Mutual Aid

10/8/20 Kitchen Fire On October 8, 2020 at 12:35 the Orland Fire District received a 9-1-1 call for a kitchen fire in the 16900 block of 88th Court in Orland Hills. The neighbor across the street answered calls for help and used a fire extinguisher to control the fire. Orland companies arrived on scene to finish fire control, check for extension and ventilate the structure. Damage was limited to the kitchen and some smoke damage in the house. The quick action by the neighbor using the correct extinguisher helped save further damage in the home. 10/23/20 Electrical Burning Smell from Store Sign

On October 23, 2020 at 1:30pm the Orland Fire District was called to the 9100 block of 151st Street for the smell of burning electric. Caller on the scene reported the electrical burning smell began 20 minutes after the signs were turned on. The signs were turned off and 9-1-1 was called. While investigating the source inside and outside of the structure, the business' sign started on fire. Companies evacuated the building, initiated fire extinguishment, overhaul and salvage activities. Additional companies were called to the scene to assist. The fire was quickly extinguished, damages was limited to the sign and the area it was attached to the building. Cause was determined to be electrical. Orland Fire Protection District was assisted by Palos Fire Protection District, and Tinley Park Fire Department.

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. 2020 Mutual Aid

Aid Received 70

Aid Given 317

Mutual Aid Given

Bedford Park Calumet City Blue Island Calumet Park Dolton Fire Homer Twp FPD East Joliet Lemont Fire

Bradley FPD Channahon Elwood FPD Lockport Fire

Bridgeview Chicago Ridge Frankfort FPD Midlothian Fire

Burbank Country Club Hills Grant Park Mokena Morris

Palos Fire New Lenox Palos Heights North Palos Richton Park Oak Forest Robbins Oak Lawn South Holland Tinley Park

Fire Investigations Battalion Chief Bill Leddin

Fire Investigations

The Orland Fire District Origin and Cause Team is responsible for investigating all fires that occur within the jurisdiction of the Orland Fire Protection District. The District is mandated to investigate all fires and determine whether these fires were accidental or incendiary in nature. These fires include structures (whether occupied or vacant), vehicle fires, and all other types of fires. The OFPD partners with our local police departments (Orland Park, Orland Hills, and Cook County), when a fire is determined to be suspicious or incendiary in nature. Intentionally set fires are criminal in nature and are set for a variety of reasons, such as personal or financial gain, as well as crimes against a person. We also work with our law enforcement partners on fires that are determined to be accidental.

In 2020, the Orland Fire District Origin and Cause Team investigated all fires within the Orland Fire District. These fires are not only structure fires, but also include vehicle, vegetation, and other free standing structures. In 2020, there were six intentionally set fires, which included structures, vehicles, and other fires. Many of these fires are still under investigation at this time. Unlike other crimes, there is no statute of limitations on arson cases, and they are not closed until a conclusion to the case is achieved. Many of these cases are closed with the help of information received from citizens or informants.

The Orland Fire District works closely with many local police jurisdictions within the fire district. Depending on where the suspicious fire occurs within the Fire District, the team works closely with the Orland Park Police Department, the Orland Hills Police Department, or Cook County Sheriffs Police Department. The Orland Fire District also partners with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Cook County Bomb Squad, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). We are also members of the MABAS 19 Origin and Cause Team, as well as the Will-Cook-Grundy Fire Investigation Task Force. We responded to 25 mutual aid fire investigations.

The Orland Fire District has eleven certified fire investigators and one certified arson investigator on the team. Our investigators are state certified through the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office. Our investigators must re-certify every four years and must participate in team trainings throughout the year. We conduct monthly fire investigation team training as well as monthly task force/ MABAS training. The Orland Fire District Origin and Cause Team trains to stay current on the latest techniques as well as staying on top of recalls and safety alerts that we pass on to our residents. We participated in and helped coordinate the Will-Cook-Grundy Fire Investigation Task Force Annual Seminar held in March. This was the last formalized in-person training the team participated in in 2020 due to COVID-19. The seminar was attended by over 150 students from throughout the State. The very next week, in-person training was suspended for the rest of 2020. Training was restored later in the fall under a new format. We began conducting training via Zoom video conferencing. It took a while to get it running smoothly, but this format allowed us to get together remotely. The last Zoom training involved over 50 Fire Investigators. We hope to be able to resume some hands-on training later in 2021 — hopefully by June or July. This training could be held outdoors, with limited contact.

Fire Investigator Battalion Chief Bill Leddin investigating a house fire that started on the exterior and quickly spread to the interior of the home. Discarded smoking materials was determined to be the cause of the fire

Fire Investigations

In 2020, careless use of fireworks, clothes dryers, and electrical failures continue to be the major causes of fire we see in the Orland Fire District. We work closely with our Public Education Department to get the word out on these frequent hazards. A devastating fire loss in one of our local restaurants was caused by an electrical failure that destroyed the building. Illegal fireworks that were launched on the Fourth of July landed on a cedar -shake roof causing a fire that cost thousands of dollars in damage. An electrical short caused the 2020 Fireworks can travel great distances, causing unsuspecting fires that can go fire at Don’s Hotdogs that destroyed

the entire building

unnoticed for a long time. Appliances that are not maintained properly continue to cause residential fires. That is why we caution homeowners not to run an appliance and leave the home. When you go out, turn off the appliances until you return to prevent fires. We continue to be a liaison to our residents and ensure that we work for them in helping them get their lives back together. Our investigative team works with homeowners from the moment we respond to their incident until they are ready to move back into their home. We strive to make sure that our residents are able to get on with their lives.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

On Tuesday, February 25, 2020 Battalion Chief William Leddin distributed Community Emergency Response Team ("CERT") Certificates of Completion for the 8 week training program held this previous fall/winter. This program is a nationally-recognized CERT Program which educates district residents about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. CERT instruction trains attendees in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Thanks to all who stepped up to take this course: Mary Bobor, Kathleen Crotty, Valerie Grellner, Kathleen Johnson, Charles Krezwick, Heather Slack, Mark Ruder, Mary E Lee Faupel and Michael McKevitt. You are an asset to your community!

Emergency Medical Services Administrator

Lieutenant Mark Duke

Emergency Medical Services

March 2020 will forever be remembered as the month that life as we once knew it was changed. Orland Fire District became laser-focused on providing continued exceptional service to our public, while protecting them and our Paramedics from the pandemic. In the EMS realm, multiple training events were canceled as all activities were shut down for many months of the year. Canceled training included Public and Healthcare Provider CPR, Stop the Bleed for the public and teachers, Advanced Airway classes for healthcare and paramedic students, and Rescue Task Force classes for police, fire, and EMS agencies. Countless days and hours were spent procuring protective equipment and developing plans, guides, and training to address the approach, assessment, treatment, and transportation of patients and decontamination of Paramedics and equipment.

New technology and equipment that was in transition pre-COVID-19, moved to top priority. Daily briefings were conducted between Administration and all of the fire stations via ZOOM. The ZOOM technology helped to limit contact between responders and allowed them to remain available to respond. There were several pieces of new equipment purchased that were reviewed for implementation prior to COVID-19.

Electrostatic decontamination sprayer units were placed in service and became a gold standard for disinfecting ambulances, apparatus, and stations.

Personnel disinfecting an ambulance with an electrostatic decontamination sprayer Administration office being fully treated from top to bottom to help stop the spread of COVID-19

Emergency Medical Services

Isolation Pods or ISOPOD's were purchased that could be utilized to contain and transport patients that are sick or contaminated from a hazardous material. The ISOPOD is a negative pressure containment system equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air filters or HEPA filters that afford protection from viral or hazardous agents. The units were seen on the news being used in New York City during the height of the pandemic crisis. Fortunately, in Orland, we did not have to deploy them.

Power Air Purifying Respirators, or PAPR’s, supply a continuous flow of HEPA filtered air allowing the user to breathe and work comfortably for an extended period of time. These type units were often seen on the news, as well as in NYC and in many hospitals where staff worked entire shifts around severely ill COVID-19 positive patients. Fortunately, again for Orland Fire, we did not have to deploy them, but all Paramedics are trained in the use of the PAPR's.

Orland Fire has always strived to be prepared for any event we may encounter. Being confronted by a pandemic unified us all as a team and brought us to higher level of preparedness.

Emergency Medical Services

COVID-19 By the Numbers

The numbers in the graph help to paint the picture of how COVD19 impacted Orland Fire in 2020. Call volume in 2020 was down over 500 calls in comparison to 2019. The calls were more acute as people waited longer to ask for help whether COVID19 related or not. Some paramedics contracted COVID19 and as a result even more were quarantined that placed a strain on staffing.

The Orland Fire Protection District thanks all the many local residents, volunteer groups, etc. who dropped off masks for our personnel to help in keeping them safe in the workplace. It was much appreciated!

The Challenge

A 2019 report from the American Heart Association suggests the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is 356,461 annually. Of those treated by emergency medical services, only 10% survived.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can be defined as cessation of cardiac mechanical activity, as confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation.  Approximately 18.7% of SCA victims present with an initial rhythm of Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) that is an unorganized heartbeat.  Survival rates of over 50% can be obtained with early chest compressions (CPR) and electrical shock (defibrillation) of VF or VT.  Every minute that CPR is not being performed and no defibrillator is available decreases the victims’ chance of survival by 10%.  Nearly 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the home where no defibrillator is available but

CPR can be initiated while help is on the way.  The median age for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is 66 years of age.

In 2013-2017 Census Bureau statistics indicate 21.9% of the Orland Park Community was over 65 years of age or older. Over the next 15 years, it is estimated that the over 65 population will make up over 30% of the Orland Park population. The Community Cardiac Arrest Rescue Enterprise (CARE) addresses the emerging trend, saving lives by engaging the entire community.

Orland Fire District has a 2020 save rate of 41% for patients found in VF

Chain of Survival

What we know for certain is that successful treatment of cardiac arrest and particularly VF is associated with quick delivery of care. The chain of survival with its 5 links of early 9-1-1 access, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care and early post resuscitative care illustrates the most critical elements of addressing sudden cardiac arrest.

Training & Life Safety Officer

Lieutenant Mike Siefert

Introduction

The Training and Safety Officer of the Orland Fire Protection District is responsible for the delivery of emergency response training and education programs for members of the department, other outside agencies, and the members of the community. 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 for the District. This day assignment allows for a more consistent approach in the management and delivery of our training program. The focus of the Orland Fire Protection District’s training program for our personnel, is to provide a realistic, pertinent and safe training environment for members of our organization and our guests. 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.

2020 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 manages a program of training and certification that has developed standards, utilizing input from State Certification Advisory Committee members for training, testing, and certifying all levels of firefighting. In 2020, members of the Orland Fire Protection District earned 70 certifications through the Office of the State Fire Marshall. The certifications achieved in 2020 range from firefightingrelated courses to fire prevention and technical rescue certifications. The Orland Fire Protection District Training Division

Members of the Orland Fire Protection District participated in 26,405 training hours for our members in 2020. Our members' 26,405 hours of training consist of 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. Traditionally, company-level training is done with three-six companies or fire stations practicing a wide range of skills from Emergency Medical Services, Firefighting, and Special Rescue Operations. In 2020, the global pandemic forced the Training Division to become creative in delivering training to our members. In previous years company-level training with multiple stations and groups was the "norm" we adapted in many cases to provide training via Zoom, one-on-one training sessions, or limiting class sizes to less than six people while maintaining physical distancing. 2020 proved to be a challenging year to ensure that our members receive the necessary and mandatory training so they are prepared to respond to any incident. The Training Division is proud of our members for adhering to safety guidelines and maintaining their mission to be ready to handle any emergency incident.

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.

Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (CCDEMRS)

The partnership with Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, the Orland Fire Protection District, and outside training agencies entered its fourth 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. 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. Grant funding from the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security has also enabled fire departments in Cook County to send their personnel to training courses hosted here at our Training Facility. In 2020, 802 people were trained, resulting in 19,106 hours of training. 552 firefighters trained, 93 Law Enforcement Personnel trained, 15 medical personnel trained, 28 teachers trained, 35 emergency managers trained, and 82 First Responders trained. The partnership and funding from Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security also allow for our members and outside personnel to utilize a tool and equipment cache purchased through the Department of Homeland Security funding for classes and refresher training. In 2020, we were excited to start utilizing our Driving Simulator. This simulator was purchased with grant funding from CCDEMRS and used to help train our new and existing apparatus drivers.

MABAS 19 Training

The Orland Fire Protection District and our surrounding departments continue to train together to improve interoperability. Training officers from each of our neighboring departments meet every month to discuss relevant training topics, issues, challenges facing each agency, and future training events. The MABAS 19 training officers have collaborated to revamp our existing three-year training plan and update the training plan to a four-year training plan. Given the amount of training required by the Office of the State Fire Marshall, it was necessary to ensure each department can capture all of the required training to re-certify several Office of the State Fire Marshall courses in an appropriate timeframe. The MABAS 19 Training Officers also plan at least two Light and Fight sessions annually. These live fire scenarios typically are a more extensive scale event that involves multi-agency and multicompany operations. In 2020, the MABAS 19 Training group focused on Collapse training scenarios. Collapse-type calls and incidents are rare occurrences. However, our firefighters are prepared to respond to any incident.

On February 28, 2020, 9 new firefighters began their careers with the Orland Fire Protection District. The candidates were placed in a 10-week training academy that provides the candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to function at a high level with the Orland Fire Protection District. The 10-week academy encompasses all aspects of their job; 4-weeks of EMS training, 4-weeks of firefighting training, and 2-weeks of shift preparation skills that included driving and district familiarization. In March of 2020, as everyone was faced with the global pandemic's difficulties, the 2020 candidates and instructors pressed on with their training. The training they completed was an intense program designed to place each of them in stressful and real-life scenarios. The Orland Fire Protection District and its training staff are committed to providing the very BEST Firefighter/Paramedic to our residents. Upon completing their 10-week training academy, candidates were placed on shift and completed monthly evaluations with their crew members before moving to another station. Candidates were rotated between our busier fire stations during their probationary period to get them as much experience. The 2020 candidate class completed its probationary period on February 28, 2021. The 2020 class faced challenges and uncertainties of 2020 and proved they can handle any incident or situation.

Jonathan Egan Brian Schick William Patterson Rosendo Rodriguez

Michael Dorencz Andrew Hiller Andrew Kasules Brian Steele Austin Childers

The Orland Fire Protection District hired 10 new Firefighter/Paramedics for our 2019 Training Academy. The group began its orientation in March, 2019 with an intense 9-week academy to provide them with all of the skills necessary to be successful with the Orland Fire Protection District. All the candidates successfully passed the Academy and were released as probationary Firefighters, functioning under the direction of a Company Officer, as they worked to complete their one-year probationary period. All 10 candidates successfully completed the probationary period and were sworn in on March 11, 2020. The Oaths of Office were administered by Fire Commissioner Glenn Kraemer. The Board of Trustees, the Board of Fire Commissioners and the OFPD Command Staff are proud to welcome our 10 newest Firefighter/Paramedics to the Orland Fire Protection District family!

L to R: Michael Pericht, Anthony Kaskadden, Eric Petravich, Justin Shanklin, James Schultz, Orlando Lopez, Brandon Toth, Sergio Navarro, Jason Smith, Brian Nanak