairs recently made to it. The fire was classified as accidental. May 12 Engine 35 responded for an outside fire along the 900 block of W. Devon. Upon arrival, a small fire involving a cardboard box was found in the middle of a baseball field. The fire was extinguished by use of a water extinguisher. No monetary damage resulted. Investigators could not determine the actual cause of the fire. The fire was classified as undetermined. May 13 Tower 36 and Battalion 35 responded to the 1500 block of Hoffman for a reported outside fire. Battalion 35 arrived to find a small charcoal grill burning and quickly extinguished the fire using a dry chemical extinguish. Only minor damage resulted from the fire. The investigation determined the owner attempted to start the charcoal briquettes by using gasoline. The gasoline vapors ignited during the pour since the charcoal briquettes were already smoldering. No damage estimates were provided. May 27 Tower 36 responded to the 0-100 block of Busse for an outside fire. A small plastic garbage can was found burning and was extinguished by using a water extinguisher. The resulting damage was estimated to be $150. It was determined the fire resulted when hot charcoal briquettes were dumped into the plastic garbage can. The fire was classified as accidental. May 31 Both Station 35 and 36 fire apparatus along with the Rosemont and Norwood Park Fire Departments responded to the 800 block of W. Devon for a reported roof fire. Upon arrival of Engine 35, a small fire involving the mansard roof was discovered. A pre-connected hoseline was used to extinguish the fire. The mansard was overhauled to confirm the fire had not extended past its area of origin. The loss was estimated to be $5000. The investigation determined the fire resulted when electrical heat energy from charged conductors ignited surrounding combustibles. The fire was classified as accidental. 7

Investigation s Summary The six fires during May resulted in a combined fire loss of $11,650. Through May 2012, the Park Ridge Fire Department has responded to a total of 26 fires within the City with damages nearing $760,000. Investigation Photos Training Improper care, maintenance and use of powered equipment often lead to fire Park Ridge Fire Investigators attended a 6-hour training seminar hosted in Rosemont to learn about the challenges investigators often face while investigating recreational vehicle fires. Training opportunities like the recently attended seminar keep investigators knowledge current and also help satisfy requirements for recertification. Fire at Colonial Coffee Shop on 5/31/12, 800 W. Devon Avenue 8

Training Battalion Chief Scott Sankey Quick Drill Throughout the month the Training Division assigns various quick drills to be discussed at the morning roll call. The quick drills for May were White Powder Incident Protocol Review, Survival Essentials: Conducting a PAR, Progress Reports, and Preventative Actions. Report of the Week Throughout the month the shifts are assigned a report from the National Firefighters Near Miss web portal. The site provides firefighters a place to anonymously document and share their close calls and near miss experiences with other firefighters around the country. By sharing these reports we hope to prevent similar situations from happening in the future. The reports reviewed for May were The Saw Shakes, Rattles, & Rolls and Do you smell gas in here or is it just me? Word of the Week Throughout the month shift members at each station are 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 May were Miscible, Pre-action System, and Bolt Throw. Target Safety Online Training All department personnel worked towards completing the training module NFPA 1021 Pre- Incident Planning. Weekly Skills Drills/Job Performance Requirements (JPR s) All department shift personnel demonstrated skills proficiency in Single Engine/Multiple line pumping. MABAS Division III Special Teams Members of the Fire Investigation, HAZMAT, URRT (Dive), and TRT teams participated in Division III training drills. Outside Training FF/PM Dave Malcomson Fireground Company Officer 40 hrs Lt. Al Portell Blue Card Incident Command Practical 24 hrs Lt. Kevin Plach Blue Card Incident Command Practical 24 hrs 9

Special Teams Battalion Chief Scott Sankey Hazardous Materials Team (HAZMAT) Hazardous material team members reviewed response procedures for the NATO Summit in preparation for all types chemical attacks inclusive of reviewing radiation detection equipment. Underwater and Rescue and Recovery Team (URRT) The Park Ridge Dive Team participated MABAS 3 training dive hosted by the Prospect Heights Fire Department. On May 17 th at the Des Plaines River Dam #1 members of MABAS 3 Dive and Special Rescue teams were involved in a drill practicing skills in Swift Water Rescue and Swift Water Boat operations. This training gave two branches of Special Rescue a chance to learn how each other operates while working together in order to perform a simulated rescue. Technical Rescue Team (TRT) Park Ridge TRT members along with the Division III team participated in a trench rescue drill in Highwood. The drill was a simulated response to children playing around an open trench, falling in and getting buried. 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 the City Garage. Below is a list of the maintenance completed for the month: F-26 1998 Command Van - A/C system charged F-41 1995 Engine - Pump transfer system repaired - Replaced multiple light sockets and bulbs F-45 2001 Tower Ladder - Air system hoses and fittings replaced - Repaired compartment door - Multiple perimeter lights replaced - Hi-Idle system repaired 10

Fire Prevention Lieutenant Kevin Plach Activity Monthly Totals 2011 Monthly Totals 2012 Initial Inspections 44 73 Re-Inspections 35 56 Pre-Permit Meetings 0 4 Construction Visits 14 5 Final Inspections 10 8 Plan reviews 13 28 Sprinkler Hydros 1 2 Storage Tank Installs 0 0 Storage Tank Removals 0 0 Residential Sprinklers 0 0 Fire Flow Tests 0 4 Fire Alarm Tests 2 6 Fire Pump Tests 2 0 Key Box Insp./Installs 3 3 Hood Test 1 2 Single Family Home Inspections 1 0 Citations 0 0 Meetings 25 14 Fire Drills 0 2 Seminar/Schools 0 3 Complaints 7 5 Shift Tours 0 3 Public Education Tours 0 0 Total 158 218 Year to Date 671 834 Public Education Lieutenant Kevin Plach Car Seat Safety Checks 26 car seat safety checks were performed in May. CPR and First Aid classes have been suspended. 11

Monthly Tip PROPANE SAFETY The leading equipment involving in LP-gas home structure fires was a grill, hibachi, or barbecue. Facts & figures U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 1,170 home structure fires involving LP-gas in 2003-2007. These fires resulted in 34 civilian deaths, 135 civilian injuries and $48 million in direct property damage. Spark, ember or flame from operating equipment was the leading heat source for LP-gas home structure fires. Source: NFPA's "Natural Gas and LP-Gas Home Structure Fires" report by Jennifer Flynn, January 2010. All visitors: Download a fact sheet on Natural Gas and LP-Gas Home Structure Fires. (PDF, 61 KB) More information on this topic Overfilling Prevention Devices (OPDs) are safety devices incorporated into the filling valve of a propane cylinder. The device shuts off the flow of gas to a cylinder after 80% capacity has been reached. As of April 1, 2002, OPDs are required on all propane cylinders between 4 and 40 pounds propane capacity. NFPA, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), and the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) have issued a free Fire Safety Analysis Manual, which provides forms and a step-by-step method for completing a written Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) as required in NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. 12