Firefighter Paramedic Kyle Holmes and his coworkers spend what seems like a regular day in the firehouse: eating, watching sports, and working out. But with one phone call, their regular day can change. Quickly they would don their uniforms, hop in the truck, and be ready for anything.
The Glenview Fire Department (GFD) has been in service for 100 years and continues to answer calls for a variety of situations in the community, Holmes said. The GFD has many services that most people are unaware of, Tim O’Shea, Firefighter Paramedic and Drone Team Member, said. Each firefighter is also a certified paramedic, providing care for fire and medical situations, Chase Olson, Firefighter Paramedic and Dive Team Member, said. They have a wide range of specialized teams including Drone, Hazardous Materials, Fire Investigation, Technical Rescue, Risk Reduction, and Dive, Fire Chief, Tony DeRose said. On Saturday Sept. 21, the GFD hosted their annual Open House at Glenview Fire Station 14. The firehouse doors were opened to the public so they could get to know the firefighters and their responsibilities. This event provided an opportunity for the community to learn about all the features of the GFD, DeRose said.
“When people think of [the] fire department, they think of just putting out a fire,” O’Shea said. “There’s a lot of facets to our job that people aren’t aware of.”
Take a look inside the Glenview Fire Station 14:
Being a safe and welcoming setting, the Open House makes it easier and more enjoyable to share with the community what their job entails, Gallagher said. The GFD enjoys getting to tell the community what they do in a non-emergency scenario, so that when they interact in an emergency situation, they’re more familiar, Patrick Reed, Lieutenant and Head of the Fire Investigation Team, explained.
“We [often] see [people] on their worst day,” Reed said. “This is a chance for [people] to interact with us, ask questions, [and] learn.”
The firefighters really appreciate getting to spend time with the community in their own workspace, particularly Glenview’s citizens, Reed said.
“In Glenview, we enjoy a really high level of community support,” Reed said. “The community loves us and in return we love them, so if we can give back and make those connections, it’s awesome.”
Glenview residents’ tax dollars fund the GFD’s work, so the firefighters have expectations and responsibility to uphold, Lieutenant Jesse Gallagher said.
“People expect us to be on point when they call us,” Gallagher said. “We have very few minutes [to get] ready to do whatever you need help with.”
Many of the firefighters love their jobs because every day is unique, Battalion Chief Brian Bos said. Chris Drakeley, Firefighter Paramedic and Technical Rescue Team Member, explains how the range of experiences from day to day is what makes his job so great.
“I’m not a person suited for a desk, so being able to do different things every day is key for me,” Drakeley said.
The department receives about 10,000 calls each year and seems low on staff at all times, Holmes said. The GFD is constantly staying aware of what is happening in the community, Mike Novak, Firefighter Paramedic and Hazardous Materials Team Member, said.
“It’s great to have people understand that we are a busy department and we’re here providing services to the people of Glenview every day,” Novak said.
