January 1, 2024

Dear Board of Trustees, Fire Commissioners & Residents of the Orland Fire Protection District:

I am humbled to serve the residents of the Orland Fire District as your Fire Chief. I take pride in leading this organization in achieving the highest standards possible in the fire service. The fire district has maintained its rating of an ISO1 department and Internationally Accredited through the The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).

Our ambulance service (EMS) is second to none in our area, with one of the highest save rates for cardiac arrest. This is because of our investment in the latest technology in life-saving tools, equipment and training. Every Firefighter—from the Chief to our newest recruits—is a Paramedic.  Every fire engine, ladder truck and our utility vehicle is a paramedic-equipped unit, meaning it carries the tools, drugs and equipment that an ambulance carries.  This allows us to respond to medical emergencies with the closet vehicle on the street.

Teamwork is the key to saving lives, and part of that is community CPR.  The more residents are trained in CPR, the better the chance of survival.  When a bystander starts CPR in the field when a heart attack or other medical emergency is occurring and a person is not breathing, knowing CPR and how to use an AED is the next part of the teamwork.  Know where they are located if you’re at a fitness facility or a large assembly.  The Orland Fire District provides training in CPR and AED use. The final part of teamwork is our Police Departments: Orland Park and Orland Hills.  Our police are trained in CPR and many police cars carry an AED and have been a huge benefit in saving lives in our district.

In this changing world, we work with our Police on special operations to respond to hostile events at schools, village events, shopping centers, protests or any possible civil unrest.  Our members have the necessary equipment on our apparatus to be safe to perform in these special environments.

2023 was another busy year in the fire district—closing in on 13,000 calls for service and making us the busiest fire district in the State of Illinois. The success of our district lies with the Board of Trustees in providing us the needed equipment, policies and staffing, combined with the commitment of the men and women of our fire district.  No one operates at the level we do.  Our training is second to none and not just fire training, but EMS Training and Special Operations Training, such as Haz-Mat, Water Rescue, and Technical Rescue.

The Orland Fire District operates a regional 911 Center providing dispatch capabilities to 10 communities.  We also operate a regional fleet maintenance center, providing fleet repairs for 9 fire departments, as well as the largest regional training center in the south suburbs.

In 2024 we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fire Station 1 being opened. Looking back at what our volunteers did and how they built the foundation that we continue to build on, I believe they would look at where we are today and smile as they realize all the work they put in—all the time away from their families volunteering to provide fire and ambulance service.  They are the ones who paved the way for this now Internationally Accredited Fire District.

I express to our members that we need to look to the future and continue to change and evolve as an organization. The Orland Fire District anticipates significant growth in call volume as Orland Park develops the Triangle and the 159 & LaGrange Corridor.  We cannot continue to operate the way we are today, moving into tomorrow, without developing long-range planning.  It is key to our continued success and we are doing that.

I wish to personally thank the members of IAFF L2754 for their continued support in making this district what it is today, and Local 134 for their commitment in providing the professional 911 dispatching to Orland and the communities we serve. To our staff, from administration, fleet, facilities, HR and finance, no one works harder then these people do to keep the fire district at the level we have achieved.

To our Board of Trustees, it is with your commitment, guidance and leadership that allows these men and women to achieve the levels of professionalism and success the residents of the Orland Fire Protection District expect.  We thank you for that.

To our Board of Fire Commissioners, who oversee the hiring and promotions of our members, your success is measured in the quality of the members hired and promoted.  We have the best because of your commitment to your positions.

We look forward to the challenges of 2024 and expect to remain as the top fire district in the state through the dedication of all who call themselves members of the Orland Fire Protection District.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael R. Schofield

Fire Chief/Administrator