The Maywood Fire Department is constantly striving to maintain and improve its capacity to protect life and property in Maywood. Although the Department engages in numerous safety initiatives annually, three are highlighted below. The first involves the Department's participation in a Mutual Aid Response system. The second is a series of initiatives recently undertaken to maintain the service capabilities of Department Personnel as well as the Village's infrastructure. The third is the Department's participation in the Safe Haven program, as required by Illinois law.
Mutual Aid Response
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 demonstrated the need for improvements in the communications and coordination of first-responders. One of the ways the Maywood Fire Department better serves and protects the residents of Maywood is through its membership in MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System), which is a mutual aid organization established to improve fire service communications, management and coordination between fire departments during emergencies, natural disasters and man-made catastrophes. MABAS was formed in the late 1960s and is well-established throughout northern Illinois, with over 550 member fire departments organized within 46 divisions.
Maywood is serviced by Division 20, which is comprised of 17 surrounding towns. MABAS has divided Maywood into three sections: Box 100 includes everything north of the railroad tracks, Box 200 runs from the railroad tracks south to Madison Street and Box 300 consists of everything south of Madison to Roosevelt Road.
Whenever the Department receives a call or a report of a structure fire, all on-duty personnel respond to that call. As soon as the vehicles pull out of the station, the shift commander sends out a signal (tones) over the radio to alert all towns in Division 20. Depending on where in Maywood the fire occurs determines which fire department will automatically respond with pre-determined equipment and manpower. As the fire or alarm escalates, more pre-determined towns will respond with equipment and manpower. The deployment of manpower and equipment by other communities is handled by NorCom, a dispatch center located in Northlake.
All communities located in Division 20 are contracted with Norcom to respond to all fire dispatches. This same response system is also implemented for emergency medical situations.
Division 20 has specialty co-op teams, including fire investigation, hazardous materials, TRT-(Technical Rescue Team), safety officer and RIT–(Rapid Intervention Team). These teams are made up of members of various fire departments who provide expert training, equipment and resources to local communities at a lower cost than would be possible for each community were to pursue the training alone. The MABAS system is a statewide system allowing all departments in the state unlimited resources for emergency response.
Maintaining Service Capabilities
All Department members participate in numerous training seminars, classes and continuing education throughout the year. This training is done to assure that all members are up to date and proficient in all firefighting and emergency medical skills.
All department members have completed NIMS (National Incident Management System) training.
The Maywood Fire Department tests all 734 fire hydrants within the Village of Maywood. In 2007, the department worked in conjunction with the pumping station and took a static and residual reading on every other hydrant to create a better working knowledge of the village water system.
Along with hydrants testing the Department also tests 312 lengths of fire hose. Each hose is 50 feet long; three lengths are connected together, caped off at one end then filled with water and pressurized to 250 psi for three minutes. If any leaks are detected the hose is taken out of service.
Through out the year, the department participated in numerous parades, block parties, festivals and village functions.
Providing Safe Haven
The Department is fully compliant with Illinois state statue requiring all fire stations, police stations and medical facilities to display a sign outside that indicates this location is a Safe Haven. The sign indicates that the location is prepared to accept any newborn infant relinquished by its parent (or parents) under the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
Firefighter(s) Behavior Training Photos
Maywood Firefighters taking part in Fire Behavior Training. The observance, recognition and effects of Fire Behavior is critical knowledge; related to how Firefighters go about the daily business of protection both life and property against the threat and destruction related to fire!
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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK - 2020:
Fire Safety in the kitchen. "Click" on attachment regarding "Family's Cooking Safety Checklist"
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION:
"Home Fire Safety is Critical"
Home fires are more common in November through March with multiple contributing factors at play: Cooking fires increase during the holiday season with more cooking fires occurring on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year.
"Click" on attachment for additional information concerning "Home Fire Safety".
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FIRE DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS (2020)
* Winter Holiday Safety
* Christmas Tree Safety
* Heating Safety
* Scald Prevention Safety Tips
"Click" on attachment for additional information regarding safety tips
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WINTER HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIPS: "PUT A FREEZE ON WINTER HOLIDAY FIRES"
Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
"Click" on attachment in English & Spanish for additional information concerning Holiday Fire Safety!
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PUT A FREEZE ON WINTER FIRES
Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm this winter, be fire smart!
"Click" on attachment for additional information regarding "Freeze on Winter Fires" written in English and Spanish. Also to obtain more information about electrical fire safety, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/winter and www.nfpa.org/winter
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IMPORTANCE INFORMATION FROM FIRE CHIEF REGARDING
"REPLACE SMOKE ALARMS EVERY 10 YEAR & CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY"
(Written in English and Spanish)
Don't Wait - Age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms. Check the manufacture dates on your smoke alarms today!
For more information about smoke alarms, visit usfa.fema.gov and www.nfpa,org. You can also "Click" on attachment for additional information.
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IMPORTANT NEWS FROM MAYWOOD FIRE CHIEF &
NEWS FROM BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION
(Written in English and Spanish)
Snow storms and rain can cause stressful and dangerous conditions. Your neighbors and family need your help in preventing local flooding and preparing in case of fire emergencies. If there is no water coming through any of your faucets, call for BWSC 24-Hour Emergency Assistance at (617) 989-7000.
"Click" on attachment for additional information regarding "Protecting Your Neighborhood." Information is written in English and Spanish.
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FEBRUARY WINTER FIRE SAFETY RESOURCES
"PUT A FREEZE ON WINTER FIRES"
(Fire Department)
Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. Keep anything that can burn at lease 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters. Portable Generators are useful during and winter storms, but if not used safely, they can cause injuries and death.
"Click" on attachment for additional information concerning "fire safety".
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HOME HEATING/CO SAFETY
(Carbon Monoxide Danger)
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in the United States. Half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January and February.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas only detectable by special devices and CO alarms. This means it's imperative that you have working CO alarms in your home to help keep you and your family safe.
"Click" on attachment for additional information concerning "home heating/CO safety and sources of carbon monoxide"