Station Gossip

It seems we have some wannabe superheros working the night shift at Station One. From growling to trying to walk through walls, its been kind of entertaining lately!Rumor has it Tom Lake had his name up in lights recently!Glad to hear Rob Gonia’s wife Jeanna is doing well after her recent surgery.HRFD Extrication Team will be competing May 16 & 17 at the Midwest Extrication Competition in Cherry Valley. They will compete in the Unlimited Pit at 9am on Saturday and in the Limited Pit at 3pm on Sunday. Good luck team.

Steve Shoevlin, HRFD fi refi ghter and son of Chief Don Shoevlin and wife Tammy graduated from Illinois State University on May 8 with a Bachelors degree in Math..Captain Mike Drost and Photographer Sheryl Drost’s daughter Annette graduated from University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) on May 9 with a Masters Degree in Architecture.Lt. Mike Powell’s daughter Shannon will be receiving her Associates Degree in Applied Science from RVC.Charlotte Bruss, HRFD assistant photographer and fi ancee to fi refi ghter Ryan Alms, graduated from Columbia College on May 9 with a Bachelors Degree in Photography.Abbie Hill’s little brother Aaron Hill graduates from Christian Life High School.

Here kitty, kitty . . .

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New Concrete Apron at Station OneThe apron at Station One was dug up and new concrete has been poured. It will be a couple weeks before the last section can be driven on.

PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com

the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

May 2009 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Garage FireSee page 4

Celebrating EMS WeekSee pages 6&7

Photo by Sheryl Drost

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Well, I think we will all agree, that yes, we had the April showers this past month. It will now be interesting if it helps the May fl owers as the saying goes. Fortunately, we did not have to deal with any severe weather so far this spring. The new county siren alert system is scheduled to be completed and tested sometime this month.

Congratulation to Firefi ghter Tom Lake. He was this year’s recipient of the Loves Park VFW Award. I would like to thank the VFW for their continuing support of this program. It was an enjoyable evening for us all in attendance.

Congratulations to Doug Wolfe in his promotion to Lieutenant. I have full confi dence that Doug will be a big asset to Station 2 in his new roll. He has the heart and desire to achieve many goals, as well as the passion to his fi refi ghters to be successful.

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals. Sheryl and Randy have been working diligently on it and have made many wonderful changes and updates. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

In closing this month I would like to share this for all the moms.By Helen Steiner RiceA Mother’s love is something that no one can explain,It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifi ce and pain,It is endless and unselfi sh and enduring come what mayFor nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . .It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . .Thank you to all the moms out there for what you endure and do.

Harlem-Roscoe FPD Award RecipientLoves Park VFW Post 9759 - April 14, 2009

Chief Don Shoevlin poses with HRFD’s 2009 awardee, Firefi ghter/EMT Tom Lake.

Tom has been on the fi re department for 6 years. He is certifi ed or has completed the following: FFIII, Instructor I, Trench Rescue Awareness, Trench Operations, CPR Instructor, Fire Apparatus Engineer, and NIMS 100 & 200. He has also taken

numerous other fi re-related courses at Monroe Fire School and UofI Fire College. He is an active member with the Stateline Technical Rescue Team and the MABAS Division Tech Team.

“Tom is a committed and dedicated individual as is evident in his accomplishments over the past 6 years.” Chief Shoevlin praised Tom during his introduction. Tom’s wife, Lt.Ramona Baldoni-Lake also serves on the department. See more pictures of the award night at www.harlemroscoefi re.com.

New LieutenantPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Doug Wolfe joined the department January 1996. April 1, 2009, Doug was promoted to Acting Lieutenant. Doug runs out of Station #2 on Ralston Road.

Doug is state certifi ed Firefi ghter II. He has completed Basic Company Offi cer Training, Hazardous Materials Awareness & LP Burn

thru IFSI. He has taken classes in water supply, weather spotter, helicopter saftey, and NIMS. Doug is a Fire Apparatus Engineer. He also attended the 40-hour Smoke Divers Class in 1997.

He currently serves as one of Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters Association Trustee, and is part of the Radio and Driving divisions. He is employed as a CNC machinist at Advanced Machine & Engineering. Doug and his wife Carolyn have three children, Kyle Wolfe(2), Kaela Wolfe (10), and Logan Close (11).

New Lieutenant Doug Wolfe was offi cially sworn in on May 3. Above, Doug poses with (l-r) Chief Don Shoevlin, his wife Carolyn, sons Logan & Kyle, daughter Kaela, Station Two Captain Jay Alms, and Trustee Bart Munger.

Firefi ghter Sworn InPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghter Christian Bush took the fi refi ghter oath on May 3, ending his 6-month probation period as a new fi refi ghter. Christian poses above with Chief Don Shoevlin, girlfriend Amanda Clafton, his father, HRFD Firefi ghter Matt Bush, Station One Captain Mike Drost, and Trustee Bart Munger.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Once these preparatory search exercises were completed, it was time to put victims into the mix. Now, it’s not just a matter of moving around and fi nding the exit, the fi refi ghters must also fi nd victims and recover them to safety. For the next 90 minutes or so,

the teams would rescue the victims, and the safety offi cers would lug them back upstairs for the next evolution. Let me tell you, each time I helped drag a rescue dummy up the stairs, I secretly thought I’d rather have them delivered for us by UPS.

It was during these exercises that we realized the fi refi ghters were using rescue webbing, as they’d been taught. However, working in dark, with a sense of urgency, heavy gloves on their hands, they couldn’t really tell where the webbing had ended up – only that they seemed to have a good handle on the victims. As they came down the stairs, some rescue dummies came down head fi rst, their heads bouncing on the stairs. Others came down feet fi rst (good job team), but they were moved with webbing around their necks. The good news was that they didn’t have the ability to breathe in any more smoke. The bad news was that they didn’t have the ability to breathe. With a little guidance, that problem was quickly corrected, and these fi refi ghters know now how to rescue a live victim without strangling them in the process.

Next up on the agenda – live fi re and suppression training. Wooden pallets and straw were set up in rooms around the second fl oor of the farm house. Working in a single room, the materials would be ignited, and instructors and crews would enter the rooms to get visual examples of fi re rolling across the ceiling, smoke banking down and feel temperature levels increasing with elevation in a burning environment. After getting these demonstrations, they’d fl ow water on the fi re. Just enough water to knock it down, but still leave it lit for the next team to come in for training.

During this entire time, safety personnel remained within this environment to make sure the fi re remained in check. Saying that we felt like turkeys on Thanksgiving Day would be an understatement. The heat was a huge challenge. Even outside the “burn rooms”, the temperature was a couple hundred degrees. Smoke detectors were melting off the ceilings in the non-burning rooms. It was getting to the point that 10 minutes was about the limit a person could remain in that environment before switching out with another safety offi cer.

Once we’d use one room to its limit (we wanted this house to remain intact for more training coming all this month), we moved onto the nursery. Crews would cycle in with their training offi cers, we’d get a count of people that were on the second fl oor, and training would commence. “See the smoke starting to bank down from the ceiling..a couple of distinct layers there. Watch now as the fl ames rise, hit the ceiling and start to roll out from the fi re. Notice the smoke being pulled towards the bottom of the fi re, showing the direction of airfl ow”.

We’re near the end of the training day at this point. Everyone is tired, hot, their gear fi lled with sweat from working in the heat and all the physical activity they’ve been involved in during the day.

Then, a radio message – “there’s smoke pushing out the attic! You’ve got a fi re in the attic!” The senior safety fi refi ghter told the instructor “You take your people, I’ve got my crew – verify your personnel count”. He headed for the pull-down attic stairs in the next bedroom, reached for

the cord and pulled. But, rather than lower the stairs, he ended up with a handful of cord. He immediately called for irons – axes and Halligan bars – in order to gain access to the attic. In the few seconds that people went to fi nd tools, a radio message came out that fl ames had broken through the roof in multiple locations. We’re pretty sure at this point that if we don’t get in the attic in a few moments, we’ll have to simply evacuate the house, and fi ght this fi re from the outside.

I pulled out a pair of pliers from my bunker gear and got a good hold on the draw cord. The senior fi refi ghter was at the ready with the hose line, and as I lowered the stairs, he started fl owing water at the fl ames. It didn’t take long to clear enough of the fl ames for him to advance up the stairs. We got the probies pulling in more hose length to allow for an advance in the attic, and we put personnel in charge of counting how many fi refi ghters were in the attic. As soon as the senior fi refi ghter got into the attic, a second hose line was advanced into the attic, and some control of the fi re was regained. After taking stock of the situation in the attic, the call came back that we had fi re in the walls. It’s time to put those irons to work. With adrenaline feeding our muscles, we cleared walls of lath and plaster in nothing fl at. The fi re in the walls was extinguished, and personnel were cycled out, being replaced by fresher fi refi ghters that would continue the overhaul operations, and foam the attic to ensure there wasn’t a rekindle.

In the end, what had begun as a basic exercise in understanding the fi re, the conditions and how to apply water to control the fi re ended up as a rapidly changing environment – working with all the skills we’d been taught to tackle a problem that went beyond the scope of the intended training. This wasn’t a situation that we weren’t prepared for, but it was a situation we would have preferred not happen. It was the proverbial Murphy, playing in the attic. He knew we were hot and tired, he knew we were beginning to think of that long cool drink of water waiting for us when this training was over. He knew we were nearly exhausted, and he was fully aware of the fact that we had a lot of students not yet ready for these new conditions that he, our Murphy, was getting ready to dump on us.

Getting out to the rehab area, we were spent, no energy left in our bodies, experiencing nausea from being overheated, overworked and over-excited. We were smiling and happy, we were successful, and we had fully earned that long, cool drink of water.

This success was possible because of vigilant personnel outside, prepared personnel inside, offi cers that could redirect their people at a moment’s notice, probies that responded properly to unexpected commands, and a senior fi refi ghter with a keen sense of the principles of fi re fi ghting. These conditions ensured that we had a training day that turned “Uh-oh” into a fantastic training experience and kept the house intact for more evolutions in the future. Chalk one up for the fi refi ghters that gave Murphy the boot!

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Family Pets Die in House FireStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

Neighbors next door to a home on Patty Lane in Machesney Park noticed smoke coming from the home and called 911. Firefi ghters made forcible entry through the front door and found the home full of smoke and a fi re in the kitchen. The fi re was extinguished. Sadly, the family dog and cat were found dead. Positive pressure fans were used to rid the home of smoke and the overhaul and investigation done. It is believed to be an accidental fi re that started in the kitchen.

Firefi ghters Gina McCauley, Zak Prielipp, and Paul Stanphill enter the smoke-fi lled home in search of the fi re as Deputy Chief John Bergeron is in charge of operations.

Engineer John Donovan gets water fl owing from the attack truck as fi refi ghter Andrew Yastrab pulls a hose line to the truck at the water hydrant.

Firefi ghter Gina McCauley fi nishes putting the fi re out in the attic above the kitchen as Deputy Chief John Bergeron and Zak Prielipp look on.

Smoke InvestigationsStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

May 1 - Country Ct. Firefi ghter Radi Huggard heads into the attic to check for the source of smoke in the home as fi refi ghters Christian Bush and Scott Gredenius pass up needed tools. The culprit was found on the refrigerator - a part that had shorted out.

April 23 - Edgemere Ct. Firefi ghters ladder the restaurant building to check a rooftop cooling unit after smoke started blowing from a ceiling vent.

May 6 - Free Church Road Firefi ghter Lindsey Weirick uses a Thermal Imaging Camera to check for heat after lightning hit the building. The force of the hit blew siding off the side of the home. It then followed a water pipe down to the basement where it did some minor damage. No fi re was found.

Our Constant Companion - MurphyBy Firefi ghter/EMT Randy Lovelace Photos by Sheryl Drost & Debbie Rykowski

When training with the fi re department seems like training, Murphy may step up and light a fi re under your boots, or over your head. Some of you may fi nd yourself asking “Who is Murphy?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Murphy is the guy that sees you running fi re suppression drills without tools, or rescuing fake victims by wrapping webbing around the dummy’s neck. He’s the guy that’s waiting in the wings (or the attic) for you to let your guard down. Murphy is the ultimate fi nal exam proctor, if you fail his exam, you may fi nd yourself in a real battle. The fi rst weekend in May, some of us met Murphy, and speaking from experience, he has horrible timing.

It all started on Saturday morning, a gorgeous spring day. This was one of those days where the birds were chirping beautiful birdsong at dawn, the temperatures allowed for sleeping with the windows open, and you could choose any outside activity you wished for the day. The only thought tickling your mind as you began to rise from bed was “Why in the world did I sign up for fi re department training for today?” On the bright side, however, was the idea that training would end by 2 PM and you’d have the rest of the day to enjoy the fact that you’re alive and healthy.

We met at the training site at 8 AM. There was a bit of nervous excitement for some of the fi refi ghters. There were recruits, and some of the new probationary fi refi ghters, and this would be one of the fi rst times they’d exercise their skills with fi re nearby. Our goal would be to train these new fi refi ghters with skill-based exercises in search, rescue and fi re suppression.

Our fi rst order of business, after placing all the apparatus around the site, was to establish a water supply. Not having fi re hydrants nearby, we’d use a porta-tank. This is a large square “pool” that holds about 3000 gallons of water, and can be refi lled in mere minutes with a tender.

After the tank was set up, one of the Harlem Roscoe probies stepped onto the tailboard of the tanker, and prepared to let the waters fl ow. The probie’s jacket was open as they faced the truck, lowered the chute, and pulled on the discharge handle. On their fi rst pull, of only a couple of inches, the probie noticed the handle wanted to return to the closed position. They tried again, pulling a little further, straining a little harder. Same response, that handle wanted to go back to the closed position. Steeling their body for a good strain, the probie leaned towards the discharge chute, and pulled for all they were worth. As they began to lean back, pulling that handle, the waters began to fl ow, and their jacket slid over the chute. Within seconds water was rushing down the chute, being redirected by the jacket, and fi lling their bunker gear.

Surprised by the water, and its chilly temperatures, the probie lost their balance, and leaned back nearly parallel to the ground, preventing a fall into the porta-tank by a sheer force of will, and a death grip on that handle. After the probie recovered, the Lieutenant explained a better position from which to manage the water, a position that moved your balance away from the fi refi ghter’s version of a dunk tank, a position that keeps you dry and smiling. For everyone other than this probie, we found this to be a light-hearted opening to what looked to be a fun-fi lled day.

Once the water was set up, hose lines were established for safety and backup, windows were laddered in case emergency egress was necessary, safety briefi ngs were given to all trainees, instructors and safety personnel.

A fi re was started on the second fl oor of the farm house, our training building for the day. The goal of this fi re was to fully engulf the second fl oor in smoke, making it nearly impossible to use your eyes for the search exercises. Firefi ghters came up in groups of three and four personnel, followed hose lines, and guided their teammates by verbal instructions; the leader calling out what they were fi nding as they crawled along the fl oor: doorways, steps, sounds of crackling fi re, individual rooms, closets, debris…anything that might help their team navigate these obstacles a little easier, and let the team move faster during their search.

During this time, instructors would move with the teams, reminding them to keep in communication with all members of their team, reminding them to use the senses they did have left: sound and touch. (Sight is gone from the smoke and darkened rooms, smell is gone because of the air masks, and taste isn’t a good idea if you can’t see what might go in your mouth). Safety personnel ensure that fi refi ghters remained well away from fl ames creating the smoke, that the teams remained clear of unsafe areas on that fl oor, and monitored the progress of the teams and their mental states.

Garage FireStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

Celebrations were cut short Easter Sunday night on April 12. Firefi ghters responded from all three stations to a house fi re on Banyan Drive in Machesney Park. A passing motorist saw fl ames coming from the roof of a house and called 9-1-1 as she banged on the front door to see if anyone was home. Three teens and four dogs were in the home, and they were totally unaware their roof was on fi re. Gusting winds hampered fi refi ghters, but the fi re was extinguished and overhaul went into the early morning hours. No one was injured and the residents and pets are staying with family and friends. Fire investigators say the fi re was accidental from improper use of smoking material.

Firefi ghters start the attack on an addition to the back of the garage.

The attic and roof above the garage was fully involved and a tough one to fi ght.

Firefi ghters fi ght the fi re from the front and side of the garage.

Firefi ghters overhaul the outside wall of the garage looking for hot spots.

Engine 702 was the attack truck for the night with Shannon Burbach as engineer.

Rehab was set up in a neighbors driveway and kept the ambulance crew busy.

The fi re started in a back addition to the garage. Investigators say it was accidental from improper use of smoking material.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

BirthdaysMay1st Dan Gunderson Erik Hansen Lindsey Weirick16th Chuck Schoonover18th Judy Currier23rd Rob Lukowski ‘30th’25th Scott Gredenius31st Jordan Stark

June6th Ron Swain7th Bill Sabin Megan Alms8th Shannon Burbach11th Mike Huffman15th Chaplain Jim Wright16th Chris Kaiser Mickey Rykowski18th Chris Scott19th Trustee Jerry Ocker21st Jery Lindsay

June Breakfast List

Jay Alms, Tim Schrader, Paul Stanphill, Eric Schwietzer, Christi Wilson, & Brian Mayer

Total Calls for 2009752

Volume 14, Issue 5The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month.

www.harlemroscoefi re.com

Email submissions to: sdrost@harlemroscoefi re.com

Cruise FundraiserPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell and Donny Ball present Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters Association President Joe Quast with the monies raised from the Association’s Cruise Fundraiser both men went on.

Station One TourPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Girl Scout Troop # 371 took a tour of Station One on April 16.

Station Two Visit Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Bruss

Parker Center Pre-K students visited Station Two on Ralston Road on May 1,

Disc Golf Opens at Porter Park Photo by Sheryl Drost

Chief Don Shoevlin, Capt. Jay Alms, Lt. Mike Powell, DC John Bergeron, FFs Mark Schafman, Joe Quast, Jordan Stark, and Zak Prielipp have a little fun at the opening of the new Disc Golf Course on May 1. The Village of Roscoe hosted the event at Porter Park where the new course is located. The department got into the spirit of the day and handed out souvenir frisbees to the attendees.

Grass FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters fought a fi eld fi re on Main St. in Roscoe on April 15.

Firefi ghters Christian Bush and Paul Stanphill use Indian Water Packs to help extinguish the fi re.

Christian catches up to Chief Don Shoevlin using a broom and Rico VanderHeyden and Reety Radke on a hose line off one of the trucks.

Field Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe and Rockton Firefi ghters work together to extinguish a fi eld fi re off Roscoe Road on May 5th.

HRFD Firefi ghters Christian Bush and Eric Schweitzer use brooms to help extinguish the fi re.

EMS CornerBy Captain Jay Alms

The Stock Market is in the basement, the Auto Industry is fi ling for reorganization, our National Government is buying banks to keep them operating, unemployment is in double digits across the country. Can it get any worse? You Bet!

Now we have the “Swine Flu” to contend with in our lives, and pretty close to home, so they say.

Here at Harlem-Roscoe Fire, on a daily basis, we are monitoring bulletins and memos from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, the CDC (Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), our local hospitals, the Board of Education and neighboring police and fi re departments.

Inside the station we have stepped up our already stringent cleaning regime, and are going the extra mile to ensure that we do our part to keep this new threat at bay. The ambulance crews have been instructed to increase the time they normally spend on cleaning the rigs, following a trip to the hospital, to ensure that the epidemic will not fl ourish.

This threat is real, and we all need to do our part to help. Cover your nose and mouth, consider staying home from work or school and treat your symptoms so you can recover quicker.

More information is available by visiting the websites listed in this newsletter. Please do your part so we can defeat this outbreak quickly.

Thank you for attention and considerations, know that we are here if you need us, and rest assured we are on our way in your time of need.

May is Stroke Awareness MonthBy Patricia S. Hamilton RN,Clinical Nurse Manager 3 EastOSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

The human brain relies on a constant supply of oxygen to survive. Interrupting the fl ow of oxygen to the brain can cause injury or death to brain cells which leads to a stroke. A stroke can occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or “breaks”. Blood vessels can rupture when a person has extremely high blood pressure. Stroke can also occur when blood cannot fl ow through the vessels because they are clogged with cholesterol plaques.

According to the American Heart Association, there are 750, 000 strokes every year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. The warning signs for stroke are: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, and loss of coordination and sudden severe headache.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should ACT F.A.S.T. and immediately call 9-1-1. Arriving at the hospital as soon as

possible after the onset of symptoms increases the possibility of reversing or lessening the injury to the brain. Time is very important with regard to patient outcomes. The quicker a person gets to the hospital for treatment, the better the chance for good recovery.

You can decrease your risk of stroke by controlling your blood pressure, stop smoking, and maintain normal cholesterol blood levels. Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight.

In June 2008, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center (SAMC) became the fi rst hospital in Rockford, Illinois to become certifi ed as a Primary Stroke Center.

Driving Obstacle Course Photo by Sheryl Drost

April 19, Gina McCauley was among several HRFD Firefi ghters that took their turn driving the obstacle course training set up the Machesney Park Mall.

New Side Scan Sonar Photo by Jim Johnson

With boaters getting out on the water to enjoy the warmer weather, HRFD fi refi ghters took both department boats out on Pierce Lake for some equipment testing on May 3. Above, Captain Mike Drost watches the screen on the new side scan sonar unit the department recently purchased. Mike, Mickey Rykowski, Jim Daughenbaugh, and Debbie Rykowski took the unit through the paces to learn how to read it.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

ACT F.A.S.T. FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly? TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Bruss

04/09/09 Willowbrook Road 04/23/09 Elevator Road and Main St.

04/24/09 Hononegah Road & Dorr Road 04/29/09 Perryville Road

04/28/09 Perryville Road south of Swanson 05/01/09 Elevator Road & Main St.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7

Celebrating EMS WeekMay 17-23, 2009

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7

Celebrating EMS WeekMay 17-23, 2009

Grass FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters fought a fi eld fi re on Main St. in Roscoe on April 15.

Firefi ghters Christian Bush and Paul Stanphill use Indian Water Packs to help extinguish the fi re.

Christian catches up to Chief Don Shoevlin using a broom and Rico VanderHeyden and Reety Radke on a hose line off one of the trucks.

Field Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe and Rockton Firefi ghters work together to extinguish a fi eld fi re off Roscoe Road on May 5th.

HRFD Firefi ghters Christian Bush and Eric Schweitzer use brooms to help extinguish the fi re.

EMS CornerBy Captain Jay Alms

The Stock Market is in the basement, the Auto Industry is fi ling for reorganization, our National Government is buying banks to keep them operating, unemployment is in double digits across the country. Can it get any worse? You Bet!

Now we have the “Swine Flu” to contend with in our lives, and pretty close to home, so they say.

Here at Harlem-Roscoe Fire, on a daily basis, we are monitoring bulletins and memos from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, the CDC (Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), our local hospitals, the Board of Education and neighboring police and fi re departments.

Inside the station we have stepped up our already stringent cleaning regime, and are going the extra mile to ensure that we do our part to keep this new threat at bay. The ambulance crews have been instructed to increase the time they normally spend on cleaning the rigs, following a trip to the hospital, to ensure that the epidemic will not fl ourish.

This threat is real, and we all need to do our part to help. Cover your nose and mouth, consider staying home from work or school and treat your symptoms so you can recover quicker.

More information is available by visiting the websites listed in this newsletter. Please do your part so we can defeat this outbreak quickly.

Thank you for attention and considerations, know that we are here if you need us, and rest assured we are on our way in your time of need.

May is Stroke Awareness MonthBy Patricia S. Hamilton RN,Clinical Nurse Manager 3 EastOSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

The human brain relies on a constant supply of oxygen to survive. Interrupting the fl ow of oxygen to the brain can cause injury or death to brain cells which leads to a stroke. A stroke can occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or “breaks”. Blood vessels can rupture when a person has extremely high blood pressure. Stroke can also occur when blood cannot fl ow through the vessels because they are clogged with cholesterol plaques.

According to the American Heart Association, there are 750, 000 strokes every year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. The warning signs for stroke are: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, and loss of coordination and sudden severe headache.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should ACT F.A.S.T. and immediately call 9-1-1. Arriving at the hospital as soon as

possible after the onset of symptoms increases the possibility of reversing or lessening the injury to the brain. Time is very important with regard to patient outcomes. The quicker a person gets to the hospital for treatment, the better the chance for good recovery.

You can decrease your risk of stroke by controlling your blood pressure, stop smoking, and maintain normal cholesterol blood levels. Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight.

In June 2008, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center (SAMC) became the fi rst hospital in Rockford, Illinois to become certifi ed as a Primary Stroke Center.

Driving Obstacle Course Photo by Sheryl Drost

April 19, Gina McCauley was among several HRFD Firefi ghters that took their turn driving the obstacle course training set up the Machesney Park Mall.

New Side Scan Sonar Photo by Jim Johnson

With boaters getting out on the water to enjoy the warmer weather, HRFD fi refi ghters took both department boats out on Pierce Lake for some equipment testing on May 3. Above, Captain Mike Drost watches the screen on the new side scan sonar unit the department recently purchased. Mike, Mickey Rykowski, Jim Daughenbaugh, and Debbie Rykowski took the unit through the paces to learn how to read it.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

ACT F.A.S.T. FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly? TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Bruss

04/09/09 Willowbrook Road 04/23/09 Elevator Road and Main St.

04/24/09 Hononegah Road & Dorr Road 04/29/09 Perryville Road

04/28/09 Perryville Road south of Swanson 05/01/09 Elevator Road & Main St.

Garage FireStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

Celebrations were cut short Easter Sunday night on April 12. Firefi ghters responded from all three stations to a house fi re on Banyan Drive in Machesney Park. A passing motorist saw fl ames coming from the roof of a house and called 9-1-1 as she banged on the front door to see if anyone was home. Three teens and four dogs were in the home, and they were totally unaware their roof was on fi re. Gusting winds hampered fi refi ghters, but the fi re was extinguished and overhaul went into the early morning hours. No one was injured and the residents and pets are staying with family and friends. Fire investigators say the fi re was accidental from improper use of smoking material.

Firefi ghters start the attack on an addition to the back of the garage.

The attic and roof above the garage was fully involved and a tough one to fi ght.

Firefi ghters fi ght the fi re from the front and side of the garage.

Firefi ghters overhaul the outside wall of the garage looking for hot spots.

Engine 702 was the attack truck for the night with Shannon Burbach as engineer.

Rehab was set up in a neighbors driveway and kept the ambulance crew busy.

The fi re started in a back addition to the garage. Investigators say it was accidental from improper use of smoking material.

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BirthdaysMay1st Dan Gunderson Erik Hansen Lindsey Weirick16th Chuck Schoonover18th Judy Currier23rd Rob Lukowski ‘30th’25th Scott Gredenius31st Jordan Stark

June6th Ron Swain7th Bill Sabin Megan Alms8th Shannon Burbach11th Mike Huffman15th Chaplain Jim Wright16th Chris Kaiser Mickey Rykowski18th Chris Scott19th Trustee Jerry Ocker21st Jery Lindsay

June Breakfast List

Jay Alms, Tim Schrader, Paul Stanphill, Eric Schwietzer, Christi Wilson, & Brian Mayer

Total Calls for 2009752

Volume 14, Issue 5The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.

Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month.

www.harlemroscoefi re.com

Email submissions to: sdrost@harlemroscoefi re.com

Cruise FundraiserPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Assistant Chief Ken O’Dell and Donny Ball present Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters Association President Joe Quast with the monies raised from the Association’s Cruise Fundraiser both men went on.

Station One TourPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Girl Scout Troop # 371 took a tour of Station One on April 16.

Station Two Visit Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Bruss

Parker Center Pre-K students visited Station Two on Ralston Road on May 1,

Disc Golf Opens at Porter Park Photo by Sheryl Drost

Chief Don Shoevlin, Capt. Jay Alms, Lt. Mike Powell, DC John Bergeron, FFs Mark Schafman, Joe Quast, Jordan Stark, and Zak Prielipp have a little fun at the opening of the new Disc Golf Course on May 1. The Village of Roscoe hosted the event at Porter Park where the new course is located. The department got into the spirit of the day and handed out souvenir frisbees to the attendees.

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Family Pets Die in House FireStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

Neighbors next door to a home on Patty Lane in Machesney Park noticed smoke coming from the home and called 911. Firefi ghters made forcible entry through the front door and found the home full of smoke and a fi re in the kitchen. The fi re was extinguished. Sadly, the family dog and cat were found dead. Positive pressure fans were used to rid the home of smoke and the overhaul and investigation done. It is believed to be an accidental fi re that started in the kitchen.

Firefi ghters Gina McCauley, Zak Prielipp, and Paul Stanphill enter the smoke-fi lled home in search of the fi re as Deputy Chief John Bergeron is in charge of operations.

Engineer John Donovan gets water fl owing from the attack truck as fi refi ghter Andrew Yastrab pulls a hose line to the truck at the water hydrant.

Firefi ghter Gina McCauley fi nishes putting the fi re out in the attic above the kitchen as Deputy Chief John Bergeron and Zak Prielipp look on.

Smoke InvestigationsStory & photos by Sheryl Drost

May 1 - Country Ct. Firefi ghter Radi Huggard heads into the attic to check for the source of smoke in the home as fi refi ghters Christian Bush and Scott Gredenius pass up needed tools. The culprit was found on the refrigerator - a part that had shorted out.

April 23 - Edgemere Ct. Firefi ghters ladder the restaurant building to check a rooftop cooling unit after smoke started blowing from a ceiling vent.

May 6 - Free Church Road Firefi ghter Lindsey Weirick uses a Thermal Imaging Camera to check for heat after lightning hit the building. The force of the hit blew siding off the side of the home. It then followed a water pipe down to the basement where it did some minor damage. No fi re was found.

Our Constant Companion - MurphyBy Firefi ghter/EMT Randy Lovelace Photos by Sheryl Drost & Debbie Rykowski

When training with the fi re department seems like training, Murphy may step up and light a fi re under your boots, or over your head. Some of you may fi nd yourself asking “Who is Murphy?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Murphy is the guy that sees you running fi re suppression drills without tools, or rescuing fake victims by wrapping webbing around the dummy’s neck. He’s the guy that’s waiting in the wings (or the attic) for you to let your guard down. Murphy is the ultimate fi nal exam proctor, if you fail his exam, you may fi nd yourself in a real battle. The fi rst weekend in May, some of us met Murphy, and speaking from experience, he has horrible timing.

It all started on Saturday morning, a gorgeous spring day. This was one of those days where the birds were chirping beautiful birdsong at dawn, the temperatures allowed for sleeping with the windows open, and you could choose any outside activity you wished for the day. The only thought tickling your mind as you began to rise from bed was “Why in the world did I sign up for fi re department training for today?” On the bright side, however, was the idea that training would end by 2 PM and you’d have the rest of the day to enjoy the fact that you’re alive and healthy.

We met at the training site at 8 AM. There was a bit of nervous excitement for some of the fi refi ghters. There were recruits, and some of the new probationary fi refi ghters, and this would be one of the fi rst times they’d exercise their skills with fi re nearby. Our goal would be to train these new fi refi ghters with skill-based exercises in search, rescue and fi re suppression.

Our fi rst order of business, after placing all the apparatus around the site, was to establish a water supply. Not having fi re hydrants nearby, we’d use a porta-tank. This is a large square “pool” that holds about 3000 gallons of water, and can be refi lled in mere minutes with a tender.

After the tank was set up, one of the Harlem Roscoe probies stepped onto the tailboard of the tanker, and prepared to let the waters fl ow. The probie’s jacket was open as they faced the truck, lowered the chute, and pulled on the discharge handle. On their fi rst pull, of only a couple of inches, the probie noticed the handle wanted to return to the closed position. They tried again, pulling a little further, straining a little harder. Same response, that handle wanted to go back to the closed position. Steeling their body for a good strain, the probie leaned towards the discharge chute, and pulled for all they were worth. As they began to lean back, pulling that handle, the waters began to fl ow, and their jacket slid over the chute. Within seconds water was rushing down the chute, being redirected by the jacket, and fi lling their bunker gear.

Surprised by the water, and its chilly temperatures, the probie lost their balance, and leaned back nearly parallel to the ground, preventing a fall into the porta-tank by a sheer force of will, and a death grip on that handle. After the probie recovered, the Lieutenant explained a better position from which to manage the water, a position that moved your balance away from the fi refi ghter’s version of a dunk tank, a position that keeps you dry and smiling. For everyone other than this probie, we found this to be a light-hearted opening to what looked to be a fun-fi lled day.

Once the water was set up, hose lines were established for safety and backup, windows were laddered in case emergency egress was necessary, safety briefi ngs were given to all trainees, instructors and safety personnel.

A fi re was started on the second fl oor of the farm house, our training building for the day. The goal of this fi re was to fully engulf the second fl oor in smoke, making it nearly impossible to use your eyes for the search exercises. Firefi ghters came up in groups of three and four personnel, followed hose lines, and guided their teammates by verbal instructions; the leader calling out what they were fi nding as they crawled along the fl oor: doorways, steps, sounds of crackling fi re, individual rooms, closets, debris…anything that might help their team navigate these obstacles a little easier, and let the team move faster during their search.

During this time, instructors would move with the teams, reminding them to keep in communication with all members of their team, reminding them to use the senses they did have left: sound and touch. (Sight is gone from the smoke and darkened rooms, smell is gone because of the air masks, and taste isn’t a good idea if you can’t see what might go in your mouth). Safety personnel ensure that fi refi ghters remained well away from fl ames creating the smoke, that the teams remained clear of unsafe areas on that fl oor, and monitored the progress of the teams and their mental states.

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Well, I think we will all agree, that yes, we had the April showers this past month. It will now be interesting if it helps the May fl owers as the saying goes. Fortunately, we did not have to deal with any severe weather so far this spring. The new county siren alert system is scheduled to be completed and tested sometime this month.

Congratulation to Firefi ghter Tom Lake. He was this year’s recipient of the Loves Park VFW Award. I would like to thank the VFW for their continuing support of this program. It was an enjoyable evening for us all in attendance.

Congratulations to Doug Wolfe in his promotion to Lieutenant. I have full confi dence that Doug will be a big asset to Station 2 in his new roll. He has the heart and desire to achieve many goals, as well as the passion to his fi refi ghters to be successful.

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com to keep up with the progress of the department and individuals. Sheryl and Randy have been working diligently on it and have made many wonderful changes and updates. As always don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

In closing this month I would like to share this for all the moms.By Helen Steiner RiceA Mother’s love is something that no one can explain,It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifi ce and pain,It is endless and unselfi sh and enduring come what mayFor nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . .It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . .Thank you to all the moms out there for what you endure and do.

Harlem-Roscoe FPD Award RecipientLoves Park VFW Post 9759 - April 14, 2009

Chief Don Shoevlin poses with HRFD’s 2009 awardee, Firefi ghter/EMT Tom Lake.

Tom has been on the fi re department for 6 years. He is certifi ed or has completed the following: FFIII, Instructor I, Trench Rescue Awareness, Trench Operations, CPR Instructor, Fire Apparatus Engineer, and NIMS 100 & 200. He has also taken

numerous other fi re-related courses at Monroe Fire School and UofI Fire College. He is an active member with the Stateline Technical Rescue Team and the MABAS Division Tech Team.

“Tom is a committed and dedicated individual as is evident in his accomplishments over the past 6 years.” Chief Shoevlin praised Tom during his introduction. Tom’s wife, Lt.Ramona Baldoni-Lake also serves on the department. See more pictures of the award night at www.harlemroscoefi re.com.

New LieutenantPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Doug Wolfe joined the department January 1996. April 1, 2009, Doug was promoted to Acting Lieutenant. Doug runs out of Station #2 on Ralston Road.

Doug is state certifi ed Firefi ghter II. He has completed Basic Company Offi cer Training, Hazardous Materials Awareness & LP Burn

thru IFSI. He has taken classes in water supply, weather spotter, helicopter saftey, and NIMS. Doug is a Fire Apparatus Engineer. He also attended the 40-hour Smoke Divers Class in 1997.

He currently serves as one of Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghters Association Trustee, and is part of the Radio and Driving divisions. He is employed as a CNC machinist at Advanced Machine & Engineering. Doug and his wife Carolyn have three children, Kyle Wolfe(2), Kaela Wolfe (10), and Logan Close (11).

New Lieutenant Doug Wolfe was offi cially sworn in on May 3. Above, Doug poses with (l-r) Chief Don Shoevlin, his wife Carolyn, sons Logan & Kyle, daughter Kaela, Station Two Captain Jay Alms, and Trustee Bart Munger.

Firefi ghter Sworn InPhoto by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghter Christian Bush took the fi refi ghter oath on May 3, ending his 6-month probation period as a new fi refi ghter. Christian poses above with Chief Don Shoevlin, girlfriend Amanda Clafton, his father, HRFD Firefi ghter Matt Bush, Station One Captain Mike Drost, and Trustee Bart Munger.

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Once these preparatory search exercises were completed, it was time to put victims into the mix. Now, it’s not just a matter of moving around and fi nding the exit, the fi refi ghters must also fi nd victims and recover them to safety. For the next 90 minutes or so,

the teams would rescue the victims, and the safety offi cers would lug them back upstairs for the next evolution. Let me tell you, each time I helped drag a rescue dummy up the stairs, I secretly thought I’d rather have them delivered for us by UPS.

It was during these exercises that we realized the fi refi ghters were using rescue webbing, as they’d been taught. However, working in dark, with a sense of urgency, heavy gloves on their hands, they couldn’t really tell where the webbing had ended up – only that they seemed to have a good handle on the victims. As they came down the stairs, some rescue dummies came down head fi rst, their heads bouncing on the stairs. Others came down feet fi rst (good job team), but they were moved with webbing around their necks. The good news was that they didn’t have the ability to breathe in any more smoke. The bad news was that they didn’t have the ability to breathe. With a little guidance, that problem was quickly corrected, and these fi refi ghters know now how to rescue a live victim without strangling them in the process.

Next up on the agenda – live fi re and suppression training. Wooden pallets and straw were set up in rooms around the second fl oor of the farm house. Working in a single room, the materials would be ignited, and instructors and crews would enter the rooms to get visual examples of fi re rolling across the ceiling, smoke banking down and feel temperature levels increasing with elevation in a burning environment. After getting these demonstrations, they’d fl ow water on the fi re. Just enough water to knock it down, but still leave it lit for the next team to come in for training.

During this entire time, safety personnel remained within this environment to make sure the fi re remained in check. Saying that we felt like turkeys on Thanksgiving Day would be an understatement. The heat was a huge challenge. Even outside the “burn rooms”, the temperature was a couple hundred degrees. Smoke detectors were melting off the ceilings in the non-burning rooms. It was getting to the point that 10 minutes was about the limit a person could remain in that environment before switching out with another safety offi cer.

Once we’d use one room to its limit (we wanted this house to remain intact for more training coming all this month), we moved onto the nursery. Crews would cycle in with their training offi cers, we’d get a count of people that were on the second fl oor, and training would commence. “See the smoke starting to bank down from the ceiling..a couple of distinct layers there. Watch now as the fl ames rise, hit the ceiling and start to roll out from the fi re. Notice the smoke being pulled towards the bottom of the fi re, showing the direction of airfl ow”.

We’re near the end of the training day at this point. Everyone is tired, hot, their gear fi lled with sweat from working in the heat and all the physical activity they’ve been involved in during the day.

Then, a radio message – “there’s smoke pushing out the attic! You’ve got a fi re in the attic!” The senior safety fi refi ghter told the instructor “You take your people, I’ve got my crew – verify your personnel count”. He headed for the pull-down attic stairs in the next bedroom, reached for

the cord and pulled. But, rather than lower the stairs, he ended up with a handful of cord. He immediately called for irons – axes and Halligan bars – in order to gain access to the attic. In the few seconds that people went to fi nd tools, a radio message came out that fl ames had broken through the roof in multiple locations. We’re pretty sure at this point that if we don’t get in the attic in a few moments, we’ll have to simply evacuate the house, and fi ght this fi re from the outside.

I pulled out a pair of pliers from my bunker gear and got a good hold on the draw cord. The senior fi refi ghter was at the ready with the hose line, and as I lowered the stairs, he started fl owing water at the fl ames. It didn’t take long to clear enough of the fl ames for him to advance up the stairs. We got the probies pulling in more hose length to allow for an advance in the attic, and we put personnel in charge of counting how many fi refi ghters were in the attic. As soon as the senior fi refi ghter got into the attic, a second hose line was advanced into the attic, and some control of the fi re was regained. After taking stock of the situation in the attic, the call came back that we had fi re in the walls. It’s time to put those irons to work. With adrenaline feeding our muscles, we cleared walls of lath and plaster in nothing fl at. The fi re in the walls was extinguished, and personnel were cycled out, being replaced by fresher fi refi ghters that would continue the overhaul operations, and foam the attic to ensure there wasn’t a rekindle.

In the end, what had begun as a basic exercise in understanding the fi re, the conditions and how to apply water to control the fi re ended up as a rapidly changing environment – working with all the skills we’d been taught to tackle a problem that went beyond the scope of the intended training. This wasn’t a situation that we weren’t prepared for, but it was a situation we would have preferred not happen. It was the proverbial Murphy, playing in the attic. He knew we were hot and tired, he knew we were beginning to think of that long cool drink of water waiting for us when this training was over. He knew we were nearly exhausted, and he was fully aware of the fact that we had a lot of students not yet ready for these new conditions that he, our Murphy, was getting ready to dump on us.

Getting out to the rehab area, we were spent, no energy left in our bodies, experiencing nausea from being overheated, overworked and over-excited. We were smiling and happy, we were successful, and we had fully earned that long, cool drink of water.

This success was possible because of vigilant personnel outside, prepared personnel inside, offi cers that could redirect their people at a moment’s notice, probies that responded properly to unexpected commands, and a senior fi refi ghter with a keen sense of the principles of fi re fi ghting. These conditions ensured that we had a training day that turned “Uh-oh” into a fantastic training experience and kept the house intact for more evolutions in the future. Chalk one up for the fi refi ghters that gave Murphy the boot!

Station Gossip

It seems we have some wannabe superheros working the night shift at Station One. From growling to trying to walk through walls, its been kind of entertaining lately!Rumor has it Tom Lake had his name up in lights recently!Glad to hear Rob Gonia’s wife Jeanna is doing well after her recent surgery.HRFD Extrication Team will be competing May 16 & 17 at the Midwest Extrication Competition in Cherry Valley. They will compete in the Unlimited Pit at 9am on Saturday and in the Limited Pit at 3pm on Sunday. Good luck team.

Steve Shoevlin, HRFD fi refi ghter and son of Chief Don Shoevlin and wife Tammy graduated from Illinois State University on May 8 with a Bachelors degree in Math..Captain Mike Drost and Photographer Sheryl Drost’s daughter Annette graduated from University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) on May 9 with a Masters Degree in Architecture.Lt. Mike Powell’s daughter Shannon will be receiving her Associates Degree in Applied Science from RVC.Charlotte Bruss, HRFD assistant photographer and fi ancee to fi refi ghter Ryan Alms, graduated from Columbia College on May 9 with a Bachelors Degree in Photography.Abbie Hill’s little brother Aaron Hill graduates from Christian Life High School.

Here kitty, kitty . . .

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New Concrete Apron at Station OneThe apron at Station One was dug up and new concrete has been poured. It will be a couple weeks before the last section can be driven on.

PostageHarlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073

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the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

May 2009 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Garage FireSee page 4

Celebrating EMS WeekSee pages 6&7

Photo by Sheryl Drost