Excerpts from the journal-topics.com:
The Niles Fire Department is changing its command staff and reviving the position of deputy chief, a position which had gone unfilled since 2008. District Chief Robert Greiner reported for duty Friday, Oct. 25, in his new role as Niles’ deputy fire chief of operations.
Scott Guerino becomes the third district chief for community risk reduction, joining District Chief Orlando Diaz in charge of training, and District Chief Rich Scipione overseeing emergency medical service.
District chiefs work shifts with firefighters, 24 hours on and 48 hours off.
The new structure would grow the department’s overall budget, but the fire chief said the more complicated administrative workload requires the additional command staff.
Extra administrative work had been assigned to the three district chiefs to be completed during their shifts. That has become difficult as the volume of calls this year is set to outpace last year, when firefighters responded to 7,282 calls — the most in the department’s history.
Additionally, Niles has a reciprocal agreement with Morton Grove, over and above standard mutual aid, where Niles district chiefs respond with Morton Grove firefighters to command a scene, and Morton Grove district chiefs respond into Niles when required. That high operational tempo has caused district chiefs to come in on their off time to complete administrative work, which will now be completed by Greiner.
Engineer Jim Leibach is often seen in a community outreach role at community events, generally working with children. Other programs, such as the new service where firefighters install smoke detectors in residents’ homes, along with other educational and community outreach, will be Guerino’s responsibility.
Evan Schachtel was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and Michael Nelson to fire apparatus engineer. Darrion Roszakowski and Jake Rusnac joined the department as new firefighter/paramedics this week.
