Local

Stove Top Fire On Water Street: Fire Report For July 9-15, 2017


UTV, utility task vehicle, PFFD, Somonauk Park, stove top fire
Shift members last week completed training at Somonauk Park in the operation of the fire department’s side-by-side UTV or Utility Task Vehicle. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Park Forest Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Water Street just after 3:00 a.m. last Friday morning. Firefighters found a stove top fire in the kitchen.

The Fire Department Activity Report follows. There were 83 total responses last week. Of these, 19 were for fire/service, and 64 were EMS calls.

Response Activity

Just after 3:00 a.m. on July 14, the fire department and automatic aid companies were dispatched to Water Street for a reported structure fire. Units arrived to find a house full of smoke and occupants who exited by an upper story windows. With the doors locked, firefighters forced entry via the front door and found a small fire on the stove top. This fire was extinguished with a water extinguisher and the home ventilated to remove the smoke. The cause of the fire was a dish cloth too close to one of the electric burners. The burner was not turned all the way off.

Training Activities

On Monday, July 10, shift members completed pre-plan training including a site visit and review of building construction features and fire suppression equipment.

On Tuesday, July 11 and Wednesday, July 12, shift members completed the practical exercise associated with the operation of the department’s side-by-side UTV (Utility Task Vehicle). This practical included a series of driving exercises, accomplished by each driver, in Somonauk Park. Members of the POC division completed this practical at their Friday night training on July 14 as well. For safety reasons, only members who have completed the necessary training can operate the UTV.

On Friday, July 14, shift members completed boat training. In this session, members deployed the department’s boat and demonstrated the ability to safely operate the boat and motor.

Other Activities

In addition to their regular activities, the Chief and Deputy Chief hosted a meeting of the regional grant recipients for a portable radio grant. With Richton Park as the lead agency, Park Forest, Matteson, University Park and Richton Park met to start work on the logistics for this significant grant award from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program via FEMA. The grant will hopefully allow the four participating communities to replace most of their outdated portable radios at a limited local cost. This project will take multiple months to complete as the departments work.


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