Village officials join firefighters for FireOps training; police softball charity recognized

Village trustees and staff spent a recent Saturday participating in FireOps, a hands-on training day run by Arlington Heights Fire Department members, and at the Oct. 6 board meeting village leaders thanked the department and Local 3105 for the event.

Local 3105 President Drew Hansen, who read remarks to the board, described trustees’ participation in CPR drills, vehicle extrication, hose operations and live-fire training in the burn tower. "You didn't just observe what we did, you did it," Hansen told the board, adding that the experience gave leaders “a firsthand look at the physical demands, split second decisions, and teamwork that define our profession.”

The board said the day improved mutual understanding between leadership and firefighters and commended the volunteers who gave their time.

Shortly after, the board recognized the Iron Heights Police Department team as the winner of the fifth annual Battle of the Badges charity softball tournament. The event organizers reported more than $125,000 raised this year for mental-health and suicide-prevention support for first responders; participants included teams from Highland Park, Wilmette and Deerfield, with additional suburbs on a wait list for next year.

Organizers Maria Del Bacchio and Diane Marchetti were credited in remarks for coordinating the event and for focusing recent charity proceeds on mental-health supports for first responders.

Why it matters: The events highlight local public-safety training, cross-agency engagement and community fundraising for first-responder mental-health programs. Board members said the FireOps day informs their policy decisions by giving leaders a practical understanding of firefighters’ daily work.

Ending: Trustees and department leaders closed the acknowledgements by inviting a short video of FireOps and group photographs with the tournament champions.