Posts Tagged Forest Park Fire Department

Forest Park Fire Department news

Jan 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 11 Comments

Forest Park Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta said Metro Ambulance Service, the village’s third-party provider, is supposed to provide six paramedics to staff the village’s ambulance in three two-person shifts throughout the day. But for the last several months at least, no more than three contract paramedics have been available and that, until recently, that number was only two.

The shortfall means that Forest Park firefighters, all but one of whom are cross-trained and certified firefighter/paramedics, have been working overtime shifts to cover the gaps. Chiappetta said finding volunteers to work those shifts has, thankfully, not been a problem, but that the lingering effects of what he described as a statewide shortage have led him to approach village hall about ending the contract with Metro Paramedics when it expires in April 2023 and converting the village’s ambulance staff to full-time fire department employees.

Metro Paramedics said paramedics are in short supply nationwide and that one part of a more complex web of issues is that base pay for contract paramedics is extremely low, something that is causing people to leave the business and dramatically shrinking the pool of students who are now attending and completing paramedic certification programs. Metro has been trying to raise pay for years, something prompted by incremental increases in the minimum wage in Illinois, which is now $12 per hour. They have lost clients in other municipalities as Metro has raised prices to try and subsidize wage increases, but that right now companies like his have few other options.

Because Metro has been unable to fulfill its end of the contract with the village, Forest Park taxpayers are not shelling out any additional tax dollars to make up for the shortage. Any overtime hours paid to Forest Park firefighters are deducted from the amount the village pays Metro, so for now the financial implications in the village are minimal. That’s not the case, of course, for Metro.

Chiappetta is hopeful for the prospect of bringing the paramedic service in-house, something that is buoyed by an effort from former chief Steve Glinke to cross-train staff to serve in both roles.

Tags: Forest Park Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta, Forest Park Fire Department, Metro Ambulance Service

Forest Park Fire Department news

Sep 30

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the ForestParkReview.com:

Phil Chiappetta is Forest Park’s new fire chief appointed by the mayor and unanimously approved by commissioners Sept. 28. He is replacing Chief Bob McDermott who retires effective Sept. 30, at which point he will join the North Riverside Fire Department as chief. Also retiring are Lieutenant Tom “TJ” Janopoulos and of Lieutenant Russ Nelson.

Chiappetta has served as deputy chief in Forest Park Fire since 2016. He started as a contract paramedic in 1997 and in 2001 was hired as the first firefighter/paramedic in Forest Park. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2010.

This appointment leaves an opening for deputy chief, a position that will take about 3-6 months to fill. The promotion must be made off a list of lieutenants who have taken the captain’s test, but currently there isn’t a list since none of the lieutenants took the last test that was offered. The village is working on scheduling the test now.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, the council voted to direct the Fire and Police Commission to appoint two candidates from its current fire lieutenant eligibility list and two candidates from its current probationary firefighter eligibility list to fill vacancies.

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Forest park FD Chief Phil Chiappetta, Forest Park Fire Department, new fire chief in Forest park, North Riverside Fire Department

House fire in Forest Park, 9-17-20

Sep 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

Firefighters battled a blaze at a Forest Park home Thursday afternoon that started shortly before 5:45 in the 1100-block of Elgin Avenue.

A teacher, her husband and their 12-year-old son lived in the top unit of the home. A relative said the fire started in the attic, and while all three were able to make it out safely, they lost everything in the blaze. What caused the fire is not immediately known.

Relatives have started a GoFundMe to help the family displaced by the fire.

Tags: Forest Park Fire Department, house fire in Forest Park

North Riverside Fire Department news

Sep 5

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from the RBlandmark.com:

North Riverside Fire Chief John Kiser resigned from his post Sept. 3. The village hired Bob McDermott, who is retiring from a 32-year career as a firefighter in Forest Park at the end of the month. While both Kiser and the North Riverside mayor said the parting of the ways was mutual, the timing was unexpected and things came together very rapidly this week.

McDermott, 53, a Forest Park native and Nazareth Academy graduate who lives in LaGrange Park, was elevated to fire chief in Forest Park in 2016 after 11 years as deputy chief. He started his career as a full-time firefighter there in 1988. He will split his time between North Riverside and Forest Park through the end of September, but reported for his first day in North Riverside on Sept. 4.

Previously, a years’ long feud between village government and union firefighters peaked during a five-year campaign to privatize the fire service in North Riverside. The lengthy court battle, which started in the summer of 2014 and resulted in expensive and seemingly endless litigation and labor complaints, ended in December 2019 when the two sides inked a seven-year contract that expires next April 30. McDermott was well aware of that history when he decided to take the job, saying both the mayor and village administrator assured him that battle was over.

thanks Dennis

Tags: Forest Park Fire Department, new North Riverside Fire Department fire chief, North Riverside Fire Chief Bob McDermott, North Riverside Fire Chief John Kiser, North Riverside Fire Department

Of interest … Forest Park Fire Department

Apr 21

Posted by Admin in Reader submission | Comments off

Excerpts from the Forestparkreview.com:

Forest Park Firefighter Andrew Weber was pounding pork chops recently when he heard a call. Weber and his six crew members answered the call and then returned to the kitchen, chopping vegetables, stirring mashed potatoes, setting the kitchen table and, in Weber’s case, finally cooking the pork chops. Weber added banana peppers to the meat, and finished the meal with a homemade dessert of layered ice cream sandwiches, peanut butter, Cool Whip, and crushed Oreo cookies.

Cooking and eating comprise a big part of firefighters’ work lives who spend one-third of their lives with their shift mates. When they are not out on a call, training, or working out in the weight room, they make the second floor of the station their home. And that includes the kitchen.

When the shift starts, one of the first things the group does is sit around the table and decide what they will make for dinner and who will be the lead chef. There are three shifts and each has its own refrigerator and floor to ceiling shelving for dry goods. Each person has their signature dish.

Yvan Woitecki, 32, a paramedic who has been with the department for a little over a year, makes chicken salad with honey, mustard, lots of mayo, white chicken meat, and whatever vegetables are available. The firehouse meal he’ll really remember, though, was on December 25th last year, Christmas Day, when firefighters decided to add a little extra to the grocery budget. Weber used the extra funds to buy a prime rib roast.

Travis Myers, 39, who has been with the department for nine years, said his signature dish is Philly-style cheese steaks.

But not all the firefighters like to cook. “I like to order pizza,” said Kenneth Hriensaitong, 44, adding that he’s rarely cooked in the 12 years he’s been in the department. Hriensaitong started a debate about which restaurant makes the best pie in Forest Park. After a few minutes of sparring, the group finally agreed that McGaffer’s Saloon makes excellent thin crust.

thanks Dan

Tags: eating in the firehouse, Forest Park Fire Department

Of interest … Pancake Breakfast

Oct 10

Posted by Admin in Reader submission | Comments off

thanks Dan

Tags: Forest Park Fire Department, pancake breakfast

New engine for Forest Park (more)

Sep 14

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, New Delivery | 3 Comments

This from Jeff Braun Jr:

Here are a few photos of the new Forest Park Engine 401 in full service at the HOBO Grand Opening. Thanks. (9/12/17) -Jeff Braun Jr (COUNTY-WIDE FIRE PHOTOGRPAHY)

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, County-Wide Fire Photography, E-ONE Typhoon fire engine, Fire Service Inc., fire truck being built, fire truck photos, Forest Park Fire Department, Jeff Braun Jr., new engine for Forest Park, new fire engine for the Forest Park FD

New engine for Forest Park (more)

Jul 17

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos | Comments off

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Fire Service, Inc would like to congratulate the Forest Park, IL Fire Department on the delivery of their new E- One pumper! This rescue body, 530-gallon tank, low hose bed, and top mount pump panel design provides Forest Park with mission critical capabilites in their highy urban environment. This will be the first out apparatus which beyond suppression capabilites, includes a large interior EMS cabinet for their ALS gear, and body storage for thier cache of tool and equipment. Thank you Chief McDermott, and Deputy Chief Chiappetta for your support of FSI and E-One. Welcome to the family!