2023 Orland Fire District Annual Report

ORLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Table of Contents Facilities Board of Trustees Board of Fire Commissioners Accreditation Status Update Command Staff Message from the Fire Chief Staff Memorials Years of Service District News Unit Commendation Awards Awards Night Citizen Awards OFPD by the Numbers Apparatus Staffing Significant Incidents Mutual Aid Fire Investigations Emergency Medical Services Training Barbecue with the Brave Event 2022 Fire Academy Graduation/Swearing In Specialty Teams: Water Rescue & Recovery Haz Mat Technical Rescue IL Task Force 1—Search & Rescue Communications/Dispatch Facilities Maintenance Fleet Maintenance Support Services Finance Fire Prevention Bureau Fire & Life Safety Education Project Fire Buddies Senior Advisory Council Human Resources/Staffing Promotions Retirements Honor Guard Cadet Program Apparatus

Page 1 2-3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14 15-18 19-21 22 23 24-29 30 31-35 36 37 38-43 44-48 49 50-51 52-53 54-55 56 57 58-59 60 61 62-63 64-65 66-67 68-76 77 78-79 80-82 83-87 88-89 90 91 92-93

Facilities Administration 9790 West 151st Street Orland Park, Illinois 60462 (708) 349-0074 Phone (708) 349-0354 Fax www.orlandfire.org Station 1 9790 151st Street

Station 2 15100 80th Avenue

Station 3 15101 Wolf Road

Station 4 16515 South 94th Avenue

Station 5 8851 West 143rd Street

Station 6 17640 Wolf Road

Training Facility 10728 West 163rd Place Orland Park, IL 60467

Fleet Maintenance Facility 10704 West 163rd Place Orland Park, IL 60467

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Board of Trustees 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 the Fire Chief in the administration of the District.

Through the direction of the Board President and the Board of Trustees, the Orland Fire Protection District staff is held accountable to the Board of Trustees for delivering the highest quality of services to our residents.

The accomplishments of our District in 2023 were the direct result of our Board’s dedication to the Orland Fire Protection District’s mission of serving our residents.

L to R: Trustee/Secretary Beth Damas Kaspar, President John Brudnak, Trustee Angela Greenfield, Trustee Tina Zekich; Front Center: Trustee/Treasurer Jayne Schirmacher

2023 was a year of change for our Board of Trustees. After 12 years on the Board, with 10 years as Board President, Chris Evoy decided not to run for another term. Tina Zekich and Angela Greenfield replaced Chris Evoy and Craig Schmidt, and Jim Hickey retired shortly thereafter.

Fire Commissioner Beth Damas Kaspar was appointed by the Board of Trustees to fill that vacancy.

To our outgoing Trustees, thank you for your dedicated service to the Orland Fire Protection District!

Legal Counsel

James Hickey

Christopher Evoy

Craig Schmidt

Board of Trustees 2009—2023

Board of Trustees 2011—2023

Board of Trustees 2017—2023

Board of Trustees 2024 Meeting Dates

Attorney Megan Roche Steigauf James J. Roche & Associates Hinsdale, IL 2

January 23, 2024 February 27, 2024 March 26, 2024 April 23, 2024 May 28, 2024 June 25, 2024

July 23, 2024 August 27, 2024 September 24, 2024 October 22, 2024 November 19, 2024 December 17, 2024

Board of Trustees President Evoy and Secretary Schmidt’s Last BOT Meeting The April 25, 2023, Board Meeting was Secretary Craig Schmidt’s and Board President Christopher Evoy’s last meeting.

Acting President John Brudnak read the Resolutions honoring both gentlemen and thanking them for all their contributions.

Secretary Schmidt was present via Zoom video conference.

President Evoy was presented with a commemorative Chiefs’ helmet in appreciation for all his hard work. Trustee Evoy served for 12 years —10 of them as President. In all 12 years he served, he never accepted any Trustee compensation.

He always looked out for the best interest of the Orland residents and we appreciate all he did to make the OFPD what it is today.

Secretary Schmidt served a 6-year term and before that, was a Fire Commissioner for the Orland Fire District. We thank him for his many dedicated years of service.

Remembering the Late Attorney James J. Roche On April 25, 2023, the Board of Trustees paid tribute to the OFPD’s Attorney James Roche, who passed away in October, 2022.

The Roche family was presented with a plaque to hang in his honor that had included Resolution 2022-05 approved by the Board of Trustees at the October 25, 2022 meeting.

While serving as the Orland Fire District Attorney for 12 years, Attorney Roche made significant contributions for the betterment of the Orland Fire District that Chief Schofield outlined in greater detail.

Pictured L to R: Acting President Trustee John Brudnak, Deputy Chief Nick Cinquepalmi, Fire Chief Mike Schofield, Patrick Roche, Ellen Roche, Megan Roche Steigauf and outgoing President Christopher Evoy

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Board of Fire Commissioners 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.

Board of Fire Commissioners 2024 Meeting Dates January 8, 2024 February 5, 2024 March 4, 2024 April 1, 2024 May 6, 2024 June 3, 2024 July 1, 2024 August 5, 2024 September 9, 2024 October 7, 2024 November 4, 2024 December 2, 2024

Fire Commissioner Matthew Rafferty

Fire Commissioner Brian O’Neill

Fire Commissioner Donald Jeffers

Donald (DJ) Jeffers Appointed to the Board of Fire Commissioners

Legal Counsel

Attorney Eric Stach DelGaldo Law Group, LLC Berwyn, IL 4

Trustee Beth Damas Kaspar administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Fire Commissioner DJ Jeffers on July 10, 2023

OFPD Receives Internationally Accredited Status for the Second Time On August 20, 2023, the Orland Fire Protection District appeared in front of the Board for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Board consisted of Fire Chiefs, Village/City Managers, County Administrators and representatives from, NFPA, ISO, International Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) and the International Firefighters Association (IAFF). The Board reviewed our evaluations from the Peer Review Team that traveled to Orland in June, 2023. They asked us many questions and then took the vote on us being accredited or not, as not everyone that makes it to this point gets accredited. The vote by the Board was unanimous in favor of Orland Fire Protection District again being internationally accredited. Great news for the Orland Fire Protection District!

This is no easy feat. We are 1 of only 318 fire departments from 12 countries to be accredited, and 1 of only 116 that are accredited and ISO1 rated. The benefit is transparency in what we do and how we do it.

It is also a road map for our future. We are the only department in our region that is accredited and one of a handful that are an ISO1. Great job by the whole team who worked so hard to get this accomplished.

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Command Staff Fire Chief /Administrator Michael Schofield was appointed by and is held accountable to the Board of Trustees. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is the highest-ranking Officer in the Fire District. He is responsible for aligning the entire Fire District with the vision of the Board of Trustees.

Deputy Chief Nicholas Cinquepalmi was appointed by and is held accountable to the Board of Trustees. He serves as the Deputy Chief and as Acting Fire Chief in the Fire Chief’s absence. The Deputy Chief oversees the work of the Administrative and Operations Chiefs, which includes: Training, EMS, Special Ops, Dispatch, Risk Reduction & Life Safety, Physical Resources and Technical Resources Division.

Command Staff: (L to R) Black Shift B/C William Leddin, Deputy Chief Nicholas Cinquepalmi, Fire Chief Michael Schofield, Gold Shift B/C Nickolas Tufts, Administrative Chief John Purtill and Operations Chief Erick Johnson (Not pictured Red Shift B/C James Hynes).

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Command Staff

Administrative Chief John Purtill manages the Orland Fire Protection District’s Administrative Services, which include: Fire Prevention, Dispatch, Information Technology and Officer Development.

Operations Chief Erick Johnson manages the Orland Fire Protection District’s Operational Services, which include: Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Specialty Teams and Training.

Shift Battalion Chiefs Shift Battalion Chiefs are responsible for a shift of Firefighter/Paramedics. Each monitors and manages the day-to-day operations of our six fire stations on his shift. Each station has one Shift Lieutenant who reports directly to the Battalion Chief.

Battalion Chief William Leddin Shift 1— Black Shift

Battalion Chief James Hynes Shift 2— Red Shift

Battalion Chief Nickolas Tufts Shift 3— Gold Shift

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Message from the Fire Chief

Dear Board of Trustees, Fire Commissioners & Residents of the Orland Fire Protection District: I am humbled to serve the residents of the Orland Fire District as your Fire Chief. I take pride in leading this organization in achieving the highest standards possible in the fire service. The fire district has maintained its rating of an ISO1 department and Internationally Accredited through the The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).

Our ambulance service (EMS) is second to none in our area, with one of the highest save rates for cardiac arrest. This is because of our investment in the latest technology in life-saving tools, equipment and training. Every Firefighter—from the Chief to our newest recruits—is a Paramedic.

Every fire engine, ladder truck and our utility vehicle is a paramedic-equipped unit, meaning it carries the tools, drugs and equipment that an ambulance carries. This allows us to respond to medical emergencies with the closet vehicle on the street.

Teamwork is the key to saving lives, and part of that is community CPR. The more residents are trained in CPR, the better the chance of survival. When a bystander starts CPR in the field when a heart attack or other medical emergency is occurring and a person is not breathing, knowing CPR and how to use an AED is the next part of the teamwork. Know where they are located if you’re at a fitness facility or a large assembly. The Orland Fire District provides training in CPR and AED use.

The final part of teamwork is our Police Departments: Orland Park and Orland Hills. Our police are trained in CPR and many police cars carry an AED and have been a huge benefit in saving lives in our district.

In this changing world, we work with our Police on special operations to respond to hostile events at schools, village events, shopping centers, protests or any possible civil unrest. Our members have the necessary equipment on our apparatus to be safe to perform in these special environments.

2023 was another busy year in the fire district—closing in on 13,000 calls for service and making us the busiest fire district in the State of Illinois. The success of our district lies with the Board of Trustees in providing us the needed equipment, policies and staffing, combined with the commitment of the men and women of our fire district. No one operates at the level we do. Our training is second to none and not just fire training, but EMS Training and Special Operations Training, such as Haz-Mat, Water Rescue, and Technical Rescue.

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Message from the Fire Chief

The Orland Fire District operates a regional 911 Center providing dispatch capabilities to 10 communities. We also operate a regional fleet maintenance center, providing fleet repairs for 9 fire departments, as well as the largest regional training center in the south suburbs.

In 2024 we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fire Station 1 being opened. Looking back at what our volunteers did and how they built the foundation that we continue to build on, I believe they would look at where we are today and smile as they realize all the work they put in—all the time away from their families volunteering to provide fire and ambulance service. They are the ones who paved the way for this now Internationally Accredited Fire District.

I express to our members that we need to look to the future and continue to change and evolve as an organization. The Orland Fire District anticipates significant growth in call volume as Orland Park develops the Triangle and the 159 & LaGrange Corridor. We cannot continue to operate the way we are today, moving into tomorrow, without developing long-range planning. It is key to our continued success and we are doing that.

I wish to personally thank the members of IAFF L2754 for their continued support in making this district what it is today, and Local 134 for their commitment in providing the professional 911 dispatching to Orland and the communities we serve. To our staff, from administration, fleet, facilities, HR and finance, no one works harder then these people do to keep the fire district at the level we have achieved.

To our Board of Trustees, it is with your commitment, guidance and leadership that allows these men and women to achieve the levels of professionalism and success the residents of the Orland Fire Protection District expect. We thank you for that.

To our Board of Fire Commissioners, who oversee the hiring and promotions of our members, your success is measured in the quality of the members hired and promoted. We have the best because of your commitment to your positions.

We look forward to the challenges of 2024 and expect to remain as the top fire district in the state through the dedication of all who call themselves members of the Orland Fire Protection District.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fire Chief/Administrator 9

Administrative Staff Human Resources

Support Services

Gerry Strunka Executive Assistant to Chief, Board of Trustees and Fire Commissioners

Joan Mulchrone Admin. Assistant Support Services

Mike Angel Support Services

Finance

Kerry Sullivan Finance Director

Mary Coughlin

Assistant Finance Director

EMS

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Lieutenant Josh Girdick EMS Coordinator

Amelia Milton Program/Project Manager Training/EMS

Alice Stevenson Human Resources Director

Fire Prevention Bureau

Micaela Enriquez Finance Asst.

Mike Ercoli

Ryan Collins

Betsy Dine

Fire Prevention Bureau Supervisor

Fire Inspector

Public Life & Safety Educator

Training

Lieutenant Michael Siefert Training Officer

Lieutenant Michael Siefert Training/EMS

Maintenance

Mark Koczwara Facility & Grounds Manager

Support Services/Communications Fleet Maintenance

Scott Landgraf Fire Apparatus Technician

John Cihocki Fleet Maintenance Supervisor

Jeff Bennett Fire Apparatus Technician

Bryce Landgraf Apprentice Fire Mechanic

Part-Time Telecommunicators

Orland Central Dispatch

Desiree Breese

Gayle Enright

Communications Shift Supervisor

Communications Shift Supervisor

Steven Jackson Quality Assurance Analyst (Part-Time)

Patrick Goy

Morgann Hayes Gabrielle Holland

Telecommunicators

Full-Time

Gina Cortez Director of Dispatch Operations

Kimberly Coffou

Joe McGrath

Suzanne Dietz

Dawn Neehouse

Dana Roman

Ryan Ellis

Jon Hultman

Candis South

Logan Maskey

Kendra Wander

Kristine Wessell

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Memorials LINE OF DUTY In Memory of Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Sr. February 25, 2023, was the 25th anniversary of the Line-of-Duty Death of Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. In Chief Bonnar’s 26 years with the Fire District, he was one of the first full-time Paramedics, founding member of Local 2754 and EMS Coordinator.

On February 25, 2023, at a special Memorial Service held at OFPD, Chief Schofield spoke to all the qualities that made B/C Bonnar, Sr. such a great leader and all the ways he contributed in making the OFPD the great District it is today. Engineer Mark Hogan spoke on behalf of L2754 stating that though the younger guys never knew him, his reputation and the good he did for the District lives on. After a Bell Ceremony and Moment of Silence, the Bonnar Family placed a wreath at B/C William Bonnar, Sr.'s monument.

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Memorials 9/11 Terrorist Attacks The 9/11 terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people and changed the world as we knew it. The OFPD Honor Guard held it’s annual bell ceremony the morning of 9/11/23 to honor and remember those First Responders and all who lost their lives. Never Forget

In Memory of Lieutenant Raymond Marquardt , Sr. September 14, 2023, marked the 14th anniversary of Lieutenant Raymond C. Marquardt, Sr.’s death due to a line of duty illness.

Ray was born in Blue Island Illinois and graduated from Blue Island Community High School in 1957.

He married Nancy Bomard at Salem Lutheran Church in Blue Island in 1959.

Ray joined the Orland Fire District in 1967, full-time in 1977, rose to the rank of Lieutenant and was in charge of the Fire Prevention Bureau for several years.

He retired from the department in 1999.

November 16, 1938 to September 14, 2009

Ray and his late wife Nancy are survived by 4 children Kimberly (Harold) Solley, Judith (Ronald) Brown, Retired Orland Engineer Ray (Linda) Marquardt and Homer Fire Captain Brent (Michelle) Marquardt, along with grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ray was known for his love of Cushman Motor Scooters and fishing, and greatly enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.

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Years of Service Congratulations and thank you to the following employees who celebrated milestone anniversaries in 2023:

Sworn Personnel

William Leddin Battalion Chief

Jeff Anderson

Ryan Bouche

John Cortilet

Chris Locus

Firefighter

Firefighter

Engineer

Firefighter

John McKendry

RJ Proctor

Jeff Sheldon

Dale Weber

Firefighter

Engineer

Engineer

Engineer Joe Oram

Non-Sworn Personnel

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Firefighter

Betsy Dine

Desiree Breese

Fire & Life Safety Educator

Communications Shift Supervisor

Wally Rafacz Lieutenant

District News Utility 1 Vehicle in Service Beginning in September of 2023, the Orland Fire Protection District put a Utility Vehicle in service full time. This takes the current daily staffing to 30 minimum. This unit is currently stationed at Station 1 and staffed with a Lieutenant and Firefighter. This unit will respond to several types of calls including assisting ambulances on medical calls and several other non-emergency responses (Lift Assist, Carbon Monoxide alarms without illness and trouble alarms).

The UT1 offers many benefits to the residents of the fire district. This vehicle takes the place of Truck 1 on many emergencies. This reduces the wear and tear on Truck 1 (Which is a larger ladder company), while allowing it to stay in service for calls in the busiest area of the fire District.

Using GIS data and previous call tracking models, a custom response area was established for this vehicle. The unit quicky became the district’s busiest apparatus.

The current unit is a 1992 Ford that is going to be completely refurbished in 2024.

This project as a collaboration between the Fire District Administration and Firefighter Union Local 2754.

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District News CJB Completes Adopt a Firefighter Program for the 2023 School Year Adopt a Firefighter is a program coordinated by the OFPD’s Fire & Life Safety Educator Elizabeth Dine, who arranges for Teachers/Classrooms to “adopt” their own Firefighter. It is through their “very own” Firefighter that the students/teachers learn about fire safety and injury prevention.

Cardinal Joseph Bernadine first graders concluded their Adopt a Firefighter program with Firefighter Mark Hogan. What a great way to wrap things up - with a fire engine Show & Tell Day. At the end of the presentation, they each received their own firefighter hats.

Home Depot Donates a Picnic Table to the OFPD Many thanks to The Home Depot. On August 3, 2023, they donated a picnic table to the OFPD to be used at our CTC. In particular, many thanks to Ashley for her beautiful work on painting/stenciling the table. It will be enjoyed by many for years to come!

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District News Technical Rescue Team Trains To Be The Best With Worst-Case Scenarios In early September, 2023, Orland Fire put their skills to the test when they participated in this training for complex rescues in simulated rescues from tornado-damaged homes. In an orchestrated training event, firefighters in Combined Agency Response Team (CART) were deployed to three different Will County locations with varying levels of damage and fictitious rescue scenarios to navigate.

A drone photo of one of a house collapsed for the purposes of a CART training drill. (Courtesy New Lenox Fire Protection District)

A collapsed structure used in a CART training drill last week. (Photo Courtesy Manhattan Fire Protection District)

OFPD Helps Kick Off the 2023 Holiday Season with the Village of Orland Park Orland Fire District was happy to help kick off the holiday season participating in the Village of Orland Park's annual Holiday Festival/Tree Lighting/Parade on Sunday, November 26, 2023. The parade featured over forty local businesses and organizations with decorated floats, vehicles, music and hundreds of walkers—including marching bands, dance companies, and theater groups.

The OFPD was especially thrilled to accompany Santa himself into the festivities!

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District News Dinner Provided to All Stations/Dispatch for 3 Days Compliments of the Jane Caliendo Foundation On December 5th through 7th, the Jane Caliendo Foundation provided dinner for all the stations and Dispatch from Papa Joe's Italian Cuisine - Orland Park, to honor our crews and the hard work they do each day.

Jane Schofield Caliendo was the sister of Fire Chief Michael Schofield, and a beloved teacher/coach at Carl Sandburg H.S. for over 20 years. Sadly, she died of colon cancer in October 2014. Her husband, James Caliendo keeps her memory alive through the Jane Caliendo Memorial Foundation, which honors Jane's dedication to high quality academics and athletics. It is a non-for-profit foundation which strives to provide resources in the way of scholarship opportunities to Carl Sandburg High School senior athletes so that warriors with the Jane Caliendo spirit, pride and purpose can be fostered through high school and given the skills, resiliency and pride to make a difference in our community as adults.

L to R: B/C E. Johnson, Lt. R. Winkelman,B/C J. Purtill, D/C N. Cinquepalmi, Eng. S. McDonald, FF J. McCleary, J. Caliendo, M. Lorenzo from Papa Joe’s, B/C J. Hynes, Chief M. Schofield; Front: Lt. G. Flavin, FF B. Steele

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Unit Commendations On January 17, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics were dispatched for a patient in respiratory arrest. The patient was found pulseless and apneic with an Orland Park Police officer performing CPR. Orland Fire crews took over resuscitative efforts, including high performance CPR, IO cannulation, cardiac defibrillation, medication assisted intubation, and medication therapy. The patient was placed on the cardiac monitor and found to be in ventricular fibrillation. The patient was rapidly defibrillated and after an additional 3 minutes of CPR a palpable pulse was present, and ROSC was confirmed. A 12 lead EKG showed the patient was in sinus tachycardia. The patient was then transported to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for ongoing treatment. On January 30, 2023, the patient was discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 1.

Crew Members: Joseph Gray, James Schultz, Brian Paliga, Justin Dublin, Anthony Kaskadden, Eric Zielinski,

On March 9, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics were dispatched for a person in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival on scene, the patient was found lying on the floor with an Orland Park Police officer performing CPR. A family member reported that the patient said their heart felt funny before collapsing to the floor. Orland Fire crew members assumed resuscitative efforts. After applying the cardiac monitor, the patient was found to be in ventricular fibrillation. The patient was defibrillated a total of 3 times before converting to a stable cardiac rhythm and ROSC was confirmed. A 12 lead EKG showed the patient was in sinus tachycardia.

Additional resuscitative efforts included assisted ventilations, IO cannulation, and medication therapy. The patient was transported to Palos hospital for ongoing treatment. On March 14, 2023, the patient was discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 1.

Crew Members: Chris Locus, Timothy Sierazy, Steven Prohaska, Brian Myhre, William Patterson, Eric Zielinski, Shaun McDonald, Bryan Kluever, Kevin Frawley, James Karp, Erick Johnson

On April 28, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics were dispatched for a person whose defibrillator had activated. While en route, responding crews were advised that the patient was now in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival the patient was found lying on the floor with family members providing chest compressions. The patient had agonal respirations and no palpable pulse. Orland Fire Paramedics assumed resuscitative efforts. The cardiac monitor was applied and showed the patient was in pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

The patient was immediately defibrillated, and CPR was resumed. After several rounds of CPR, IO cannulation, intubation, medication therapy, and an additional defibrillation, ROSC was achieved. The patient was transported to Silver Cross Hospital for ongoing treatment. Later that day, the patient was discharged to their home with a CPC of 1.

Crew Members: Jennifer Smith, Jason Smith, Matthew Johnson, Mark Hogan, Nicholas Sanders-Mud, Matt Giermala, James Logan, Brandon Toth, Gary Flavin, Austin Childers, William Leddin

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Unit Commendations On July 6, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics were dispatched for the person in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, crew members found the patient lying on the kitchen floor with chest compressions being provided by the patient’s spouse. Orland Fire crew members assumed resuscitative efforts, providing high performance CPR. The cardiac monitor was applied, showing ventricular fibrillation. The patient was defibrillated without delay and CPR was continued. The patient was intubated utilizing the medication assisted intubation protocol and medication therapy was administered via an interosseous line. After 3 shocks and over 30 minutes of CPR, the patient converted to a perfusing cardiac rhythm. The patient was transported to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for ongoing treatment. While en route to the hospital, the patient converted into pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The patient was defibrillated a fourth time, converting the patient into sinus tachycardia and achieving sustained ROSC. The patient was admitted to the hospital, and on July 17th, 2023, they were discharged home with a CPC of 3.

Crew Members: Peter King, Steve Stremme, Walter Rafacz, Charles Murray, Joseph Oram, Stephen Kovatz, Brian Myhre, Anthony Hoban, John Purtill

On August 8, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics were dispatched for an unresponsive person. Upon arrival on scene, the patient was found to be pulseless and apneic. Crew members immediately began resuscitative efforts, including high performance CPR. The patient was placed on the cardiac monitor and crew members noted the patient was in ventricular fibrillation. The patient was defibrillated, and CPR was resumed. An advanced airway was placed to provide assisted ventilations and an interosseous line was established for medication therapy administration. After almost 30 minutes of CPR, crew members noticed a rise in the patients SPO2 level. Crew members checked for a pulse and ROSC was confirmed.

The patient was transported to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for continued treatment. On August 30, 2023, the patient was discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 3.

Crew Members: John Nagle, Zachary Zweizig, Jeffrey Ruchniewicz, Mark Reichert, Justin Shanklin, Brett Buenzow, Martin Majda, Russell Engel, James Hynes

On August 22, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics responded for a person in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, Orland crew members found the patient pulseless and apneic lying on the floor. Crew members immediately began resuscitative efforts including high performance CPR, intubation, IO cannulation, cardiac defibrillation, and medication therapy. The patient was transported to Silver Cross Hospital for continued treatment. While at Silver Cross Hospital the patient experienced ROSC. The patient was later discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 4.

Crew Members: Joseph Winkelman, Bryan Kluever, Matthew Johnson, Matthew Hoover, Jason Smith, Stephen Kovats, Jeffrey Uthe, Darren Hall, William Leddin

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Unit Commendations On November 24, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics responded for the cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, Orland crew members found the patient pulseless and apneic with staff performing CPR. Crew members took over resuscitation efforts, including high performance CPR, ventilations, EKG monitoring, IO cannulation, and medications. After several rounds of medications, crew members identified that the patient’s EKG had changed from PEA to sinus brady and confirmed that the patient now had a pulse. The patient was transported to Silver Cross Hospital for additional treatment. On December 4, 2023, the patient was discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 4.

Crew Members: Russel Engel, Mark Poulos, Steven Prohaska, Zachary Zweizig, Jonathan Egan, Ryan Bouche, Steve Kovats, Brian Steele, James Hynes

On November 30, 2023, Orland Fire Paramedics responded for an individual who passed out.

During the 911 call, dispatch recognized and determined that the patient was in cardiac arrest and upgraded the alarm. An Orland Park Police Officer was the first to arrive on scene and began providing CPR to the patient. Upon their arrival, Orland Fire Paramedics took over CPR and began providing Advanced Life Support care which included ventilations, EKG monitoring, defibrillation, medications, and intubation. After 22 minutes of continuous CPR, medications, and 7 defibrillations, the patient experienced a return of spontaneous circulation and had a pulse. The patient was transported to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for additional care and treatment. On December 8, 2023, the patient was discharged from the hospital with a CPC of 1.

Crew Members: Lucila Ramirez, Andrew Hiller, Brett Buenzow, Shaun McDonald, Brian Steele, Nick Mitidiero, Charles Murray, Jacob McCleary, James Hynes

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Awards Night On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, OFPD held an Awards Night. There were many awards to distribute, including: Milestone Years of Service and Unit Commendations awarded to crews for life-saving EMS calls. Congrats to all!

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Citizen Awards Cardiac Arrest survivor Kenneth Wilkas was in attendance at our 2/28/23 BOT Meeting for the

presentation of the William Bonnar, Sr. Lifesaving Award to Officer Julio Oliva of the Orland Park Police Department; and Unit Commendation Awards to: Firefighters Christian Andrews and Jeff Anderson (Ambulance 2); Lieutenant Wally Rafacz, Engineer Jim Strzechowski and Firefighter Bryan Kluever (Engine 2); Lieutenant Jeff Ruchniewicz, Engineer Mark Reichert, and Firefighter J. McCleary (Truck 1).

On November 26, 2022 at 23:31 hours, OFPD received a call of a full-arrest/person down in the 15200 block of Royal Fox Hunt Road. Officer Julio Oliva arrived on scene and provided CPR until the arrival of EMS. CPR and advanced life support care was provided and the patient had a return pulse and breathing. The patient was packaged, moved to the ambulance, and was transported to Palos Community Hospital. All involved moved quickly and effectively to help successfully resuscitate the patient.

Chief Schofield spoke to the wonderful relationship between the Orland Park Police Department and OFPD working together. Many times they are the first on the scene and able to perform life-saving actions using an AED. He also mentioned OFPD's very high save rate and that is is because of the training received and numbers of Paramedics on a call that helps the patient survive.

Mr. Wilkas spoke of his gratitude to all on the call and he assisted our EMS Coordinator Lieutenant Josh Girdick in distributing the awards.

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OFPD By the Numbers “Top Ten T’s” – Risk Assessment and Response Cycle Providing the optimum protection levels and proactive Standards of Cover for the entire District depends on the Risk Assessment, and it is imperative to outweigh the RESPONSE TO THE RISK. A simple way to understand the reason and rationale that the District responds to incidents can be described in the chart below as the basis of how a Risk Assessment becomes a Response Plan. These steps are broken down into a flowchart formula:

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OFPD By the Numbers The performance of emergency responders is often measured by the time it takes personnel to arrive on the scene of the emergency call – “Call to Arrival”. Many steps take place prior to the arrival of a Firefighter/Rescue/Hazmat specialist or Paramedic at your side. The steps include call processing time in the Dispatch Center, notification to the appropriate fire station, crews gearing up and mounting 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.

For 90% of all emergency incidents, NFPA 1710 requires four-person companies* on fire apparatus responding in a timely-manner “first due” to all Fires, Rescue, Hazmat, and EMS calls with a variable Effective Response Forces (ERF) “balance of alarm” following shortly behind.

NFPA 1710 Response Guidelines: BENCHMARK (GOAL) TIMES: The fire departent shall establish a performance objective of not less than 90% for the achievement of each response time objective.

DISPATCH One-minute (60 sec) TURNOUT One-minute (60 sec) for EMS; one-minute, twenty seconds (80 sec) for all others TRAVEL Four-minutes (240 sec) or less for the arrival of the first-due company *Note: all Orland Fire Companies and Ambulances are Paramedic/Advanced Life Support [ALS] equipped.

TRAVEL (ERF) Eight-minutes (480 sec) or less travel time for the deployment of an Effective Response Force [ERF] i.e.- 15+ firefighters for a moderate risk structure fire, or 5 paramedics for an EMS incident, etc.

ERF personnel numbers requirement vary on the type of incident & risk/response model TOTAL RESPONSE TIME – Call To Arrival (CTA) FIRST DUE Six-minutes (360 sec) for EMS, Six-minute, twenty seconds (380 sec) for other incidents ERF/BALANCE OF ALARM Ten-minutes (600 sec) for EMS, or Ten-minute, twenty seconds (620 sec) for other types

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 6 minutes and a fire call in under 6:20 minutes for 90% of all incidents

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OFPD By the Numbers The Orland Fire District has continued to see an increase in the number of incidents to which it responds over the past 10 years. Incident volume has increased 49% from 2013 to 2023.

2023 Incidents Per Month

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OFPD By the Numbers

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OFPD By the Numbers

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OFPD By the Numbers

The density charts below depict the locations of Fire, EMS and other 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 had the greatest number of emergency calls during the past year.

2023 Fire Calls

2023 Other Calls

2023 EMS Calls

2023 All Calls

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Apparatus Staffing 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.

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.

Ambulance

Fire Truck

Fire Engine

• • •

Staffed by 2 Paramedics Advanced Life Support 12 Lead Cardiac Monitor

•

Staffed by 3 Firefighter/ Paramedics Advanced Life Support Carries Manpower Ladders, Fire Pump, Water, Tools

•

•

Provide Advanced Life Support medical service Life saving medications Transportation to hospital

• • •

Rescues Ventilation Support the Fire Engine Crew Vehicle Extrication

• • •

Apparatus

Service Provided

Primary Function

• •

• • •

•

30

• • •

Staffed by 3 Firefighter/ Paramedics Advanced Life Support Carries Manpower Fire Pump, Hose, Water, Tools Extinguish the fire Vehicle Extrication Advanced Life Support

Significant Incidents 2023 FIRE/EMS EMERGENCY RESPONSES

In-District 02/22/2023 02/28/2024 02/26/2023 03/09/2024 03/09/2023 03/12/2023 03/21/2024 03/26/2023 03/30/2023 04/09/2023 04/16/2023 04/20/2023

Two Car MVA with Fire Three Car MVA with Private Ambulance involved Laundry Room Fire Girodanos 2nd Alarm Brush Fire 11922 Bates Homer-Box Alarm Brush Fire 15765 Annico Abbandon building Fire 11351 159th Street Fatal house fire 8957 Beacon Lane House Fire (Lightning) 132 Harvest Crossing House Fire 15520 116th Court Haz Mat situation 15120 Heather Court Palos-House Fire Frankfort- House Fire 10312 Pauling Palos- House Fire (Basement) 38 Commons Drive Oak Forest-Bowling Alley Fire -15200 Cicero Ave

05/02/2023 05/06/2024 05/26/2023 05/23/2023 05/29/2023 05/31/2023 05/31/2023 06/04/2023 06/21/2024 07/03/2023 09/03/2023 11/13/2023 11/16/2023 11/16/2023 11/20/2023 01/23/2023 11/28/2003 12/08/2023 12/09/2023 12/12/2024 12/14/2023

Out of District

Rollover accident with exrication 139th and Wolf Road Oak Forest -House Fire

Still alarm Brush fire (Turtle Head) Lemont-House Fire Midlothian- Building Fire Balcony Fire 11137 Wisconcin Court Confined space rescue- 14353 Oakley Tinley Park-House Fire Oak Forest-House Fire Fatal pin-in accident 167th and 94th ave Car off the road 153rd and West Ave Car vs Pedestrian (Orland Park CSO) Fatal MVA with 6 PT Transports Balcony Fire 15820 Orlan Brook Basement Fire 17055 Swallow Lane Structure fire 15208 Stradford Lane Fata MVA 179th and La Grange Road Fire in Wall 9188 161st PL 7914 Sycamore

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Significant Incidents Laundry Room Fire at Giordano’s Orland Park On 2/26/23, Crews responded to the small laundry room fire in the unit next to Giordano’s pizza. Crews were called to the commercial fire alarm and discovered the fire on arrival. The fire was extinguished by the unit sprinkler system, Crews performed forced entry to the unit and overhaul to check for fire extension.

Orland Hills House Fire with Fatality At approximately 2pm on March 21, 2023 the Orland Fire Protection District responded to the house fire on the 8900 block of Beacon Lane in Orland Hills. First arriving fire crews removed one victim that was trapped in the home.

The other victim escaped the home without assistance. The fire was contained to the room of origin. One fire victim was pronounced dead on the scene and three police Officers and a second victim were evaluated on the scene and refused medical transport. The cause of death and the cause of the fire are still under investigation.

Car Roll-Over on 151st Street at Harlem The Orland Fire Protection District responded to a roll-over car accident at the intersection of 151st and Harlem at around 4:30 PM on Sunday March 26. OFPD crews arrived to find one car on its roof and a second car with moderate damage. The occupants of the roll-over vehicle had extricated themselves prior to OFPD arrival. Two motorists were transported to Northwestern-Palos Hospital with minor injuries.

Garage Fire The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a house fire on the 11500 block of 116th Court in unincorporated Cook County on at approximately 2 pm on Thursday March 30, 2023. The fire was quickly extinguished by first arriving crews. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no injuries on the scene.

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Significant Incidents Vehicle Accident Sends Multiple People to Hospital On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Orland Fire Protection District and the Tinley Park Fire Department responded to the scene of a multiple vehicle accident. The accident was the result of 2 vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed, colliding with other vehicles. The multi-vehicle crash happened at 159th and 80th Avenue involving 4 vehicles, with 1 vehicle fleeing the scene. 4 ambulances were needed with 5 victims transported to local hospitals in stable condition. Another victim was transported to the trauma center at Christ Hospital. OFPD personnel turned over the scene to the Orland Police for further investigation.

Rollover Accident with Extrication On May 26, 2023, Orland Fire units responded to the twovehicle accident near 139th and Wolf Road. On arrival, one car was 30 feet off the roadway and rolled over onto its roof. A Pin -in extrication response was called to the scene.

The vehicle was stabilized, and the patient was extricated from the car and transported to a local trauma center.

Man Plummets 20-30 Feet Down Well Is Rescued By OFPD Firefighters On Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 2 p.m., a contractor working inside a home in the 14300 Block of Oakley Avenue, Orland Park was rescued after plunging 20 to 30 feet down a well in the home's basement.

The victim was safely extricated by our specialized rescue team who worked for an hour to pull the man from the depths of the well and transported to the hospital in stable condition. Great job by all the Firefighters and Police Officers involved.

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Significant Incidents M.A.B.A.S. 22 Water Rescue Box Alarm On Monday morning, August 14, 2023, OFPD assisted the Blue Island Fire Department during a MABAS 22 Water Rescue Dive Box.

Car Crashes into Orland Park Post Office At approximately 1:49 PM on Thursday, September 21st, 2023, The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a report that a car had crashed into the building at 9500 W. 144th Place, identified as the Orland Park Post Office. On arrival crews found a vehicle that had driven completely into the lobby at the post office. The car drove through the glass windows and was stopped by a brick wall causing damage to the lobby. The driver of the car stated she was not injured but was checked out at the scene by Orland Paramedics. The lobby did have numerous customers waiting for service but they were able to escape injury. The building had to be boarded up and was closed until it was rendered safe.

Car Off the Road On November 16, 2023, Orland Fire personnel responded to the car that drove off the road. On arrival crews found a single vehicle had lost control and crashed through a fence landing ten feet below in a field. The alarm was upgraded to a pin-in extrication response.

The patient was removed from the vehicle and transported to a local trauma center.

Fatal MVA with 6 Patient Transport At approximately 11:06 p.m. on November 20, 2023, the OFPD responded to a call of a vehicular accident on Southwest Highway just north of Will-Cook Road. Upon arrival it was discovered that a Toyota Sienna was traveling southwest on Southwest Highway when it collided head-on with an Oldsmobile Bravada which was traveling northeast on Southwest Highway. The driver of the Sienna was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Bravada and passengers from the Sienna were also transported to local 34 hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

Significant Incidents Orland Home Basement Fire At approximately 9:15 PM on Nov. 28 2023, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to the 17000 block of Swallow Lane for smoke in the basement of a single family residence. First responding crews found a working fire in the basement. Additional crews were dispatched to the scene. The fire was extinguished in short order. No injuries or casualties were reported. All occupants made it safely out of the residence. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Orland Fire was assisted by Tinley, Homer, and Palos fire departments.

Orland Home Structure Fire The Orland Fire District responded at 11:34 pm for a reported structure fire in the 15200 block of Stradford Lane on the evening of December 8, 2023. Multiple 911 calls were received for a reported house fire. Battalion 6 arrived on the scene and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the garage of a single-family ranch home. The fire had already extended from the garage and was spreading quickly into the attic of the of the garage . Fire companies arriving on the fire scene made a blitz attack on the fire deploying two pre-connect hose lines . The fire was contained to the garage by fire companies, but smoke did extend into the structure. The fire was quickly brought under control and multiple fire crews from the Orland Fire District arrived on the scene and assisted with fire control, search and rescue, and overhaul of the structure. The homeowners escaped the fire and called 911. The homeowners were evaluated at the scene and were transported to Palos to be evaluated. Orland Park Police assisted the elderly homeowners until they could be evaluated by fire personnel. A full still alarm was called to provide additional manpower and equipment to the scene and to back fill Orland stations. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time. The fire is being investigated by the Orland Fire District Origin and Cause Team. The home is currently uninhabitable.

Orland Hills Home Uninhabitable After Fire Sparks In Basement Outlet On the evening of December 12, 2023 @ 19:52 hours, Orland Fire companies were dispatched to the 9100 block of 161 st Place for an investigation. Battalion 6 was the first unit on scene and was informed by Orland Hills Police Officers that there was smoke from an outlet in the basement and all residents had evacuated the home. Fire companies found light smoke in the basement upon entering the home, upon initial investigation it was quickly determined that fire had spread in the wall and ceiling cavities. The response was quickly upgraded, and crews made an aggressive interior fire attack extinguishing the fire which was confined to the basement.

The home is currently uninhabitable, Orland Hills Officials worked to provide temporary housing arrangements for the family. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by OFPD cause and arson investigators. Chiefs from Tinley Park and Palos Fire assisted on the scene.

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Mutual Aid Orland Fire Protection District provides mutual aid to and receives mutual aid from other fire departments. 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.

Year

2023 % of Inc

RECEIVED

77

0.6%

GIVEN

225

1.7%

NONE

12,381

97.6%

Totals

12,683

Orland Fire Protection District responded to a record number of calls in 2023, with the majority of the calls involving ambulance care and transport.

OFPD continues to lead the way in cutting-edge EMS training and equipment. In addition to health-related assistance, Orland Fire aided multiple neighboring towns as they experienced fires and large-scale accidents.

On March 9, 2023, Orland Fire responded to a large brush fire in the area of 167th & Will Cook Road Thursday night. This fire had the potential of endangering several homes in the area but due to mutual aid assistance, no homes were affected

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Orland Fire remains committed to working on improving response times and strives to maintain the most current education system for its Firefighters and Paramedics, in order to give the residents in the Orland Fire Protection District the best service possible.

Fire Investigations The Orland Fire Protection District Cause and Origin Team is one of the busiest specialty teams within the fire district year after year. The team is responsible for investigating all fires within the Orland Fire District. The Orland Fire Investigation Team also belongs to the MABAS 19 Cause & Origin Team, which assists with fire investigations in many of our Fire Investigations Lieutenant surrounding communities. The team investigates not only building fires but also vehicle Matt Johnson fires, brush or vegetation fires, and any other free-standing structure fires. The biggest percentage of fires within the district and surrounding communities continues to be accidental fires. The team works closely with the Illinois State Fire Marshal to determine if any fire is incendiary in nature or intentionally set.

The Orland Fire District Cause and Origin team is comprised of 10 Fire Investigators, and is one of the larger fire investigation teams in our area. We added 3 new Fire Investigators in 2023, and also certified 4 team members in the area of juvenile fire setting. All team members must complete yearly continuing education and recertify every 4 years. All team members participate in hands on training at our training facility and must respond to multiple fire investigations every year to maintain their certifications.

Understanding what causes fires can help prevent fires from happening in the first place. Many of our fires in the district are accidental in nature and could have been prevented. Careless smoking or discarding of smoking materials, clothes dryer fires caused by excess lint build-up, chimney or fireplace fires, and ordinary combustibles being stored by furnaces or water heaters are just a few examples of fires that could have been easily been prevented. The Fire Investigation Team works with the Fire Prevention Bureau throughout the year in learning and understanding what causes fires and how to prevent them.

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Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services Coordinator

The Orland Fire District takes great pride in the services provided to Orland Park, Orland Hills and Orland Township. All Orland Firefighters are also Paramedics and may arrive at your emergency in an ambulance and/or fire apparatus.

Sometimes people ask why a fire engine or truck are needed for a medical call.

The simple answer is that the fire district ensures the correct number of trained professionals arrive to handle the needs of the situation. The computer aided dispatch (CAD) system sends the closest fire company and ambulance to guarantee that help arrives as soon as possible. All fire apparatus are not only staffed by paramedics but also equipped with advanced life support (ALS) equipment, the same as each ambulance carries.

Lieutenant Josh Girdick

Orland Paramedics are highly trained and skilled. Simulation is utilized on a regular basis to provide realistic scenarios related to cardiac arrest, trauma, and medical emergencies in a safe and nonthreatening learning environment. This type of training is the industry gold standard that allows paramedics to:

•

Practice safely and effectively

•

Develop critical thinking skills and situational awareness

•

Implement psychomotor skills

•

Encourage student role development to meet professional standards of care

In 2012, Orland EMS became the first suburb in Illinois to implement the High-Performance CPR model similar to cities like Seattle, Washington; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona that have cardiac arrest save rates of over 50%. Orland has saves rates comparable to the highest in the US due to the amount and level of training our paramedics receive, and Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD's) that give CPR instruction over the phone. Every minute that CPR is not performed on a cardiac arrest victim, their chance for survival decreases by 10%. Even with response times of 3-5 minutes, the odds improve tremendously with bystander intervention. Orland provides CPR/AED training to about 1,200 citizens annually and the schedule can be found on the Fire District’s website at www.orlandfire.org.

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Emergency Medical Services NEW AMBULANCE After many months of delays for various reasons, Orland’s new ambulance arrived in October and was placed in service at Station #6 on November 14, 2023. For over 25 years, Orland Fire has maintained one ambulance at each of its 6 fire stations with 2 reserve ambulances that are utilized when preventative maintenance is required or a break down occurs. This plan ensures that an ambulance will always be available and ready to respond. Currently, delivery of new ambulances is between 24-30 months and so a 3rd reserve ambulance was added to help ensure service delivery in 2023.

LIFEGUARD IN-SERVICE Every summer since 1998, the Orland Fire District has partnered with the Orland Park Aquatic Center to practice life-saving skills. From 1998 to 2023 the number of lifeguards has grown from under 50 to over 100. Under the watch of Orland Fire Paramedics, Lifeguards are instructed on and practice various skills including CPR, bleeding control, medical emergencies, and patient extrication from the water slides and platforms. The Orland Park Aquatic Center is a safe family place because of the partnerships developed and maintained over the years.

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Emergency Medical Services EMS APPRECIATION BARBECUE Every year around "National Emergency Services Week," the Orland Fire District provides a cookout for the EMS providers and support staff. We cannot take a vacation or holiday from providing emergency service to our community, but providing a meal and acknowledging the good work done is a small gesture that is well received. EMS Administration does the cooking with help from Fire Prevention Supervisor Mike Ercoli and Fire Inspector Ryan Collins; with organization and food prep by Administrative Assistant Joan Pickens Mulchrone and Fire & Life Safety Educator Betsy Dine.

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Emergency Medical Services In 2022, there were more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the U.S. According to 2022 US CARES data for Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCA) only, survival to hospital discharge was only 9.3% for all EMS treated non-traumatic OHCA cardiac arrests. Bystander witnessed arrests had a 14.2% survival to hospital discharge and 9-1-1 responder witnessed arrests had a 17.1% survival to hospital discharge. Globally, cardiac arrest claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined.

Bystander CPR Improves Survival According to 2022 US CARES data, the majority of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCA) occur at a home or residence (72%). Public settings (18%) and nursing homes (10%) were the second and third most common locations of OHCA.

Help is Needed Immediately Unfortunately, only about 40% of people who experience an OHCA get the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. 2022 US CARES data states that of the 147,736 OHCA’s that were reported to CARES, only 11.3% received AED treatment by a bystander.

The 6 links in the adult out-of-hospital Chain of Survival are: • • • • • •

Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an emphasis on chest compressions Rapid defibrillation Advanced resuscitation by Emergency Medical Services and other healthcare providers Post-cardiac arrest care Recovery (including additional treatment, observation, rehabilitation, and psychological support)

69% of Orland Fire’s patients that experience a sudden cardiac arrest, and are found in a shockable rhythm, arrive at the hospital with a pulse. Out of that 70%, 67% are later discharged from the hospital.

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Emergency Medical Services Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs The Orland Fire District was the first in the county to take delivery of the new Stryker Expedition Powered Stair Chairs.

According to Stryker, the Xpedition, its first powered stair chair, helps move patients easier and more effectively with increased comfort and security for both first responders and their patients.

The new Xpedition Stair Chairs will allow Orland Paramedics and Firefighters to safely and ergonomically move patients up and down stairs, utilizing a powered track, while decreasing the risk of First Responder injury and fatigue, and increasing patient safety. The six Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs will be located throughout the District at each of the six Orland Fire Stations. Thanks to the work of Lieutenant Carl Jones, the purchase of the six stair chairs was partially funded by an ICRMT Safety Grant obtained in the amount of $10,000.

Lucas Devices The Orland Fire District began a 90-day trial with the LUCAS Chest Compression System on March 1, 2023. This trial included placing a LUCAS System on Ambulance 4, Ambulance 5, and Battalion 6. The LUCAS System was utilized in many cardiac arrests during the 90-day trial with very positive reviews from the EMS Personnel that were on scene.

The LUCAS device has been shown to improve quality of chest compressions, increase ETCO2 levels as well as being able to sustain lifesaving circulation during prolonged resuscitation attempts. With the LUCAS device, fatigue, individual variations or psychological factors are removed from CPR and there is no longer a need for switching CPR providers every two minutes. LUCAS helps provide high-quality and safer chest compressions in situations such as patient movement and transportation, or during prolonged CPR. To continue to provide the best EMS service to the residents we serve, and to stay current with trends in EMS, the EMS Bureau believed that from the data received during the trial, the addition of a LUCAS System to each District ambulance was a necessity. With the approval of the Board of Trustees, six Lucas Compression Systems were purchased and placed on all six District ambulances on October 6, 2023.

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Emergency Medical Services Bleeding Control Basic Class B-CON or "STOP the Bleed" Whatever you call it, the importance of knowing how to stop uncontrolled hemorrhage cannot be over stated. It is the number one killer in trauma whether it is from a terribly created manmade event, an accident, or another type of occurrence. Just like CPR is the best treatment for a cardiac arrest victim, bleeding control is the best treatment for a hemorrhaging trauma victim. When bystanders call 9-1-1 and take immediate action to help, the chance for survival and full recovery increases many times over. Grant funded classes are available to the community and a schedule of upcoming classes can be found on the Fire District’s website at www.orlandfire.org.

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Training Introduction The Training and Safety Officer of the Orland Fire Protection District is responsible for delivering emergency response training and education programs for members of the District, other outside agencies, and community members.

The goal of the Training Division is to ensure that the men and women of the Orland Fire Protection District are well-trained and prepared to respond to any emergency. To achieve our training goals, the Orland Fire Protection District staffs a Lieutenant to work Monday-Friday as the Training and Safety Officer Training & Life Safety Officer for the District. The Training Officer receives help from District personnel on Lieutenant Mike Siefert their off-duty days in the delivery of training topics and maintenance of the Training Site. The Orland Fire Protection District will continue to strive towards the growth and development of our personnel while maintaining a state-of-the-art training facility for our Firefighters and Paramedics.

2023 Training Overview The Orland Fire Protection District certifies our personnel to the standards set forth by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall. The certification and recertification program established by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall establishes standards for firefighters in various fire and rescue-related disciplines. In 2023 members of the Orland Fire Protection District earned more than 60 certifications through the Office of the State Fire Marshall. The certifications earned by the men and women of the Orland Fire Protection District in 2023 include:

2023 Certifications Earned by OFPD Personnel

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7

Fire Instructor I

2

Vehicle Machinery Technician

6

Confined Space Technician

2

Trench Operations

5

Vehicle Machinery Operations

2

Structural Collapse Operations

5

Advanced Firefighter Technician

2

Structural Collapse Technician

4

Fire Apparatus Engineer

2

Confined Space Operations

4

Youth Fire Setter Intervention Specialist

2

Fire Instructor II

3

Fire Investigator

1

Rope Technician

3

Company Fire Officer

1

Fire Service Vehicle Operator

3

Trench Technician

1

Public Safety Life Educator

3

Rope Operations

1

Fire Inspector I

2

Incident Safety Officer

Training Academy 2023 The certifications our members earned, as detailed in the table, encompass various training methods.

These include in-person lectures, engaging discussions, intimate small group sessions, and practical scenarios demonstrating competency in specific skills or areas. Some certifications necessitated additional real-world experiences or tasks, meticulously recorded in a task book and submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal for validation.

The Training Division takes immense pride in the collective effort and dedication our members demonstrated in 2023 to enhance their professional education and knowledge. This commitment to continuous learning is a testament to our shared goal of maintaining the highest standards in the fire protection industry.

In 2023, the Orland Fire Protection District saw 121 sworn members actively participating in a staggering 51,195.25 Training Hours. This translates to an impressive 423 hours per member, averaging 35 hours per month. The Training Division is steadfast in ensuring that each member fulfills the minimum training hours mandated by the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), the Insurance Services Office (ISO), and OSHA standards for firefighters. Our ultimate aim is to surpass these minimum industry standards annually, underscoring our unwavering commitment to excellence.

To meet our training goals, our personnel conduct daily training topics or "quick drills" that the company officer conducts daily with their company. In addition to daily training, company-level training is done with multiple companies or fire stations participating in various topics at our training facility or other locations within the response area of the Orland Fire Protection District.

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Training 2023 Fire Academy Overview On April 20, 2023, twelve dedicated individuals embarked on their careers with the Orland Fire Protection District. Since 2014, except for 2016, the Orland Fire Protection District has held an in-house training academy for our new Firefighters. In this time space, more than 90 of our Firefighters/ Paramedics have used this format for their initial training. The Training Division is committed to providing this initial training to our newest members to ensure they can meet the expectations of the Orland Fire Protection District and uphold our mission statement. The in-house training academy, which has evolved each year, is a testament to our dedication to ensuring that our newest firefighters receive training in any situation they can respond to in their role as firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District. The in-house academy consists of a 10-week training program comprising five weeks of Emergency Medical training and 5 weeks of firefighter training. The twelve new firefighters were assigned a 40-hour work week to complete their training. In addition to their Emergency Medical and Firefighter training each morning, the twelve firefighters participated in fitness training directed by the Orland Fire Protection District fitness committee. The Training Division would like to thank the lead instructors for the 2023 academy: EMS Lead Instructors FF Locus, FF Nanak, FF Schick, Fire Lead Instructors, Lt. Andersen, Engineer Hogan, Engineer Majda, and Fitness Leads FF Pericht and FF Weber.

Lead instructors are selected based on their skills, ability, and experience to lead our in-house training.

They are well-respected members of the Orland Fire Protection District and work tirelessly to offer their expertise to our newest members and set them on a path to success with the Orland Fire Protection District. The 2023 candidates will complete their year of probation and become members of the Orland Fire Protection District on April 30, 2024.

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Training Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) The partnership with the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, the Orland Fire Protection District, and outside training agencies entered its eighth year. Our collective efforts between these three agencies have enabled the Orland Fire Protection District to host numerous Office of the State Fire Marshall courses for our personnel and Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement personnel in the Chicagoland Area. The delivery of these courses at our facilities allows the Orland Fire Protection District to certify our staff in many State fire certifications at a fraction of the cost due to this grant funding. Conservative estimates are a savings of $50,000 annually in tuition to the Training Budget for these courses for our personnel. Throughout the eight-year partnership with Cook County EMRS, an estimated 9,000 personnel have been training in the Chicagoland area, with many of the courses being held at the Orland Fire Protection District Regional Training Facility.

Additionally, more than 900 Orland Fire personnel and residents have benefited from this grant funding in the eight years. The Training Division aims to continue this partnership by offering grant-funded training opportunities to firefighters in the Chicagoland area.

3-Story Burn Prop Completed The design and development of this prop started in late 2019. With the pandemic and other projects taking precedence, this project was placed on hold. The project was completed in the Summer of 2023.

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Training Looking Ahead to 2024 In 2024 the Orland Fire Protection District will welcome a new Training and Safety Officer for the Orland Fire Protection. In 2024 Lieutenant Robert Griffin III will be assuming the roles and responsibilities as the Training Officer for the Orland Fire Protection District. Some of Lieutenant Griffin’s goals include: • • • • •

A focus on realistic training scenarios and situations for our Firefighters  Look to develop props and simulations that mimic situations on the street Develop and implement an officer development program Focus on reinforcing operational uniformity Research innovative solutions to emerging challenges in the fire service Evaluate the effectiveness of current curriculum and change to an adapting fire service

•

Continue to proactively address succession planning for the future

•

Reinvest in educator development focusing on specialty areas within the fire service

Welcome Lieutenant Griffin as OFPD’s Newest Training & Life Safety Officer

Effective 1/1/24 Lieutenant Robert Griffin III will leave Shift to work as our Fire & Life Safety Officer, replacing Lieutenant Mike Sifert, who has decided to go back to Shift Work at the OFPD. We thank Lieutenant Siefert for his hard work and dedication in this position, and welcome Lieutenant Griffin to Admin!

Vision The Orland Fire Protection District Training Division has a vision to develop a training organization that provides the highest quality training for the Orland Fire Protection District, as well as other departments throughout the region and state that utilize our campus/classes. Our training is structured to identify standard conditions, deploy standard actions, to deliver standard outcomes. Our state-of-the-art training props and facilities, virtual reality and scenario-based simulation centers, and quality instructors will provide training and certification.

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Barbecue with the Brave Event

The OFPD held its first Barbecue with the Brave event Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Station 1. It was the perfect weather and our Pub Ed Dept. Betsy, Mike and Ryan grilled delicious burgers and hot dogs for all to enjoy! Thanks to SAC members, Cadets, sworn personnel, and admin. employees who stayed to help and Trustee Kaspar who stopped by to visit!

This event gives OFPD residents a chance to stop by and ask any questions of our Firefighters/Chiefs, meet others and see the firehouse/apparatus up close.

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Swearing In of Probationary Firefighters Congratulations to Orland Fire District's 12 new Firefighter/Paramedics. After an intense 9-week Training Academy to provide them with the skills necessary to be successful with the OFPD, they were released as Probationary Firefighters, functioning under the direction of a company officer as they worked to complete their 1-year probationary period.

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Fire Chief Schofield welcomed their families and spoke of the opportunities for them to succeed and advance with the OFPD. Next, Fire Commissioner Beth Damas Kaspar administered their Oaths of Office, and their loved ones pinned their badges.

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Swearing In of Probationary Firefighters

Class of 2022 Swearing In Ceremony Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Orland Park Convention Center

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Water Rescue & Recovery MABAS 19 DIVE TEAM

Water Rescue & Recovery Lieutenant Dan Ritchie

The Orland Fire District has 12 members that are part of the MABAS 19/22 Water Rescue and Recovery Team. Our team responds to all water related incidents involving rescue or recovery within the MABAS 19/22 jurisdiction and beyond, on an as needed basis. This response area covers about 450 square miles, which includes a variety of water ranging from numerous retention ponds, rivers and navigational water ways.

Team training was conducted twice a month which consisted of: • • • • • • • •

Annual Swim Test and SCUBA skills review Ice Diver Training Scenario based training (surface and subsurface) Surface Supplied Air training Swift Water Technician Training Sonar Training Underwater Evidence Recovery Training Water Craft Training

Our members put in over 300 training hours this past year. Our team is looking forward to more training opportunities in 2024 to further advance our skills and abilities.

Our team responded to 5 incidents in 2023. These incidents included calls to search for a person missing in the Cal Sag, assisting a local police agency with an evidence search of a pond, and an ice rescue.

Missing Person Search in the Cal Sag

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Water Rescue & Recovery MABAS 19 DIVE TEAM

Missing Person Search in the Cal Sag

Evidence Recovery

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HazMat

HazMat

Lieutenant Steven Prohaska

The Orland Fire Protection District Hazardous Materials Team is a dynamic component of the services provided by the fire district. Our team is comprised of dedicated members who complete a variety of training annually to maintain their state certification levels. Our team is tasked with mitigating any hazardous materials situation that occurs within our response area. Orland is home to a wide variety of hazardous materials within its boundaries. A few examples we encounter are underground pipelines, industrial chemicals, and radiological medical equipment.

The area is also a major thoroughfare for various vehicles carrying a large variety of hazardous products daily.

This past year we started the dissolution process of the former regional team and transitioned into one that will fall under the leadership of our local MABAS Divisions. The Southwest Hazardous Materials Response Team was formally disbanded at the beginning of this year. Over the years, this team was responsible for hazardous materials incidents within a variety of departments in our geographical area. The former team is now known as the MABAS 19/22 Team and is a fully functioning team under the guidance of the MABAS divisions 19 and 22 chiefs. The team is responsible for any hazardous materials incident within the boundaries of departments that lie in the MABAS division 19 and 22 areas. Operationally, nothing has significantly changed in the way our team responds. We still have the same allotment of equipment and personnel to respond to emergencies. This new leadership will provide a more streamlined process for the future of our hazardous materials team.

Our members continued with the required annual training needed to maintain all their various certification levels. This was done in conjunction with off-duty training and drills while on shift in the firehouses. These drills touched on topics from spill mitigation techniques, to monitoring the air quality of a hazardous environment. The hazmat team purchased and placed in service an additional radiation meter to help with the increase of medical-grade radioactive materials present within our response area. We also updated our current allotment of Level "B" suites, which are used as our chemical protective clothing for specific types of hazardous atmospheres.

Lastly, the team has been in the process of researching and developing a replacement vehicle for our hazardous materials squad. Our current vehicle is over thirty years old and is approaching its end of service life. When purchased, the new squad will be custom-built to meet the ever-growing needs of the fire district to protect the citizens and visitors within the Orland area.

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HazMat 2023 Hazardous Materials Responses •

Inside Gas leak (natural gas or LPG)

90

•

Outside Gas leak (natural gas or LPG)

52

•

Carbon monoxide incident

129

•

Overpressure rupture from steam, other

1

•

Hazardous condition, other

3

•

Gasoline or other flammable liquid spill

3

•

Toxic condition, other

1

•

Chemical spill or leak

3

•

HazMat release investigation w/no HazMat

13

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Technical Rescue Team The Orland Technical Rescue team consists of sixteen members with eleven members trained as Technicians in Trench Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Collapse, Cell Tower Rescue, Grain Bin Rescue, Heavy Machinery Rescue and Rope Rescue. The other five members are on the MABAS training roster working towards their deployment status. The team has been Technical Rescue Team Lieutenant Tom Panzica encouraging members to continue to educate themselves, given these situations are such a low frequency substantial risk scenario. As the fire service continues to change, so do we as a specialty team. The Orland Technical Rescue team is part of the CART Central Board and MABAS Division 19. In 2023, we did not see any Cart Rescue responses, which makes training more important than ever to stay proficient in every discipline.

As members retire, we need to focus our attention on recruiting more members. As departments struggle financially, they look at cuts like specialty teams, due to the low frequency. As an organization, we had to look at making training more beneficial to keep our members proficient in all disciplines. In 2023, the CART Central Board Blue and Black decided to merge into one team. This was a seamless transition as 99% of the team belongs to MABAS0 19. Therefore, we are now MABAS 19 Technical Rescue Team, with almost double the team roster. This made sense as to the fact we are neighbors in the same division working together on the fire side. Training together, assured the standardization of all disciplines across the division. This way responding to a call anywhere in MABAS 19, would be a seamless process given the training we do once a month. Not only did this double our manpower, it also multipled our equipment. This is a positive move in the right direction.

As OSFM moves forward with continuing education for all certifications in the fire service, the MABAS 19 Technical Rescue Team has designed a training program assuring all our members will stay current and proficient in all the disciplines.

The Orland Fire Protection District's Technical Rescue Team continues to be leaders of technical rescue throughout the State and Chicagoland area. As a member of the MABAS 19 Technical Rescue Team, consisting of well over eighty-five members and growing, we continue to be the only deployable team in the area. We are always looking for more members, striving to be proficient in every discipline and assuring all members meet their CE for the OSFM. The team will remain in a state of readiness and is so excited about the new merger of the MABAS 19 Technical Rescue Team. We need the support of management from all organizations to make this a success. This merge has encouraged management to understand the importance of training at their levels to remain proficient at the command level.

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IL Task Force - Urban Search & Rescue The Orland Fire Protection District had 4 members participate on the Urban Search and Rescue Team in 2023. Included on the Team were: Battalion Chief John Purtill Safety Officer; Lieutenant Dan Ritchie - Structures Specialist; Engineer Mark Hogan Rescue Specialist and Firefighter Zachary Zweizig - Rescue Specialist. The Team is composed of 200+ personnel from around the State of Illinois and Iowa. The team is divided into three platoons to balance availability and response.

A Type 1 Task Force of 80 personnel has the goals to respond, search, rescue and assist at major disasters, including earthquakes, floods, tornados, or large building collapses. Each member is required to attend monthly drills during the year for about IL Task Force Administrative Chief 80 hours of training. The team can be broken down into smaller response John Purtill components to fit the needs of the disaster or request from the State Emergency Management Agency. In 2023, the team was placed on alert for multiple natural disasters and responded to the building collapse in Davenport, Iowa.

The team trains on collapse, trench, rope, confined space and wide area search scenarios. Additionally, the Team practices on rescue size up, hazardous materials identification, patient assessment, search, GPS location, GIS integration, water rescue, planning and logistics.

In June 2023, the Team and Orland members participated in a large scale 3-day Earthquake response drill in Champaign Il at the University of Illinois Fire Service Training Institute. The team responded to multiple areas within the training grounds to support a multi-jurisdictional event. The team performed rescues at multiple residential and commercial structural building collapses, a collapse of a parking garage, analysis of multiple hazardous materials incidents, use of canine search and rescue, high angle rope rescue, and support with the Incident Management. The team also participated in a required mobilization exercise (MOBEX) to Lake Michigan and the Chain of Lakes with Wisconsin Task Force 1 and the Illinois National Guard for water search and rescue operations with other team members performing wide area searches in Wheeling industrial parks. A MOBEX is a 12-hour drill to work on the deployment, set up and return to readiness components of the Team. In August of 2022, the IL-TF1 US&R team achieved Emergency Management Accreditation Program Type 1 Certification. IL-TF1 was the ninth team to be certified in the program. Currently IL-TF1 is the only State Type 1 team certified by EMAP in the United States.

MOBEX Water Training—Lake Michigan -September, 2023

IFSI ORE High Angle Rescue July, 2023

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Communications/Dispatch

Director of Dispatch Operations Gina Cortez

Orland Central Dispatch (OCD) is the Orland Fire Protection District’s fire and EMS-only emergency communications center. Orland Central Dispatch is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a dynamic emergency communications team. OCD is comprised of a Director, 2 Communications Shift Supervisors, 4 Lead Telecommunicators, 8 Telecommunicators, 3 part-time Telecommunicators, and 1 part-time Quality Assurance Analyst. In 2023, these first, first responders processed over 52,000 fire and EMS incidents and more than 130,500 phone calls. The phone calls handled include 9-1-1 and emergency calls from wireless and landline phones, RTT/TTY, alarm companies, and non-emergency calls on 7-digit and administrative lines.

In addition to serving the District and its residents, OCD provides emergency communications services to the following nine fire departments and fire protection districts – Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Garden Homes, Lemont, Merrionette Park, Oak Forest, and Palos. Occasionally, an incident’s complexity exceeds a department’s capabilities and/or resources. When this occurs, the affected fire department relies on Illinois’ Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to obtain aid from other fire departments to help manage the incident. The Orland Fire Protection District is a member of MABAS Division 19 and Orland Central Dispatch is Division 19’s primary emergency communications center. OCD is also the secondary center for MABAS Division 22 and Division 24. In 2023, OCD processed 35 requests for MABAS Division 19.

To deliver the highest service levels and provide advanced emergency communications, OCD and its staff rely heavily on technology. The center utilizes several public safety applications and systems to deliver the highest quality emergency communications services. OCD was CAD2CAD technology is a data exchange that facilitates real-time interoperability among multiple fire departments, multiple emergency communications centers, and multiple CAD (computer-aided dispatch) systems. This technology expedites the locating and dispatching of fire and EMS resources makes agencies more resilient and better able to respond to complex incidents quickly and with the right resources. The District secured grant funding for CAD2CAD and Orland Central Dispatch’s Director, Gina Cortez, is leading the project that will connect six emergency communications centers and the fire departments they serve.

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Communications/Dispatch In 2023, OCD revamped its quality assurance program and began the overhaul of its entire telecommunicator training program. Lead Telecommunicator, Kimberly Coffou, was named Employee of the Year and Steven Jackson was promoted to the newly created Quality Assurance Analyst (QAA) position. This part-time position is pivotal to OCD’s operational success and ensuring the center is meeting the Association of Public Safety Communications (APCO), National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and ASTM emergency communications standards.

As first, first responders, Telecommunicators routinely face stressful situations. Their professional experiences can be rewarding and traumatic. The workdays of these emergency communications professionals are often the public’s worst days. To help alleviate staff stress and promote overall workplace wellness, the District partnered with Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs to arrange weekly visits to the center. Additionally, OCD added a facility dog, Winnie, to our emergency communications center family. Winnie comes to the center with Director Cortez and visits with staff throughout the day.

Orland Central Dispatch Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week 2023 Orland Central Dispatch celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week 2023 the week of April 9-15! It was a jam packed few days as the “Dispatch Globetrotters” traveled the world, eating international foods & playing the country’s games! With the help of local businesses, Fire Departments & Districts we serve, and generous donations, our “first” first responders have been honored all week.

TCO Kim Coffou was presented with the “Telecommunicator of the Year” award, TCO Suzanne Dietz was recognized as “Teammate of the Year” award, and Pam Maliszewski with Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs was honored with the “We are Family” award. Rarely seen, but always heard, these are the heroes behind the scenes. The Orland Fire Protection District is very proud of the job our 911 Dispatchers do!

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Facilities Maintenance

Facilities Maintenance Mark Koczwara

• • • • • • • • • •

The Orland Fire Protection District Facilities Maintenance Department provides maintenance services to support the District's operations, including repairs and maintenance of 12 buildings. Our dedicated team ensures that our facilities are safe and well-maintained according to annual and long-term plans. These tasks are accomplished by a team of (1) full-time and (4) part-time employees with an extensive HVAC, Plumbing, Carpentry, and Electrical background. We respond to emergency maintenance calls when conditions threaten health and safety. Most repairs are handled in-house to address issues promptly and efficiently, keeping costs down and minimizing any impact on operations.

HVAC repairs and complete equipment replacement Electrical repairs Plumbing repairs Interior and exterior painting Landscaping Concrete repairs Remodeling and updating facilities Appliance maintenance and repair Equipment maintenance and repair Lighting maintenance and repair

Station 3 Remodel/Framing

The facilities maintenance department completed many projects in 2023: • • • • • •

The administration building/Dispatch center received a new backup generator Station 5’s parking lot was repaved Station 1 Backflow valve Station 3 lighting CTC Heat trace installation The most significant project was remodeling Station 3's bathrooms and sleeping quarters and relocating the laundry room.

HVAC Rooftop Unit

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Administration Generator

Station 3 Men’s Bathroom

Fleet Maintenance The Orland Fire Protection District operates its own state of the art modern vehicle maintenance facility to perform service repairs and preventive maintenance on the District’s vehicles. Safety, reliability and readiness are the priority, in addition to operating cost-effective and efficient maintenance programs. We take no shortcuts when it comes to maintaining OFPD emergency vehicles and equipment. Emergency vehicles and equipment are very unique, extremely complex and quite challenging Fleet Maintenance to maintain and repair. Given the nature of the fire service, this equipment is John Cihocki subjected to extreme and less than ideal operating conditions which not only results in significant wear and tear but demand a very high and specialized level of technical skill and training. Orland Fire Protection District Technicians possess a keen knowledge and understanding of automotive and heavy truck mechanical systems, including hydraulics, welding and fabrication. What sets our personnel apart is their level of expertise and training specific to fire and EMS emergency vehicles and equipment. All vehicles and equipment are serviced regularly and thoroughly maintained as part of the Orland Fire Protection Districts Preventive-Maintenance Program. About the fleet maintenance program: •

Fleet of 60 pieces of fire apparatus, ambulances, specialty rescue/haz-mat squads, boats, and support vehicles combined

•

Staffed with trained, certified Emergency Vehicle Technician highly skilled and extremely valued

•

Reduces costly breakdowns and increases reliability

•

Utilizes a cost-conscious, cost –effective, common sense approach to repairs and maintenance of vehicles and equipment

•

Ongoing initiative to exceed operational demands and increase efficiency

•

Great pride and professionalism are the expectation

•

Safe work practices and safe equipment are a constant must

(EVT) mechanics that are

Performing check of under cab engine components

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Support Services Vehicle Maintenance Program Orland Fire Protection District vehicles are extremely well maintained, which is imperative—given the need for 100% reliability and the service duty associated with emergency responses at any given time. The OFPD employs an EVT Certified Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, two ASE and EVT Certified Journeyman Technicians and one EVT Certified Apprentice Technician, who are responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and repairs of the 60 vehicles in the fleet. In addition to OFPD fleet, we have entered into agreements with other MABAS Fire Departments to provide maintenance and repairs for their fleets with the same professionalism, pride, and care as our own fleet: • • • • • • • • •

Oak Forest Calumet Park Merrionette Park Palos FPD Bensenville Schiller Park Lemont Richton Park Moraine Valley Community College (Fire Science Program apparatus)

Rotation motor and gears for an aerial ladder

We also are responsible for and take care of all third party testing for the Fire pumps, ground ladders, and aerial ladders in/on the vehicles to stay compliant with NFPA and OSHA regulations.

Battalion Chief response Vehicle -Unit # 6161— 2023 Chevrolet (SSV)

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Bensenville ladder 107 in the shop for maintenance

Ambulance 6- Unit # 6082 is a 2023 Ford/Horton Ambulance Assigned to Station 6. This unit is equipped with the latest ALS equipment and features a Stryker Power Load cot

Support Services HOSE The Orland Fire Protection had an exciting year with the purchase of hose for every fire apparatus. Each of our seven fire engines carry about 3200 feet of a variety of hose, which meets the NFPA standards, the Accreditation standards, and the ISO standards. Each of our three trucks carry more than 1500 feet of hose, which also meets the above standards. According to the NFPA standard, all fire hose must be assessed each year to assure it will sustain the pressures needed on a fire scene.

In 2023, as we moved toward the standardization of hose and tools, we also moved toward the identification of each vehicle to keep a better inventory of hose and equipment. The Orland Fire Protection District implemented a new software, PSTrax, for the inventory, communication of issues and record keeping of our vehicles. Each vehicle can be identified with a color which allows the district to assure the tools are on the proper vehicles. Not only is this a great inventory method, but it also allows our command staff a better accountability method when on fire scene. Each station has a color along with the reserve rigs, so every vehicle out of that station will consist of the same color.

The stations are labeled as follows: Station 1: Orange

Station 2: Green

Station 3: Yellow

Station 4: Blue

Station 5: Red

Station 6: White

Reserve Vehicles labeled with a 7: Beige

Reserve Vehicles labeled with an 8: Black

Third reserve Ambulance and Engine (also our training vehicles): Purple

Once this project is completed it will allow our Finance Department to develop a hose budget on an annual basis, to assure sufficient funding for the safety of our members on a fire scene. This is especially important with the aging of hose, so as not to fail hose testing. The NFPA standard of hose only good for 10 years on frontline vehicles. The time it takes to receive an order of hose is a year once the order is placed. Having an accurate budget so orders can be placed as soon as possible in the following January is important to assure safe hose for firefighting.

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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.

Finance Director Kerry Sullivan

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN FINANCIAL REPORTING

In 2023, the District received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

This is the 15th consecutive year the District has received this prestigious award. The CAFR can be found on the District’s website at www.orlandfire.org.

DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award has been received by the District since 2018.

The 2024 budget document can be found on the District’s website at www.orlandfire.org.

2023 FINANCIAL CHALLENGES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Many financial challenges were presented and several financial opportunities were given to the District in 2023: •

Property taxes were capped at a 5% increase despite a 7% CPI increase. Collection rate remains strong at 97%.

•

Ambulance transports increased 2.8% over 2022 with a commensurate increase in ambulance billing.

•

Debt funding for information technology projects was issued in 2022; projects continued throughout 2023. The Station 3 remodel was substantially complete in 2023.

•

The District continued to receive grant funding to train firefighters and law enforcement from the Cook County Department of Emergency Management & Regional Security as a pass-through award of federal funds for IEMA through FEMA.

•

The CAD to CAD project, funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, began in 2023. This project will connect public safety agencies to each other in times of crisis.

•

A ten year capital plan was developed and approved by the Board. In addition to the information technology projects and the Station 3 remodel, there were several other capital expenditures in 2023 including a new ambulance, a new Battalion Chief’s vehicle, and the requisition of two new engines.

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Finance •

Labor agreements with Orland Professional Firefighters, Local 2754 and with IBEW 134 expired December 31, 2023 and new agreements are now in place for another three years.

2024 BUDGET The 2024 budget was developed to serve as the financial plan for the upcoming year based on the Strategic Plan. Under direction from the Board of Trustees, the 2024 Budget gives priority to programs and services that support the goals described in the Strategic Plan and which provide the greatest benefit to District.

The costs to achieve the District’s mission are primarily offset by property tax revenue. Increases in property tax revenue are limited by tax rate ceilings and property tax caps. Other sources of revenue includes ambulance service fees, grant revenue, dispatch service fees, and fire prevention fees. Revenue sources anticipated for the 2024 budget are summarized in the following graph:

The 2024 Budget gives priority to programs and services that provide the greatest benefit to District residents. The 2024 Budget represents the efforts of District staff in reviewing their operations, streamlining them when possible and investing in improvements to daily operations to benefit the safety of District residents and employees. Wages and benefits represent 83% of the District’s operating expenditures. Expenditures anticipated for the 2024 budget are summarized in the following graph:

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Fire Prevention Bureau 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.

The Fire Prevention Bureau protects people by eliminating potential emergencies before they occur. We use the term “proactive firefighting” to describe how we Mike Ercoli 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.

Fire Prevention Bureau Supervisor

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 attitudes toward safety. We anticipate fiscal 2024 to bring greater challenges as we strive to ensure the safety of the public and our Firefighters.

FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES FOR 2023:

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•

All Target Hazards within the Fire District were inspected in 2023.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel attended online and in-person continuing education courses and seminars throughout the year.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel worked on numerous fire alarm issues throughout the district.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau Personnel made 2479 field contacts during 2023.

•

Bureau personnel conducted fire and evacuation drills with the schools in the fall of 2023.

•

All schools, daycare centers, and group homes were inspected by Bureau personnel during 2023.

•

All commercial, multi-family residential, and educational occupancies, within the Village of Orland Hills, were inspected by bureau personnel in 2023.

•

All Commercial occupancies within the unincorporated areas of the Orland Fire Protection District were inspected in 2023.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel taught classes on fire alarm familiarization to our firefighting personnel.

•

The Fire Prevention Bureau worked with the Accreditation Committee on the Community Risk Reduction Portion of the accreditation process.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel met with several condo associations, throughout the year, to discuss fire and life-safety issues.

Fire Prevention Bureau •

Bureau members met monthly with the Village Of Orland Park’s Code Enforcement, Development Services, Building, and Administration Divisions Working Group. These meetings are a cooperative effort to discuss and resolve various issues within the Village of Orland Park.

•

Fire Prevention Personnel participated in the planning and implementation of the Fire District’s Annual Open House in September.

•

Bureau personnel assisted with the Kid’s Fire & Safety Camp.

•

Fire Prevention Personnel participated in the Emergency Action Plan Training for the Village of Orland Park’s employees.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel conducted fire extinguisher training for the Village of Orland Park’s employees.

•

Assisted the Village of Orland Park with the update of their new Fire Code.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel staffed a booth at the Orland Park Summerfest.

•

Fire Prevention personnel assisted several building owners with emergency planning.

•

The Fire Prevention Supervisor worked with Orland Park Public Works and Illinois American Water to gather additional information on the water systems, which service the District, for ISO.

•

Fire Prevention Bureau personnel taught several fire extinguisher classes to businesses within the Fire District.

•

Bureau personnel attended safety meetings with the public and private schools within the Fire District.

Total FPB Inspections for 2023 Annual Business and Multi-family Inspections Re-Inspections Final Occupancy Inspections

1083 743 247

Complaint Investigations

30

School Inspections Rough Inspections Firework Inspections Kiosk/Temporary occupancy Inspections

36 97 2 100

Group Home Inspections Fire alarm, Sprinkler and Hood Tests Underground Flush for new buildings Other Total

18 117 4 2 2,479

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Fire & Life Safety Education The primary goal of the Fire Prevention Bureau’s Fire and Fire & Life Safety Division is to foster a culture of prevention, preparedness, and community resilience. Our mission is to educate and empower individuals to proactively mitigate fire risks, promote life safety measures and messages, and enhance emergency preparedness Fire & Life Safety Educator and readiness. The Orland Fire Protection District's Staff is “dedicated to preserving Betsy Dine life and property while valuing full accountability to each other and the people we serve.” Through comprehensive educational programs, outreach initiatives, and strategic partnerships, we aim to instill a heightened awareness of potential hazards and equip our community with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent emergencies and respond effectively when necessary. By fostering a collaborative approach, we seek to build a safer environment for everyone, where lives are protected, and the impact of fire-related incidents are minimized.

Together, we strive towards a future where safety is a shared responsibility and a fundamental aspect of our community’s well-being. Changing attitudes and behaviors regarding fire safety requires a comprehensive and targeted approach beginning with education and awareness. To connect with our audience at hand, programs are designed to protect the lives and property of all who live, shop, work, and visit the Orland Fire Protection District.

The Fire & Life Safety Educator is directly responsible for Community Risk Reduction throughout the District. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a process to help communities discover their risks and develop a plan to reduce the risks viewed as a High Priority. Once it is viewed as a “high priority”, programs are developed, implemented, and coordinated to reduce those risks. The Fire and Life Safety Educator plays a crucial role in reducing community risks and is responsible for planning, collaborating, organizing, effectively supervising, and delivering education to the different “at-risk” community members. Continuous evaluation and feedback are essential when evaluating the effectiveness of each program taught. The Fire & Life Safety Educator’s contribution to preserving life, and property, and promoting accountability to all community members is critical to reducing community risks! By receiving community members' feedback via postcard evaluations and responses, we can prioritize and develop curriculums, presentations, social media posts, messaging, events, lessons, and programs to reduce those risks within our community.

To establish a successful CRR Program the following steps must be taken. First, potential risks within our district need to be identified. Once the demographics, geography, and infrastructure in our town are identified, we can identify the areas that are prone to emergencies, re-occurring issues, or potential risks associated with our community. Once these High-Risk Facilities are identified; schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, then plans are tailored for their emergency responses. Plans for events with larger crowds need to be identified and assessed, as well. Regularly updating our risk assessment based on changes in our community, helps to keep those threats and emergencies to a minimum. Goals and objectives are established and include curriculums and programs to reduce the risk of injury, harm, or death. The district offers numerous classes and programs to help reduce community risk. The district must follow the annual budget guidelines and all programs are approved by The Fire Chief and the Board of Trustees.

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Fire & Life Safety Education Special Needs Groups Through proper CRR efforts, High-Risk populations, such as our special needs groups, have been identified and comprehensive fire safety education is tailored and delivered. Providing proper fire & life safety education to special needs individuals in the community offers significant day-to-day benefits. Educating individuals with special needs and helping them to understand and navigate their environment independently, promotes self-reliance in daily activities. Customized training programs for the specialneeds community face unique challenges. These challenges stem from the diverse range of abilities and needs in this community, requiring tailored approaches for effective learning. We included hands-on training simulating different scenarios to build their confidence and proper emergency response. Those who require extra assistance are given additional support by their staff and resources to help guide them through the hands-on experiences safely. Despite these challenges, these programs can empower them and enhance their safety awareness and preparedness in emergencies.

Senior Population Seniors may face higher risks due to factors such as reduced mobility or health conditions. Therefore, we offer community outreach programs for our seniors through our Coffee & Conversation Program. Our Senior Advisory Council (SAC) works together with the educator who targets these specific groups, looks at those risks, and implements a plan to offer proper education to at-risk seniors. This education helps them understand the potential risks and dangers in and out of their homes and they learn to take preventative measures. Our SAC (Senior Advisory Council Members) attend different community events throughout the district. With the information learned, they share it with their peers at different events that we attend throughout the year. They focus on outreach efforts and address specific risks that are prevalent in those areas.

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Fire & Life Safety Education Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention Week was held from October 8-14, 2023. The main message was “Cooking Safety Starts With YOU”! This message emphasized personal awareness and responsibility in your kitchen, your home, and your community. It encourages individuals to adopt safe cooking practices and to prevent accidents, and fires. By promoting these principles, the message aims to empower individuals to take proactive steps in maintaining a safe cooking environment and a safe home. Staying focused and avoiding distractions can lead to unintended injuries. To reduce certain risks in the home or your community, you can minimize those chances of accidents and risks by using equipment properly. Knowing how to respond to emergencies, such as fires, scalds, or burns can be a life-changing event.

Fire & Life Safety Educator’s Duties The Fire & Life Safety Educator’s duties include, but are not limited to monitoring, evaluating, and modifying each plan while tracking results. The Educator collaborates with all the district schools (private and public) and has developed a partnership with the different grade-level teachers. Different fire safety lessons/programs are prepared, taught, and integrated into their curriculums: • Preschool and Daycare Education Prevention Programs • Kindergarten Education Prevention

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•

1st Grade Adopt-A-Firefighter Education Prevention. 5 20-minute lessons are taught by our adopted firefighters

•

2nd Grade Sound Off for Fire Safety Program and the Home Fire Safety Patrol Prevention Program. 4 20minute lessons are taught throughout the year. A Pre-test and Post-test are included for evaluation purposes

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3rd Grade Learn Not to Burn Education Program. 6 1-hour lessons are taught throughout the year. A Pretest and Post-test are included for evaluation purposes

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We conduct yearly fire drills and different emergency evacuation exercises with school staff and students.

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Presentations to groups of children, teens, special needs groups, adults, and seniors regarding the risks of burns, scalds, fires, falls, and other such hazards

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Offering Station tours and education for school-aged children, Boy and Girl Scout troops, teens, Special Needs groups, and senior groups

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Individual tours can be given to those who are eager to learn more about fire safety, our firefighters, and fire stations within the district in which they live

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Educating the public about the benefits of having “working” smoke alarms and updating them about the NEW Illinois Smoke Alarm Law effective January 1, 2023. https://www.ifsa.org/smoke-alarm-law

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Organizing, planning, implementing, and proper evaluation of district programs.

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Kid’s Fire and Life Safety Camp: 8-12 years old

Fire & Life Safety Education •

Junior Cadet Camp: 13-16 years old

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Fire Station tours

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Parades

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Safety and Health Fairs

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Annual Open House

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Fire Extinguisher Training

•

CPR & First Aid training

•

Training related to fire and life safety education

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Car Seat Checks and Installation for Orland Fire Protection District Residents

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Education for motor vehicle crashes and prevention

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Conducted multiple Fire drills in schools, public and private, and commercial businesses within the district

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Development of proper fire prevention materials that can be used in all areas

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Prepared educational safety messages

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Toy Collection for our Annual toy drive at all 6 stations including our Administration Building

Implementing a fire safety plan for our community includes raising awareness about fire safety and prevention measures. By establishing the high risks or risks in our community, individuals must know how to respond safely and properly during a fire emergency or hazard. Below are some educational topics that are discussed during our school visits, camps, events, outings, group home visits, transition school presentations, businesses, and churches in our community to name a few: Fire, burn & Scald injuries, falls, accidents vs unintended injuries, escape planning, crawl low under smoke, get out & stay out, stop, drop, & roll, choking, never go back into a burning building, don’t hide, go outside, know 2 ways out of every room, never go back into a burning building, know your family’s meeting place, and call 911 for any emergency!

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Fire & Life Safety Education Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp

Our annual Kid’s Fire & Life Safety Camp was held on July 10-12 at our Fire District Training Facility (CTC). Our campers were between the ages of 8-12 years old. This camp had a profound positive impact on them, providing them with valuable life skills and knowledge. Through engaging, hands-on activities and demonstrations, the camp has empowered these young participants with the essential tools to handle emergency situations responsibly and confidently. They have learned critical fire safety practices, such as how to prevent fires and what to do in case of a fire emergency, which not only benefit them but also their families and communities. Additionally, the camp fosters teamwork and leadership skills, as they collaborate in group activities and learn to support one another. Overall, the camp has not only enhanced the safety awareness of these children, but has also instilled in them a sense of responsibility and preparedness that will serve them will into the future.

A big thank you to all the amazing individuals who helped make our Kid’s Fire & Life Safety Camp a success! Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated. Together, we’re shaping a safer future for our community’s children. Thank you for your commitment to their safety and well-being:

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•

CPR/AED Training (CPR/AED Instructor; Ret. FF Bob Palermo)

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First Aid Training (CPR/AED Instructor; Ret. Lt. Chris Smith)

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How to make a 9-1-1 Call (Communications Shift Supervisor; Desiree Breese)

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Stop the Bleed (EMS Coordinator; Josh Girdick and FF Russ Siska)

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Fire Safety (Fire & Life Safety Educator; Betsy Dine)

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Car Fire-Fire Safety (Training Supervisor; Lt. Mike Siefert)

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Tornado Safety (FF Mike Dorencz)

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Train Safety (Operation Lifesaver; Gordon Bowe)

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Electrical Safety (Com Ed; Neal Ruane)

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Water Safety (Aqua-Tots Swim Schools; Tamara Kaelin)

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Bike Safety (Chicago Bicycle; Elizabeth Madamczyk)

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Medicine Safety (Injury Prevention and Community Relations Specialist; Carly Trump)

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Sparkler Safety (Fire Prevention Supervisor; Mike Ercoli)

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Weather Safety (Pillowcase Project-American Red Cross; Kristen Flanagan)

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Overall Helper (Administrative Assistant; Joan Mulchrone)

Fire & Life Safety Education Kids Fire & Life Safety Camp

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Fire & Life Safety Education Annual Open House Thanks to all who came out to our OFPD’s annual Open House event held on Thursday, July 13th from 6:308:30 pm at our District Training Facility. We hope you had a great time and learned a bit more about the great work our Firefighters/Paramedics do.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Orland Fire Protection District, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the community vendors that participated in our event. Your participation played a crucial role in making our event a huge success! The time and effort you invested in preparing your booths, engaging with visitors, and showcasing your offerings were truly outstanding. So thank you to those who participated this year: our Orland Fire Protection District CPR and AED instructors, our 9-1-1 Dispatchers/ calling 9-1-1 station, Our Senior Advisory Council Members (SAC), the Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs and their incredible raffle table, Chicago Bicycle Safety, Home Depot- Kid’s building table, Project Fire Buddies, Versiti Blood Center, Spectrum Racing, Lowes-Kid’s building table, Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department, and Aqua-Tots Swim School. We appreciate all of your hard work and look forward to future collaborations that will continue to benefit our community.

Thanks to Trustees Greenfield, Kaspar and Zekich for your participation in the evening, and a special thank you to our outstanding Cadet crew who goes above and beyond each time they are requested to help and their instructor, EMS Coordinator Lieutenant Josh Girdick, and Training Officer Lieutenant Mike Siefert.

Lastly a special shout out to our Public Life & Safety Educator Betsy Dine who coordinates this entire event; our Administrative Assistant Joan Pickens Mulchrone, who helps her out tremendously; and to the staff members who participated in the event as well!

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Fire & Life Safety Education Annual Open House

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Fire & Life Safety Education 2023 Fire Life & Safety Events Block Parties Parades Fire Extinguisher Trainings Fire Drills (schools, businesses, and village) Car Shows Open House

1,198 Pet Palooza 3,500 Spring Health Fair 70 Market in the Park Events

350 450 12,500

25 Taste of Orland (4 Days)

18,000

150 Touch a Truck Events (Several)

3,500

1,250 Night Out Against Crime

Kid’s Camp Car Seats Back to School Socials

17,000 1,500 3,500

Special Olympics

35 Summerfest 63 Great Pumpkin Party 275 Engine & Trucks Show and Tells (Several) 500 Preschool & Kindergarten Visits

Fall Fests (several)

1,350 First Grade “Adopt a Firefighter”

3,750

Alden Fishing Derby

80 Second Grade “Sound Off” Pilot Program 1,375 Third Grade “Learn Not to Burn” Program 240 CPR Training (different locations)

640

680

Station BBQ’s Orland Park Library Senior Safety Days Senior Health Fair

220 District 135 “Steer Your Career Day” 125 Career Days (several) 155 Orland Health & Fitness Safety Days 120 Active Aging Week (4 Days)

Back to School Kids’ Health Fair

250 TOTAL ACTIVITIES

Trunk or Treats (several) Home Depot Safety Day Lowes Safety Day

OFPD WEBSITE VIEWS

TOTAL REACHED *This number excludes Social Media Views via Facebook & Instagram*

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4,200

1,500

902 150

750 87 300 80,740 27,245

107,985

Project Fire Buddies In 2023 the Fire buddies Organization took another big leap forward to further our goal of assisting more and more families. In Illinois alone the fire buddies have over 50 chapters. The fire buddies program is growing beyond it's Illinois roots and is now in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Indiana, having grown by 500%!

The first Annual Gala was held in February to celebrate the strong year and the commitment by all who donated and participated. It is through donations that we can provide the families we visit with gifts that can make a child's day. The Orland Chapter has made smiles go all around this year as we reflect on the memories and looking forward to more fun times ahead!

The Orland Fire District is looking to sponsor children who could use some good cheer... Project Fire Buddies brings joy to kids struggling with serious illnesses. No matter what the kids are going through at the time—chemo therapy, radiation, or side effects from their medication and treatments—these visits brighten their day.

If you have a child or know of a child who could benefit from this program in the Orland Park/Orland Hills area, please contact Project Fire Buddies. 708-533-0417 or contact@projectfirebuddies.org

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Senior Advisory Council (SAC)

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Senior Advisory Council (SAC) SAC GOALS for 2024 •

Reinforce branding for consistency with badges and other materials

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Outreach to SAC members’ HOAs

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Continue Speaking Engagements/Safety Presentations

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Continue to interact with seniors in community to get feedback

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Continue outreach with community organizations and venues while increasing drop-off locations

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Continue supporting district-sponsored events when invited

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Continue to coordinate with Public Education and Fire Prevention Bureau

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Increase participation of other OFPD staff/officials at SAC meetings

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Recruit five new SAC members

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Ride-Alongs and visit to 911 Center for new SAC members

•

Visiting fire stations with permission from the Chief

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Human Resources I am happy to introduce myself as the Human Resources Director here at the Orland Fire Protection District. As I sit here to prepare this year’s report, I am coming up on my one-year anniversary. It has been a productive year, and I couldn’t be happier to be here.

Human Resources Director Alice Stevenson

As the Human Resources Director, I provide day to day human resources support to the Fire Protection District in the following areas: recruitment, administration of benefits, training and staff development, performance management, employee relations, compliance, staff member communications, promotion of organizational culture, and records management.

Our Culture Simply put, our work culture is one that prioritizes the well-being of employees, offers support at all levels within the organization, and has policies in place that encourage respect, trust, empathy, and support.

Accreditation In March, I was a part of the accreditation process for Human Resources. Being new to the Fire District, I found this process to be an improvement toward better business and operational practices. This selfassessment raised the level of performance, safety, and effectiveness throughout the departments.

All the Accreditations Teamwork led us to receive the nation’s highest rating for accreditation, ISO 1. The Orland Fire Protection District is one of more than 318 agencies in 12 countries to achieve Internationally Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE). And now, the Orland Fire Protection District is one of only 120, both an ISO Class 1 rated fire district and Internationally Accredited. There are only 12 Accredited agencies in Illinois.

District Workers’ Compensation Program Human Resources manages the District’s Workers Compensation program. This includes employee injury claims and return to work programs. We continue to develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with State and Federal regulations.

We have gone from a fully insured plan to a deductible program. In December of 2023 we switched carriers from Insurance Claims Management (IPMG) to Illinois Public Risk Fund (IPRF). For 2023, we had 16 claims under IPMG, and 1 under IPRF. HR has worked with the carrier(s), Chiefs, and safety committee to develop safety training and policies in effects to minimize occurrences. Our numbers of incidents are significantly down from previous years.

Workforce By focusing on effective recruitment and assessment practices, the Orland Fire Protection District built a highly skilled and competent workforce. These initiatives contribute to the District’s mission of providing exceptional emergency services to the community while ensuring the safety and well-being of its personnel.

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Human Resources

Promotional Testing HR was pleased to announce the successful completion of the Battalion Chief and Engineer Promotional Processes. OFPD Administrative Battalion Chief and I collaborated with the testing vendors to develop and implement the process, policies, and procedures. The testing process is comprised of multiple steps including application, and required documentation submission, written exam, oral interviews, assessment center, and preference points. The final rank-ordered list of candidates will be used to fill vacancies as they occur within the District.

In April 2023, OFPD welcomed 12 new probationary Firefighter/ Paramedics. Candidates underwent an indepth, comprehensive pre-employment background investigation and medical review process prior to their conditional offer of employment, followed by an in-house training academy. HR will continue to ensure the highest levels of integrity and fairness in all promotional testing for the OFPD.

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Human Resources 2023 Staffing SWORN STAFF

NON-SWORN STAFF

Administration

Administration

Fire Chief Deputy Chief Operations Battalion Chief Administrative Battalion Chief Shift Battalion Chief EMS Lieutenant Training/EMS Lieutenant Sworn Administrative

1 1 1 1 3 1 2 10

SSP

Shift 1

Shift 2

Shift 3

Lieutenant

09

09

09

Engineer

08

08

08

Firefighter/ Paramedic

20

20

20

Sworn Shift

111

Total Sworn

121

Communications/Dispatch

Human Resources Director Executive Assistant Administrative Assistant Finance

1 1 1

Finance Director Assistant Finance Director Finance Assistant

1 1 1

IT Communications Director IT Technician

1 1

Director of Dispatch Services Dispatcher Supervisor Telecommunicators

1 2 11

Maintenance

Fleet Maintenance Supervisor Fleet Maintenance Technician Facility & Grounds Manager

1 3 1

IT

Fire Prevention Fire Prevention Supervisor Fire & Life Safety Educator Fire Inspector

1 1 1

Total Non-Sworn

30

Total Sworn

121

Total Employees

151

Employee Benefits We ended the year with Open Enrollment. We continued to utilize the Paycor portal for employee benefits. This year was a little different from years past, in that I implemented a “passive” enrollment. As a result, if you are not going to make any changes to your benefits, you do not need to log in to the portal, your current elections will roll to the new year. This was quite successful, especially for our Retirees.

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Promotions On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Engineer Garrett Flavin was promoted to Lieutenant with the OFPD. Fire Commissioner Brian O'Neill administered his Oath of Office, his Grandfather Garrett Flavin pinned his Lieutenant's badge, and his friend OFPD Firefighter Zach Zweizig delivered his conferment speech.

Congrats Garrett!

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Promotions Congratulations Battalion Chief Jim Hynes, who was administered his Battalion Chief Oath of Office by Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Matt Rafferty at a ceremony held Wednesday evening, March 22, 2023. Jim's dad, a retired Chicago Battalion Chief, pinned his badge, and his friend, OFPD Battalion Chief Erick Johnson delivered his conferment speech. Congrats Jim!

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Promotions On Thursday, April 6, 2023, a promotional ceremony was held at Orland Fire District. Fire Commissioner Beth Damas Kaspar administered The Engineer Oath of Office to Firefighters Justin Dublin and Zach Zweizig. Justin's fiance, Araceli, pinned his Engineer badge and Zach's son, Tristin, pinned his Engineer badge. Next, Commissioner Kaspar administered the Lieutenant Oath of Office to Engineer Marc DeSardi.

Marc's mom, Kathryn, pinned his Lieutenant badge, and his girlfriend, Francesca, delivered his conferment speech. Congrats gentlemen!

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Promotions On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Fire Commissioner Matt Rafferty administered the Battalion Chief Oath of Office to Nick Tufts. His wife Christine and son Ben pinned his badge while his extended family looked on.

Chief Schofield spoke of all the wonderful qualities he has that make him a great addition to the Command Staff, and his friend, D/C Chris Bednarek, delivered his conferment speech. Congrats Nick!

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Promotions Congratulations to Firefighters Matt Hoover, Jeff Sheldon, Charlie Duer and John Cortilet who were promoted to the rank of Engineer, and Engineer Dan Fagan who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, at a promotional ceremony held Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Fire Commissioner Matt Rafferty administered their Oaths of Office and their loved ones pinned their new badges. Lieutenant Dan Fagan’s wife, Elyse, delivered his conferment speech. Congrats to all!

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2023 Retirements

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Operations Chief Joseph Moore January, 2023

Lieutenant Mark Duke January, 2023

Engineer Tom Eisel April, 2023

IT Director William “Stuey” Neumann April, 2023

Engineer Dan Koenig Firefighter Jim Pape May, 2023

Battalion Chief R.J. Stachnik July, 2023

2023 Retirements

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Honor Guard In 2023, the Orland Fire District Honor Guard consisted of 14 members, with several of those members also being involved with the AFFI State Honor Guard. The mission of the Honor Guard is to preserve the honor of fallen firefighters, and to post colors for promotional ceremonies and special district functions. Some of these ceremony's included the 25th anniversary of the line-of duty death of Battalion Chief William Bonnar Sr. on February 25th, awards night on March 29th, and the 9/11 Memorial held at Administration on September 11th. In addition, the Honor Guard posted Honor Guard Lieutenant Josh colors at five promotional ceremonies that occurred on February 16th, March 22nd, Girdick April 6th, July 26th, and August 30th. The Honor Guard also participated in the Class of 2022's swearing in on April 18th for twelve members who completed their probationary period. To prepare for these events, Orland Honor Guard Members participated in several drills held throughout the AFFI Honor Guard’s 4th District. Attending these drills assures that Honor Guard members are proficient with drill and ceremony, such as marching and posting of colors. The Honor Guard looks forward to attending a wide range of activities in 2024 and will always continue to recruit new members for the Honor Guard.

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Cadet Program In the beginning of 2023, the Cadet Program finished up the selection process for applicants, and began a new class of 12 Cadets. During 2023, Cadets had many opportunities to assist the Fire District by getting out into the community. Some of the public education events the Cadets assisted with were the Fire District's annual Open House, the Taste of Orland, Orland Chamber of Commerce Summerfest, several station barbeques, and other Touch-a-truck events Cadet Program throughout the year. In addition, we continued to train cadets in the Basic Lieutenant Josh Operations Firefighter curriculum through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Girdick Marshall. As a result, the program had several Cadets successfully challenge and receive their State Certification for Basic Operations Firefighter through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall in 2023. By providing the opportunity to obtain this certification to individuals between 16 and 21 years of age, the Orland Fire Cadet Program starts Cadets on a path to a successful career in the fire service. In addition, Orland Fire Cadets are granted preference points by the Board of Commissioners on entry level selection for Firefighter/Paramedic positions with the Fire District. This resulted in the Orland Fire Cadet Program having it's fourth Cadet hired for a full-time position as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Fire District in 2023. The Cadets continue to attend meetings on Saturdays held at the the Fire District's Training Facility to complete their practical objectives, and utilize an online format for their didactic training. As we move into 2024, the Orland Fire Cadet Program will continue to build on its successes while also looking to expand and improve the program that is offered to its Cadets. Overall, the Cadet Program will continually strive to achieve its mission of providing individuals with a strong foundation to build upon as they pursue a career within the fire service.

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Apparatus Fire Trucks Fire trucks are equipped with a variety of aerial ladders and ground ladders of various types and lengths that help firefighters reach fires. Fire trucks also carry specialized equipment for forcible entry, ventilation, and search and rescue tasks.

Trucks 1, 4, 7

Fire Engines Fire engines, also commonly known as pumpers, are equipped with a variety of hoses of different lengths and widths that pump water. This water can come from either the internal tank of the engine or other outside water sources, such as hydrants.

Engines 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

Ambulances Ambulances are used to deliver immediate advanced medical care to sick or injured patients and to transport these patients to the hospital.

Ambulances 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Squad Vehicles Because some emergencies require special assistance, squad vehicles are provided to each specialty team in order to properly aid in these special situations.

Squad 2, 3, 5, 7 Arson Vehicle • • •

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1998 Ford Converted Ambulance Went into service in 1998 as Ambulance 5 Reassigned in 2005 as Arson Squad and is equipped for fire investigations

Apparatus Squad Boats Squad Boats are used to aid the Water Rescue & Recovery Team

Staff Vehicles Staff vehicles are provided to the Fire Chief, Battalion Chiefs and bureau supervisors.

Incident Command, Chief and Staff Officers, Headquarters

Fire Prevention Bureau Staff vehicles are provided to the Fire Prevention Bureau Supervisor, Fire Inspectors and to the Public Fire & Life Safety Educator

Support Vehicles

Support vehicles are provided for the in-house maintenance crews.

Building Maintenance, Fleet Maintenance, Utility

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Orland Fire Protection District Administration Building 9790 West 151st Street Orland Park, IL 60462 (708) 349-0074 www.orlandfire.org

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.