Mike W.

76, Male

Park Forest, Illinois

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization
Combination Fire Rescue Department
Job Function
Captain
Years in Fire/EMS:
37 years
Primary Fire/EMS Department:
Park Forest Fire Department
Years With Department/Agency
37 years
Dept. Web Site:
http://www.vopf.com
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
Fire and Police Commissioner for 12 years in my previous hometown from 1992 to 2004. The position was volunteer and dealt with entrance and promotional testing and disciplinary action of police officers.
My Training:
AAS, FO II, Paramedic, FF III, Certified Fire Investigator, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Inspector II, Vertical Rescue, Confned Space Rescue, Hazmat Ops and much more.
About Me:
Entered fire service as a volunteer in 1973, Paramedic in 1975, Career FF in 1977, Fire Inspector in 1978, Fire Prevention Coordinator - 1981, Shift Commander - 1991.

Currently, I am a Captain, Paramedic, Fire Prevention Co-ordinator and Public Educator. My station responds to over 3,200 calls each year.
Relationship Status:
Married
Why I Joined Fire/EMS
It may sound corny, but I joined to help others when they need it most. The son of a Chicago cop, I was always taught not to judge others and to do what I could to make the lives of others better whenever I could.
Why I Love Fire/EMS
The dedication and selflessness of all public servants
Top Issues Facing Responders:
The hazards of new building construction methods.
The increasing call volume experienced by many departments.
The lack of adequate staffing levels necessary to safely meet the demands of the public.

Comment Wall:

  • Rhonda

    Hello Mike...Welcome to FFN...Stay Safe

    Dec 28, 2007

  • bobby

    welcome to ffn

    Dec 28, 2007

  • hambone22

    Hey is Park Forest anywhere near Rolling Meadows, or Arlington Heights, or Elgin? Just wondering, I know some guys down there. Stay safe LT.

    Dec 28, 2007

  • Jim aka Bick

    hello mike WELCOME TO FFN. FEEL FREE TO ADD ME AS A FRIEND IF YOU WANT TO. ONE CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY FRIENDS. BE SAFE OUT THERE, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

    Dec 28, 2007

  • JERMAINE

    HEY THERE MY NAME IS JERMAINE WATSON I AM FROM WEST SIDE FIRE DEPT. IN ST.ALBANS,WV AND I AM INTERESTED IN TRADING PATCHES WITH YOU: MY ADDRESS IS

    JERMAINE WATSON
    106 BEVERLY STREET
    ST. ALBANS WV 25177

    SEND YOUR ADDRESS TO ME SO I CAN MAIL OUT YOUR PATCH:
    AGAIN THANX, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS

    Dec 28, 2007

  • Joel Swanson

    Season's Greetings Mike & Have A Happy New Year!
    Mike you've got to be the icon for Firefighting. You are what I think of when I think of a firefighter.
    Bless You Man !

    Dec 28, 2007

  • Joel Swanson

    Well, Mike I'm not much of a politician, but I'll do my best.
    All the presidential hopefulls that want to come make their speech and promises, to anyone who doesn't have a life. They jump & shout feel all warm & fuzzy & say yeah I'll follow you off a cliff, then the one's that don't get any followers start to drop out and this thins the herd to pick from in 2008.
    Me, I'd rather be at a ragging warehouse fire with freezing sleet & snow coming down, than to have someone stand there and blow hot air at me.
    This is just my opinion and I approve this message!
    Take Care Mike

    Dec 29, 2007

  • William Brei

    You look a lot like someone I work with - you look a bit older then him. Good luck cleaning the dirt floors and cleaning up after the horses.

    BB

    Dec 29, 2007

  • Ron Maddox

    I love the look. Sometimes I wish it was still that way. Be safe.

    Dec 30, 2007

  • Joel Swanson

    Actually Mike, you want to come to the "straw polls", thats the one the candidates lay on the food, free stuff, bands & entertainment. It's like a high class carnival.
    That's more of a hoot than anything. The only problem was the weather was so hot this year, we literally had hundreds of medical calls, because I think it brought in somewhere around 40,000 people. It was just about like a football weekend at Iowa State University.
    Take Care Mike Keep it safe or keep it hot!

    Dec 30, 2007

  • JERMAINE

    WHATS UP LT. MIKE,
    I AM MAILING U A PATCH TOMORROW MON DEC 31 HOPE U ENJOY...
    HAPPY NEW YEAR...

    Dec 30, 2007

  • lloyd

    Happy New Year Mike, enjoyed the painters vid you posted.

    Jan 1, 2008

  • hambone22

    No problem L.T. Thanks for the extra info. I appreciate it. Stay safe and we'll talk later.

    Jan 1, 2008

  • Regina Tribley

    thanks for the comment.. appreciate knowing that i am never alone in this field.

    Jan 20, 2008

  • Regina Tribley

    thanks for the heads up! Part of the storm is hitting now! You can keep it if you want too! I don't mind...Really

    Jan 20, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    i hopeyou take me as a friend on my space i would thank you alot.

    Jan 24, 2008

  • R.Th@rp ~ F!re Ch!c

    Ty ;)

    Jan 25, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    hey this is henry sturgis is a bout a hour and 45 minites away from were yor going to be this week end well stay safe man later your friend henry

    Jan 25, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    hey dude little sturgis is a nice tow n to live at it is not real bad to live here at we have a bike ralleyhere in the summer to so that brings money in we just dont have much here in sturgis ky small city town but we are happy to have what we got so you get a chanch come see it well thout i would write you and tell you a little about sturgis kentucky so that is that i like being a firefighter in sturgis all my fire team is real good to me and i would not go no where with out them i like my team they are good to me but thatis somthing you cant find much of is team work well have fun latter man.

    Jan 25, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    i told you a lie it is a 3 hour drive to sturgis from wher your at this week end sorry buddy your friend henry

    Jan 25, 2008

  • R.Th@rp ~ F!re Ch!c

    Yw ;)

    Will do, it's been pretty busy in the last 24 hours, thank god the bunkers are warm! Have a great weekend!

    Jan 26, 2008

  • Katie Moon

    Thanks for the invite! I enjoyed your site.
    Stay safe and have fun!

    Jan 27, 2008

  • Keith Wright

    Hey Mike how's it going for you. May god bless you and your's.

    Jan 28, 2008

  • Aaron Robbins

    nice pro pic

    Jan 30, 2008

  • MIKE TOIKA

    Hi Mike, we got about 8 or 9 on Thursday. Was pretty lucky thursday night, quiet at the station. Be safe and thanks for the add

    Feb 2, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    hey big man whats going on not much i hope well stay safe out their latter.

    Feb 4, 2008

  • RICKY BENSON

    Had a warm, windy day with a few brush fires,Stay low,
    like your outfit,Ricky









    Ricky

    Feb 11, 2008

  • Joel C Kelley

    Mike, I really dig the vintage look, are you into 19th century fire fighting history?

    Feb 11, 2008

  • Joel C Kelley

    See3ms like a really great way to do pubic education. I have done Civil war living history for 26 years and the proper look really caugth my eye, looks right out of a currier and Ives litho!

    Feb 11, 2008

  • Kelly

    hello and how are things

    Feb 13, 2008

  • HENRY SMITH

    HEY BIG MAN WHATS GOING ON IN THE BIG CITY WITH YOU WELL LATTER.

    Feb 15, 2008

  • Doug Fisher

    Warming up. Had our share of -20 and -30 temps this season. Looking foward to spring. Then summer and that means wildland season.

    Feb 20, 2008

  • Mike W.

    I am also looking forward to spring and summer.
    Are you a wildland firefighter? If so, stay safe and remember the saying, "Everybody Goes Home!"

    Feb 21, 2008

  • Captain Chaos

    Mike, Sorry I never responded to the message you left on my page. There's so much happening on these pages, that I miss stuff.

    To answer your question, as of now, I think I'm going to stay about one more year. In our system, once you get 30 in, you stop paying into the system and the money that the Department was putting towards your retirement goes on your pay as earnable compensation. For me it will be an extra $600 to $700 a month. I just started getting the retirement money on my check about a month ago, so to take full advantage of it, I need to stay at least 12 months. If I retire before April 1 in any year, I get a 2% COLA even if I go on March 31. I checked it out and with our scheduled raises over the next couple of years even if I stayed till July, I wouldn't be more that $10 or $15 a month ahead for staying the extra few months.

    Anyway, hope you are well!

    Feb 29, 2008

  • SMOKEnPipesJim

    Mike, Being a bit of a history Buff, I wonder If you know much about "Americus 6" which was "reorganized"as Americus 6and also refered to as BIG 6 in 1848 after being Previously reorganized post Revolutionary period and historically went back before that..Having a Philly style double decker hand tub was the reason for "BIgsix" the rig weighed in at 4200 lbs so imagine the manpower required to get her moving,Americus had vast rivalries with Hudson #1 but worse with engine 8 and 41 who had such bad nature they were relocated north and eventually disbanded in 1836 for fights with 21,23, 36.. In 1855 Americus ran over two of its members in frontof Lord and taylors while racing to a fire on Grand street oneofthe two spent8months recoveringasthe rig passed over his chest...

    William Tweed in his efforttobe elected Mayor hadjoined several political Companies and succeeded in 1850 as a member of Americus 6, Tweed started the "Americus Club" a pre Tammany Hall effort, Tweed was the one who had 6's Tiger within a Scottish clan style belt, later ArtistCartoonist Thomas Nastused the tiger to represent Tammanyhall and all its political negatives and to urn the public against Tweed... The Engine's house was located on a corner of The Columbia university Property that was orginally Kings college,until Januray 1854 when the company was moved to a brownstone Located On HenryStreet near Govenuer street. This house wasbeautiful and considered the best furnished house in the entire city... Taken from "As You Pass By" published in 1952 By the Home Insurance Company of New York The insurance Company at the time had the largest collection of NYC Firefighting memrobilia of the volunteer era :)

    Mar 1, 2008

  • Edward Snyder

    Not to bad in Jersey, at leaste the South part. I am at the bottom of the state, its been cool but not much snow...

    Mar 5, 2008

  • Paul

    Hey Bro,
    Hope you don't mind this message, but I'm trying to make a Chicago connection for a business opportunity that is going through the FDNY. More and more members are signing up daily. Its only in three states presently but will eventually be in all fifty. It has to do with the deregulation of gas and electricity. If you know anyone who's looking to make a second income, please let me know. Thanks and stay safe!

    Mar 19, 2008

  • Adam Clines

    Hope all is well with ya. Stay safe out there. Adam

    Apr 12, 2008

  • David Ebel

    Greetings Mike,

    Good to know you. Hope to see you on our site sometime.

    Chaplain David

    Apr 26, 2008

  • Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

    Hey Mike, Yea, it's good to know on my side of the states that I'm not the only old guy out there. Gray is OK! I'm hoping to get to 30 total years and then pull the plug. I have 26 in with my current department and close to six years between two other departments. I'm trying to buy back the time. I turn 55 in January and if I could afford to buy the time, can retire.

    I've heard both sides, one saying pull the plug, your too old and the other saying blow them off, things are going just fine. Of course, this thought was before I blew my right knee out a month ago... Still waiting to see if I need surgery. So... to be continued... Stay safe.

    Jun 2, 2008

  • Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

    Hey Mike, Let me know if I can be of any assistance with any of the prevention / code enforcement stuff. Just read some older blogs stuff and found out that your new to the bureau.

    Jun 2, 2008

  • Mike W.

    Actually, I have been in fire prevention for 30 years. I am just doing it full time now. I worked 56 hours for 30 years and anywhere from 12 to 24 additional hours a week working in fire prevention. I am just not working shifts any more. I miss it a little....but, I don't mind not getting up 2 to 3 times a night. I turn sixty on Monday.

    Sorry about the knee. It seems I know more guys going out with either bad backs or bad knees. We have had three pension out with bad knees in just the past couple of years. be careful my friend.

    We are getting into RISK WATCH soon. I am teaching 170 teachers in three sessions next week. I thought few would be interested and still can't believe the response. How is fire prevention out in CA. You guys using NFPA 1 and 5000?

    Well, got to go. Take care of that knee and we'll talk again soon.

    Mike

    Jun 2, 2008