On March 23, 2007, the Niles (IL) Fire Department is presenting a one-day Firefighter Rescue & Survival seminar featuring instructors Robert Hoff and Richard Kolomay. Below is a summary of the event and information on how to attend.
Rapid Intervention Operations
“Where have we been, where are we going?”
This first two-hour segment will concern the initial firefighter rescue and survival training from 1995 and its evolution to present day. Given the many changes that the fire service has experienced over the past decade, a review of the skills, rescue scenarios, and line of duty deaths will be discussed, in addition to proactive firefighter training.
Chicago and Chicago Suburban High Rise Firefighting
“Lessons Learned and Aggressive Training”
The second two-hour segment will review two significant high-rise fires that occurred in Chicago within a brief period of time. The results of the Cook County Building fire determined the changes in high-rise firefighting operations and training which were put to use at a second significant high-rise fire at the LaSalle Bank Building. The changes to be discussed that directly affected the Chicago Fire Department are compared to the present suburban high-rise firefighting operations and response. Equipment, staffing, search & rescue, and command structure will also be discussed as it affects both Chicago and the suburbs.
The Company Officer
“Let no man’s ghost say his training let him down.”
The final two-hour segment will present the company officer as the most important position within the command structure. Proactivity, problems, and persistence regarding both people and fire will be discussed. The main enemy that will be targeted will be “complacency” and the methods of defeating it, including beating laziness, ambivalence, lack of care, and lack of urgency.
Robert Hoff is the Deputy Assistant Fire Commissioner/Operations for the Chicago Fire Department. He is in his 30th year in the fire service, and has served as a lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, Director of Training, and District Chief through his years. He is in charge 4,300 personnel who man 100 engine companies, 60 truck companies, four squad companies, and one fire boat.
Richard Kolomay is a lieutenant presently assigned to a heavy rescue squad with the Schaumburg (IL) Fire Dept. He is in his 27th year in the fire service, and he has been a lieutenant for 13 years. Rick has also served on engine companies and truck companies as well. Schaumburg is located just northwest of Chicago, and is comprised of residential neighborhoods, industrial complexes, expressways, a large commercial shopping district, high rise office and hotel buildings, and a daily working population of about 200,000. In August 1984, Rick introduced the first “hands-on” line officers training program in the nation to the Illinois Fire Service Institute. Since then the program has been introduced at the FDIC and the Firehouse Expos, and has been conducted throughout various cities nationally.
Bob and Rich have instructed for various community colleges, Illinois Fire Service Institute, Illinois Fire Chief’s Association, Chicago Fire Academy, Firehouse Expo and World, Worcester Safety Seminar, and the Fire Department Instructors Conference. To back their instruction, they have written numerous articles for Fire Engineering, Firehouse, and FireNuggets.com magazines, and is co-author of the Fire Engineering text book, “Firefighter Rescue and Survival.”
General Class Information
- Seminar to be held on Friday, March 23, 2007
(Red ¿ 2nd Shift)
9 AM ¿ 4:30 PM - This is a one-day seminar
- Cost of seminar is $65.00
- Cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the seminar will be charged a $15.00 cancellation fee.
- Continental breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
- Seminar to be held at:
Chateau Ritz
9100 Milwaukee Ave.
Niles, IL 60714
Take 294 East on Dempster approximately 1 mile, north on Milwaukee Avenue approximately 3 blocks. - If you have any questions, please contact:
Lt. Don Kaderabek (Black -1st Shift)
Lt. Bill White (Red ¿ 2nd Shift)
Lt. Orlando Diaz (Red ¿ 2nd Shift)
Eng. Mike Siena (Gold ¿ 3rd Shift)
847.588.6800 - Register by mail, fax or e-mail Donald Kaderabek.
NILES FIRE DEPARTMENT
8360 W. Dempster Street
Niles, IL 60714
Phone: 847.588.6800
Fax: 847.588.6850
