Archive for July 21st, 2017

Brookfield Fire Department news

Excerpts from the RBLandmark.com:

Ed Bermann was always going to be a firefighter, and since 1975 he’s been one. At the end of this month, he will be walking away from the job he loves. State statute requires firefighters to retire at age 65, and on his next birthday in August, he’ll hit that milestone.

A lifelong Brookfielder with deep family ties to not just the village but its fire department, Bermann’s last shift is July 26.  He has held every rank in the department, save the rank of chief, in his years as a firefighter, working his way up from a paid-on-call firefighter to captain.

Born a few years after his parents settled in Brookfield, Bermann recalled playing in the still-developing neighborhood, particularly on the vacant lot — the “prairie” — located kitty corner from home. He wound up buying the home built on that lot and still lives there.

Two of his uncles, Bob and Wilbur Langele, were part-time firefighters in Brookfield. A July 4, 1950 photo of the two men posing with an engine in front of the main fire station along with other firefighters is the screen saver of Bermann’s computer inside the Shields Avenue station.

Shortly after graduating from college, he signed up to be a paid-on-call firefighter, responding to calls between stints delivering cookies, laying carpet, and working for a neon sign company.

One day in 1979, Bermann got offers to become a full-time firefighter at both the Pleasantview Fire Protection District and the Village of Brookfield. 

The department during the next four decades would rely on Bermann to shoulder many responsibilities. In addition to being a mentor to younger firefighters — as he was for Duffek and Patrick Lenzi, the present fire chief — Bermann has been the go-to person for all kinds of things, from radios to department history.

He’s the department’s incident commander, he handles scheduling, and payroll. He became the department’s unofficial historian early in his career as a member of the Firefighters Association.

He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the department’s calls, stretching back for years. At some point in his career he started keeping a running log of fire calls, listing the dates, addresses, severity, and whether there were fatalities.

He can rattle off years and addresses for many fires, like the 1977 fire in the 9400 block of Jefferson Avenue that claimed the lives of five children. Nowadays, there is counseling and stress debriefings available for firefighters who witness such horrific events.

On many occasions, he responded to fires from home on off days. He’s got a set of clothes at the station and another at home in case there’s an alarm when he’s off duty.

Responding from home isn’t an option for many of the department’s firefighters these days. There’s no residency requirement. Bermann, Lenzi, and Duffek are the only ones who still live in Brookfield.

thanks Dan

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Milwaukee Fire Department news

Being a firefighter with the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) is about more than putting out fires.  The MFD’s focus on prevention, education, emergency medical and other emergency services means that you’ll be of service to your community every day, often helping people at their times of greatest need.  If you’re a person with compassion and bravery and want to do meaningful work that makes a difference, consider a career with the Milwaukee Fire Department. 

Why choose a career with the Milwaukee Fire Department?

  • To make positive changes in your community.
    • You will be directly helping people in need every day.
  • To earn a competitive salary.
    • $44,490.37 per year to start.
  • To have a secure pension and retirement.
    • A fully funded, vested pension system; available at age 52 with 25 years of service or age 57 with no service minimum.
  • To further your education.
    • You’ll have access to tuition and textbook reimbursement of up to $925 per year and your educational achievements will be rewarded with annual bonus payments.
  • For opportunity for promotion and advancement.
    • Supervisory positions are filled through internal promotion.  The maximum annual salary for a Fire Captain, for example, is $95,350.25.
  • To use your talents and skills to their potential.
    • MFD members serve in a variety of roles and specialties from the Dive Rescue Team to the Hazardous Materials Team and the Fire Investigation Unit. 

Sign up for our mailing list and our recruiter will let you know when we will be hiring for this position.  We anticipate a recruitment during Fall of 2017. 

 

More Information

We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the Firefighter position and the hiring process.

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New aerial for Bensenville FPD (more)

photos of the completed new aerial for Bensenville FPD

Bensenville FD Truck 107

Mike Spain photo

Bensenville FD Truck 107

Don Tessler photo

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Mount Prospect Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

An elderly woman was rescued by Mount Prospect firefighters Tuesday afternoon after calling 911 to report fire and smoke coming from her basement.

 The resident was on the second floor of her split-level, single family-house on the 500 block of South Main Street, where firefighters located her almost immediately upon arriving about 3:40 p.m., said Fire Chief Brian Lambel.

The woman was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The extent of her injuries wasn’t immediately known.

A second crew of firefighters went to the basement to extinguish the fire and brought it under control within 10 minutes of the initial 911 dispatch.

Fire damage was contained to one room in the basement, while the rest of the house sustained smoke damage, he said.

No firefighters were injured. Five area fire departments assisted on the scene.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

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