Des Plaines and Sycamore Fire Departments (Retired)
Title/rank:
Deputy Chief
Years of public service:
42
Agency structure:
Paid fire department
Professional Qualifications:
AAS Fire Science
BS Fire Service Management
MS Management and Organizational Behavior
Fire Officer II
Instructor II
Illinois MABAS Operations Committee Co-Chair
Illinois Incident Management Team (Chicago Metro Operations Section Chief)
Field Staff Instructor: Illinois Fire Service Institute
Field Staff Instructor: Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
Instructor: Southwest United Fire Districts
Topics you provide training for:
Tactics and Strategies
Incident Commander Bootcamp
Company Officer Bootcamp
Officer Development
Firefighter Academy
Firefighter III Academy
Management and Leadership
Vehicle/Machinery Ops. and Tech.
We are field testing a new 2 1/2 inch hose. It is much lighter. With all that is going on these days with fire loads and wind, we feel that the 2 1/2 is the answer with the 1 1/8 smooth bore. I have a video of the hose fold, let me see if I can up load it to the site.
Thanks for your comment. I aggree, Mac and EE are too solid Brothers. I have had the honor and priviledge to see them speak twice back east. Motivational Speakers doesn't even begin to describe what they do. I look forward to actually "meeting you in the future. Are you going to FDIC or The FOOLS convention next year? If so, I'll see ya there.
Art, next time you decide to don your hoosier shoes give me a yell. I am a fireman in South Bend, not to far from middlebury at all. I am always down for a good brew/cup o'java/lunch/etc... I am also up in your area pretty often, my in-laws live in geneva.
Hey Art,
Thanks for the invite. Florida is great, and it is a new position. Having fun but still miss my friends from IL. Thanks for setting up the FSI group as it helps me stay in touch with my friends back home. Take care, and stay safe, Rich
Art,
I was referring to "Jerry McGuire"... you had me at hello. LOL. Roseville is NE suburb of Detroit. If you're familiar with the area, 13 mile rd and Gratiot area
HI Art! I think we've met... I am/was an adjunct field inst. for the U of I. Did a couple of Fire Colleges and worked for Buck in TIC and Chief Brady in 1st Arriving C.O. Things are good and I would love to get back out to Champaign some time.
Take care and be safe
Art, I just added a blog, Residential Search; Complacency and Priorities that you can find on my page. Give it a look if you have some time. Take care and stay safe.
Maybe Wisconsin has it right - state law that you cannot fire a fire chief. Unfortunately that can work for or against the cause.
Leadership is the answer to so many problems we face, this one included, but unfortunately the term as gone by the wayside due to overuse. I wish I had the answer Art but please know I feel your pain and have for many years, including my years as union president. We have 4-person companies here but every once in awhle someone will pipe up with the idea of reducing staffing to 3 and putting more trucks on the street as the answer to some of our response issues. I always tell them my stories of working in Urbana on 3-person companies, sometimes 2 if the city did not want to overextend overtime funds due to end of the year fiscal "crisis." You cannot be effective with a 3-person force even removing firefighting from the mix. Imagine a MVA response on the expressway with so many safety issues to consider and control. Yes, we are running more EMS and less fire, so frame the discussion in terms of EMS response if that is what gets the point across. We still need 4, period.
Okay, now you have me ranting and I need to get back to work. Be safe everyone and stay the course.
YOu have some great pics. there is one black and white of what could be a recruit class Pic 47 ; That wouldn't happen to be your recruit class would it? :)
Thanks, we'll be looking forward to meeting them. We had a great time in Morris in November and I hope all of the firefighters who took the class did too. Talk to you soon.
Chief, Thanks for the add. I am currently a Stoker trying to gain more experience from working classes and hopefully become an instructor in the future. I look forward to meeting you either at FSI or at an upcoming FOOLS meeting. Talk to you soon.
Art I am in awe of your courage!! Your actions demonstrate your honesty to the issue and your commitment to your department and your community.
There may be moments of doubt in your heart; this will pass my Brother. Your courage rings true. I am happy that someone finally had the backbone to stand up and say what we have all known for so long.
And there is a bonus for you; In the end you may be the happier man for it, ridding the rigs again.
KTF my friend.
Way to make a stand for what is right!! There are so many folks out there that think that the sky is falling when so many of us know the truth. I admire your courage to stand up to those who are making the rash decisions that affect us all. It is people like you, Jeff, Mike and Chris that truly understand what the brotherhood is all about! Keep your head up and keep charging forward. Like the other have said if you need anything just holler, I will be out in Chicago next week.
Way to go! It seems that too many people fail to realize the consquences of cutting personnel. I commend you for standing up for what you believe in and good luck and stay safe!!!
We commend you on taking a stand for what is right. I am sure you have the infinite respect of the members of your department (more than you already did). Welcome back to the line (like you ever left), and we are proud to say that we know the most qualified and well-respected Lieutenant in the DPFD!
There are not many chiefs out there with the balls to stand-up to city admin, and now there is one less. Good luck!
Chief, men like you are what makes the brotherhood great.
Your story brought me to anger at the idiots in goverment & at the same time helped restore my faith that there still are men of character & courage.
Stay the course
Hey "Chief", I know you are a Lt these days, but in my books you are still a Chief.
Have a safe & happy holiday, men like you are what makes the Fire Service great.
Take care..
Danny Sheridan
Apr 13, 2008
Rick Lasky
Thanks for your kind words. They are incredible people and I love them dearly. They have done so much fo me and my family!!
I'll be in Northbrook with Fire Engineering teaching on July 20th.
Be safe pal and take care.
Rick
Apr 14, 2008
Danny Sheridan
Apr 23, 2008
Danny Sheridan
Apr 23, 2008
Mike Walker
May 17, 2008
Art Zern
Art
May 17, 2008
Anthony Avillo
welcome to the page
some great pics
stay safe out there
aa
May 18, 2008
Anthony Avillo
truckies make the best chiefs
May 19, 2008
Drew Smith
Jun 4, 2008
Paul Combs
Aug 13, 2008
Eric Hankins
Thanks for your comment. I aggree, Mac and EE are too solid Brothers. I have had the honor and priviledge to see them speak twice back east. Motivational Speakers doesn't even begin to describe what they do. I look forward to actually "meeting you in the future. Are you going to FDIC or The FOOLS convention next year? If so, I'll see ya there.
Be safe Brother,
E
Dec 1, 2008
Brandon Roark
Dec 9, 2008
Jim Mason
Dec 11, 2008
Joe McClelland
Hane a great holiday.
Joe
Dec 18, 2008
Christopher Naum, SFPE
Stay in touch
Dec 20, 2008
Rich Collins
Thanks for the invite. Florida is great, and it is a new position. Having fun but still miss my friends from IL. Thanks for setting up the FSI group as it helps me stay in touch with my friends back home. Take care, and stay safe, Rich
Jan 1, 2009
Todd Trudeau
I was referring to "Jerry McGuire"... you had me at hello. LOL. Roseville is NE suburb of Detroit. If you're familiar with the area, 13 mile rd and Gratiot area
Jan 5, 2009
Rob Cannon
Jan 10, 2009
Dave Gallagher
Take care and be safe
Jan 15, 2009
Dave Gallagher
Jan 15, 2009
Rick Decorie
I served on Danville. Got my start up in Blue Island.
Jan 16, 2009
Michael Bricault (ret)
Jan 20, 2009
Cheryl Horvath
Leadership is the answer to so many problems we face, this one included, but unfortunately the term as gone by the wayside due to overuse. I wish I had the answer Art but please know I feel your pain and have for many years, including my years as union president. We have 4-person companies here but every once in awhle someone will pipe up with the idea of reducing staffing to 3 and putting more trucks on the street as the answer to some of our response issues. I always tell them my stories of working in Urbana on 3-person companies, sometimes 2 if the city did not want to overextend overtime funds due to end of the year fiscal "crisis." You cannot be effective with a 3-person force even removing firefighting from the mix. Imagine a MVA response on the expressway with so many safety issues to consider and control. Yes, we are running more EMS and less fire, so frame the discussion in terms of EMS response if that is what gets the point across. We still need 4, period.
Okay, now you have me ranting and I need to get back to work. Be safe everyone and stay the course.
Jan 28, 2009
Mike Walker
Jan 28, 2009
Mike Walker
Jan 28, 2009
Brotherhood Instructors, LLC
Feb 3, 2009
Brotherhood Instructors, LLC
Nate
Feb 3, 2009
Jared Bertsche
Feb 15, 2009
Dave McGrail
Thank you...
Keep up the good work.
Dave Mc.
May 6, 2009
Michael Bricault (ret)
There may be moments of doubt in your heart; this will pass my Brother. Your courage rings true. I am happy that someone finally had the backbone to stand up and say what we have all known for so long.
And there is a bonus for you; In the end you may be the happier man for it, ridding the rigs again.
KTF my friend.
Sep 5, 2009
Michael Bricault (ret)
Sep 5, 2009
Chris Piepenburg
Way to make a stand for what is right!! There are so many folks out there that think that the sky is falling when so many of us know the truth. I admire your courage to stand up to those who are making the rash decisions that affect us all. It is people like you, Jeff, Mike and Chris that truly understand what the brotherhood is all about! Keep your head up and keep charging forward. Like the other have said if you need anything just holler, I will be out in Chicago next week.
Chris
Sep 5, 2009
Joe Heim
Way to go! It seems that too many people fail to realize the consquences of cutting personnel. I commend you for standing up for what you believe in and good luck and stay safe!!!
Joe
Sep 5, 2009
Kurt Callisen
Kurt
Sep 5, 2009
Brotherhood Instructors, LLC
We commend you on taking a stand for what is right. I am sure you have the infinite respect of the members of your department (more than you already did). Welcome back to the line (like you ever left), and we are proud to say that we know the most qualified and well-respected Lieutenant in the DPFD!
There are not many chiefs out there with the balls to stand-up to city admin, and now there is one less. Good luck!
Sep 5, 2009
Kelly Saunders
Your story brought me to anger at the idiots in goverment & at the same time helped restore my faith that there still are men of character & courage.
Stay the course
Sep 6, 2009
Lance Neuses
Sep 6, 2009
Chris Fioretto
Sep 16, 2009
Kelly Saunders
Have a safe & happy holiday, men like you are what makes the Fire Service great.
Take care..
Dec 23, 2009
Michael Bricault (ret)
Jun 11, 2010
Art Zern
Mar 23, 2011