SSKOKIEKOKIE FIREFIRE DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT 20182018 AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT ISO Class 1 Message from the Chief We are pleased to present the Village of Skokie 2018 Fire Department Annual Report. It was a year of many accomplishments and much change within the organizaon. The Fire Department responded to a record number of emergency incidents with 10,082 calls for assistance. With the ever increasing call volume, members of the Fire Department connue to provide a high level of service to the community. Meeng these demands has only been possible through the strong support of the Village. Therefore, we offer our wholehearted appreciaon to our Honorable Mayor, George Van Dusen, Village Board of Trustees, and Manager’s Office, for ensuring the Fire Department has the necessary resources to serve the cizens, businesses, and visitors of Skokie. With the rerement of several members of the Fire Department’s senior leadership, several fire officers have been promoted to key roles within the organizaon. We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the tremendous contribuons and commitment of Deputy Chief Ken Borre, Deputy Chief Bob Reichert, Baalion Chief Steve Ludkowski, Lieutenant Ron Smith and Lt. Roger Penninger, who each provided the Skokie Fire Department more than 3 decades of dedicaon, leadership, and professionalism. Their guidance was instrumental in developing the Skokie Fire Department into a naonally recognized Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 and Commission on Fire Accreditaon Internaonal, Accredited Agency. Through their mentoring, the newly promoted fire officers are well prepared to carry on effecve leadership of the organizaon. They, along with FF/FAE Tom Fuchs and FPB Specialist Linda Brady, have made lasng impressions on the legacy of the Skokie Fire Department. For over 138 years, the Skokie Fire Department has upheld a strong culture of service to others, while maintaining our core values of respect, accountability, honesty, and cooperaon. With support from the Village of Skokie, municipal departments, and external agencies, the Department will connually strive to provide the highest level of service to the community. We are forever commied to ensuring the life‐safety and well‐being of those we serve. Thank you, Jeffrey J. Hoeflich Interim Fire Chief Message from the Chief 2 Fire Prevention/Code Enforcement 12 Accomplishments & Goals 3 FPB Smoke Detector Program 13 Medal of Merit Award 4 Public Education 14 Table of Promotions 5 Training 15 Personnel/Honor Guard 6 Work Groups 16 Contents Cancer Reduction Initiative 7 Organization Chart 18 Operations Division 8 Department Personnel Photos 19 Response Statistics 9 Leaving a Legacy 26 Emergency Medical Services 10 Retirements 27 Support Services 11 Council-Manager Government 28 2 We Are Our Accomplishments The Skokie Fire Department is a “full service agency” that is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and holds an enviable ISO Class 1 rating. The Department provides a full spectrum of contemporary services for Village residents: Fire suppression Plan review Life safety education Paramedic services Rescue services Fire investigation Code enforcement Hazardous materials response Disaster management The department strives to deliver the highest level of emergency response with the greatest margin of safety for firefighters in the most fiscally responsible manner. The 111 shift firefighters, paramedics and officers operate from three stations with 3 engines, 2 trucks, 3 ambulances, 1 rescue, 1 squad and an incident command vehicle. 2018 Accomplishments Enhanced fire suppression personnel protection equipment replacement program Reviewed operations to comply with Insurance Services Office (ISO) requirements and Center for Public Safety and Excellence (CPSE) Accreditation recommendations Purchased and installed extractors to comply with National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standard 1851 and reduce Firefighter exposure to carcinogens left on bunker gear from fire exposure Developed, implemented and evaluated smoke detector/home inspection program for the Village Updated technology to migrate fire suppression operations and field inspections to web-based tablets Evaluated incident response times for compliance with ISO/CPSE/NFPA 1710 2019 Goals Review/update Standard Operating Guidelines to promote safe and effective operations Automate pre-plan component of the annual fire inspection program employing apparatus tablets Develop structured reports to document compliance with ISO/CPSE/NFPA 1710 utilizing new analytic software Integrate state-of-the-art medical devices to assist with cardiac arrest protocol Accelerate replacement of structural fire helmets and PPE for all line personnel Initiate process to evaluate and establish appropriate staffing levels department-wide, including the Fire Prevention Bureau Complete enhancements and required engineering inspection of the drill tower Develop and maintain a comprehensive succession plan for department leadership and management 3 Medal of Merit Award This award is presented to a member who performed a personal act in a courageous manner in the protection of life while engaged in the mediation of a fire incident. On November 19th, at the Village Board Meeting, Retired Battalion Chief Steven Ludkowski presented the Medal of Merit to Lieutenant Eschner, Firefighter Jahn and Firefighter Wallace for their courageous and selfless act on February 16, 2018. On the night of February 16th, at 23:22 hours, the Department was dispatched to a house fire located on Tripp Avenue. Tower Ladder 16 with its crew of Lieutenant Eschner, Firefighters Jahn and Wallace responded along with Engine 17, Rescue 17, Ambulance 17, Squad 18 and Battalion 16. Although initially fire companies were told that there was a possibility two adults in the house, prior to arrival they were notified that all were evacuated. TL16 crew was assigned a duty in the rear of the structure. While in-route to the rear, they encountered an adult male who was attempting to re-enter the rear door. They pulled the victim from the heat and smoke of the rear door and were able to determine that there were still two elderly adult victims in the burning structure. Without the aid of a protective hose line and under intense heat and smoke caused by a fully involved fire in the front of the building, the crew entered the rear of the structure and found an elderly female on the kitchen floor; which they quickly removed and transferred to EMS personnel. They then re-entered the house, again without the aid of a protective hose line and found an elderly male in the hallway, which they removed to the exterior and transferred to EMS personnel. Through their actions and dedication to preserve life, TL16 crew was able to transfer three patients to EMS personnel, who although they suffered smoke inhalation and burns, where conscious at the time of transport. Left to Right, Lieutenant Nicholas Eschner, Battalion Chief Steven Ludkowski (Ret.), Firefighter Scott Wallace and Firefighter Michael Jahn. 4 2018 Promotions Captain Kathleen Furgala to Deputy Chief December 7th Lieutenant Thomas Doran Lieutenant Mark Larson Lieutenant Stephen Jagman To Captain July 6th to Captain December 10th to Captain December 10th Firefighters Promoted to Lieutenants December th 18 Left to Right, Lieutenant Michael Jahn, Lieutenant Timothy Norton, Lieutenant Michael Greenwood, Lieutenant David Norris, Fire and Police Commissioner Willard Evans, Jr., Mayor George Van Dusen, Lieutenant Nicholas Eaglin and Interim Fire Chief Jeffrey Hoeflich 5 Personnel The proficient staff of the Skokie Fire Department are, at all times, ready to meet the challenge of the varied tasks associated with this profession. As of June 2018, the Department had an average of just under 13 years of service associated with an average age of 40.32. Our diversity in experience ensures a balance of appropriate performance now and continuity of performance in the future. Number of Number of Years of Service Age Members 1-5 Years 39 21-25 Years 4 6-10 Years 9 26-30 Years 17 11-15 Years 13 31-35 Years 19 16-20 Years 21 36-40 Years 18 21-25 Years 15 41-45 Years 13 26-30 Years 10 46-50 Years 17 Over 31 Years 1 Over 51 Years 20 Average 12.63 Average 40.32 Honor Guard The Skokie Fire Department Local 3033 Honor Guard has been established to provide dignified funeral and memorial honors for fallen Fire Department Members as a Line of Duty Death benefit and to assist and support surviving family members, union brothers and sisters during their time of need. The Honor Guard also promotes a positive image of the Fire Service, the Skokie Fire Department and its members by serving as a well trained professional team at formal occasions, civic functions and memorials. Skokie Fire Department Local 3033 Honor Guard Members Capt Thomas Doran* DC Kathy Furgala * FF Craig Nordin* R Lt Christopher Vrshek FF Josh Hutchison* FF Jason Dziedzic* FF William Gendel* FF Tim O’Malley FF Joseph Pryst* Lt Leo Riley* R * Associated Firefighters of Illinois State Honor Guard Members R Retired Highlights of 2018 Honor Guard Events Internaonal Associaon of Fire Fighters’ Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, Colorado Springs, CO 26th Internaonal Associaon of Fire Fighters’ Honor Guard Inducon Ceremony and Convenon Illinois Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony, Springfield, IL Village of Skokie Memorial Day Ceremony, Fourth of July Parade, Patriots’ Day Ceremony 6 Cancer Reduction Initiative Plastics and synthetics are more