“The General” - WEGOFPD E-Newsletter

Fall 2024

*Our newsletter is named in commemoration of our 1934 antique fire pumper known as “The General” for its’ many years of great service to the community. Click HERE for some Department historical info.

Emergency: Dial 9-1-1 I Non-emergency: (630) 231-2123

EVENT REMINDER Join us for our Fire Department OPEN HOUSE (free) event on Saturday October 12, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Fire Station #6 located at 200 Fremont Street.

District Update

A few exciting things have happened at West Chicago Fire District in the past few months. Fire Chief Patrick Tanner advised the Board of Trustees (BOT) that he plans to retire on January 10, 2024. After this announcement, the BOT diligently planned for the District's future leadership. The Trustees have prepared the District for crucial positions through interviews, discussions, and fact-finding.

The BOT unanimously voted to appoint Jeffery Keefe Fire Chief effective January 10, 2025. Jeffery has been with West Chicago for over 22 years and is the current Deputy Chief. In addition to the upcoming Fire Chief promotion, Ric Ciszewski will be promoted to Deputy Chief, Ken Zahara will be promoted to Battalion Chief, and Eric Ronge will be promoted to Lieutenant.

We are also happy to announce that four new candidates were hired to fill vacant positions. West Chicago Fire District’s first female full-time firefighter is in this group of candidates. These candidates will undergo rigorous training to bolster their knowledge and skills over the next few months. In other news, the district is expected to deliver a new Seagrave Tower ladder in early October to replace the district's current tower ladder. We would also like to invite everyone to our open house on October 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Special Safety Message

October 6 – 12 is nationally known as “Fire Prevention Week”. The week is intended to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and remind people to practice fire safety. Each year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets a theme for the week with the 2024 theme being “Smoke Alarms – Make them work for you”.

Click here for more Fire Prevention Week info

Check out our website - click here for smoke detector and other important fire safety information

Seasonal Safety News

Goodbye, Summer, and hello, Fall!! With the seasons changing, it is a good time to have furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys, and other heating appliances inspected and serviced for cold weather operations. Inspecting and servicing will not only help with efficiency but also prevent carbon monoxide leaks and other fire-related hazards.

Click for Heating Safety Tips

Injury Prevention Reminder

Did you know that Falls are the leading cause of fatal/non-fatal injury for adults 65 and older and that 1 in 4 adults report falling yearly, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

Fall injuries and the resulting complications are highly preventable. The CDC recommends the “STEADI” approach – Screening, Assessing, and Intervening to help with fall prevention. Check out our fall prevention webpage for more info: VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Disaster Readiness Post

Build A Kit

Being “ready” for a disaster has many meanings. One of the key actions for disaster preparation is to create and maintain an Emergency Supply Kit/“Go Bag”. Disaster experts recommend that citizens be self-sustaining for up to 72 hours or be prepared to evacuate with short notice. Even here in Illinois, we are subject to disaster events, including floods, tornados, extreme winter weather, prolonged power loss, and even earthquakes. The time to create a Kit/Go Bag is before, not when a disaster strikes.

Quick Fact

The West Chicago Fire Protection District is a member of Ducomm regional 9-1-1 dispatch center (https://www.ducomm.org/). Ducomm provides radio communications and dispatch of police, fire, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for 45 agencies in Dupage County. Ducomm dispatches over 700,000 calls for service annually. When calling 911 in our area (especially on a cell phone), be prepared to provide the nature of the emergency and the location. 9-1-1 telecommunicators are highly trained personnel who provide initial management of emergencies and dispatch of emergency responders.

PARTNER EVENTS

Our personnel will be participating in the following upcoming community events:

West Chicago Halloween Festivities – 10/26/24 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Downtown WEGO

Follow the West Chicago Fire Protection District at www.wegofpd.org or on Facebook for timely news & updates.