As summer wanes and fall begins its slow descent upon us please keep mindful of the challenges this season brings. Our children have returned to school and with that please remember the Rules of the Road when it comes to school zone speed limits and be cautious as the school buses stop to pick up and drop off children. Fall also seems to see a rise in our use of backyard fire pits. Please make yourself and others who gather aware of the dangers these open fires present and enjoy them safely.

Further information on open burning and these types of fires can also be found on our website at Plainfieldfpd.org. Your fire district just completed our first annual Girls Firefighter/Paramedic Camp for young ladies between the ages of 11 and 15. We had to cap attendance at 20 this year and had more than 30 applicants for this inaugural effort. Three days of training, mentorship, camaraderie and counseling by a capable cadre of women from the PFPD in addition to other local fire districts and departments who are making their mark in the fire service was a great experience for all of us. Their last day included a lot of “hands-on” work at our training towers, lunch with the on-duty firefighters and a graduation ceremony. The young ladies left with what we hope is a better view of what this career is about and how they could pursue it, if they have the desire and commitment. Staff and members put together a wonderful program which will only get better in the years to come. Our hope is to expand this effort by partnering with interested businesses and also to develop and implement a similar program for boys of the same age next year. Below is a picture from our 2018 Girls Firefighter/Paramedic Camp.

Our ever growing Fire Prevention Week Open House will be held Saturday, September 29th from 11am-2pm again on our Headquarters campus and Fire Station 2 on 135th Street, east of Rt. 59. This annual event is now attracting over 1000 people during its 3-hour run. We have a number of partners already committed to display so make plans to bring the family out for an always informative and fun event to see what your fire district is doing. We have one of our business partners, Service Master, who has committed to help grill the hotdogs and hamburgers for us this year too.

We held our new applicants written examination on August 25th and had almost 50 people challenge the test. The results will establish a hiring list should the need arise within the fire district over the next two years. I hope to see you at our next quarterly “Chat with the Chiefs” which is scheduled for 9am, Friday, October 26th at Starbucks in the plaza at 127th & Rt. 59. We’re trying a different approach to our efforts and hope that this will permit your attendance. We’ll see you there!

As always,

Be careful out there…

David S. Riddle, Chief