Members of the Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park and York Center Fire Districts took advantage of the pending demolition of the former Harris Bank facility on Roosevelt Road in Oakbrook Terrace. The Fire Departments conducted joint training in the condemned building for three days before it is completely demolished. The new BMO Harris Bank facility is already open just east of the former location. While the old building remains on the site, the Fire Personnel trained on cutting through the roofs and fighting fires in a heavy smoke environment. Motorists along Roosevelt Road had a bird’s eye view of fire personnel on the roof of the old drive thru lanes. Others traveling westbound could view the smoke that was introduced into the lower levels of the building as it rose up dramatically from the building on the east side.

All three of the Fire Departments are members of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) District 12 organization and often conduct training together, sometimes with other neighboring fire departments. Typically a Lieutenant from one of the departments will train firefighters from all of the communities on a specific task or skill. On the first day of the training Villa Park Lieutenant John Rzeszut conducted a drill with firefighters from Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace on the proper way to open the roof of a commercial building like the Harris Bank. Lt. Rzeszut explained the procedure to cut the opening in the roof with the gas operated power saw, how to safely climb the ladder to the roof and how to efficiently use the special tools to make the opening in the roof. Fire fighters cut into a roof of a building to search for burning materials and also to release smoke from the burning structure.

A second team was guided by a Captain from Oakbrook Terrace James Vejvoda. Their task was to bring a fire hose to the lower level down the staircase of the bank and do a search as well as extinguish the fire. To add reality to the drill, theatrical smoke was pumped into the lover level. The smoke, although not exactly like a real fire, reduced visibility enough to make the work more realistic. One team from the York Center Fire District performed their drill and then came back to the main level to discuss their performance. Then Villa Park Firefighters David Richardson and Mike Tenerelli worked with Lieutenant Dave Trotter to perform the same drill but with a twist. When the Villa Park Firefighters were in the lower level they trained on assisting an injured firefighter. At most structure fires a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is planned in the event a Firefighter becomes injured or trapped. In the practice scenario a Firefighter activated an alarm device on his Personal Alert Safety (PAS) unit that emits a high pitched tone. The sound signals to the other personnel to immediately activate a RIT rescue. Using the fire hose as a guide through the smoke, they located the firefighter victim, provided immediate aid and removed him from the scene. The Villa Park Firefighters performed each step as planned.

The second day offered a unique opportunity to glimpse what firefighters experience inside a structure fire. Villa Park Lieutenant Ken Charapata used a miniature helmet camera and the handheld heat sensitive display to show what can be seen when smoke is present in a dark building and what the heat sensitive camera can display. The camera will contrast in black and white items or areas on items that are warmer or colder than areas around it. For example, a firefighter may appear all white while the spaced and structures around him is black. When heat form smoke and a fire exist the color may be reversed. In any case the device makes it possible to see in real time victims, hot spots and firefighters inside a completely dark smoke filled room. The devices are provided to the areas Fire Departments through grants and other means. They are an invaluable tool in searching for victims and allowing firefighters to maneuver through areas where they cannot see anything.

The training takes place for three days to allow each of the rotating shifts of Firefighters to participate. In the MABAS 12 district most fire districts have a Red, Gold and Black shift that rotate a 24 hour shift every three days. Although all of the firefighters are on call during the training exercises and will respond to a fire or EMS call, the three day schedule offers all personnel the opportunity to experience the training and drills.

A fourth day was dedicated to performing a rescue through the concrete floor. The training exercise is performed by elite members of the Technical Rescue squads. Each department has specially trained fire fighters who have skills ranging from collapsed structures, buried victims and climbing walls or going into underground spaces. The team will cut through the concrete floor and perform a rescue of a victim under the concrete.

A special episode of the “Red Shift” has been recorded during the four days and will be broadcast of the Villa Park Cable Network on Comcast channel 6 and AT&T channel 99 and on the Internet channel vpnettv.com Check the schedule on any of these channels for dates and times of the program.

The “Red Shift” is also being submitted to the Comcast Channel 19 network form Elmhurst Illinois that will make the series available in 64 suburban communities and over 1 million cable household. More information will be provided when the broadcast schedule is available.