Forest Reeder is quite passionate about firefighting and has been over the past four decades. He鈥檚 also quite proud of the fire service program at Moraine Valley.
After 20 years as a career firefighter, Reeder, now the fire chief in Tinley Park, went back to school. 鈥淚 had accomplished everything I could in terms of licenses and certifications through the state, so it was time to earn my degrees,鈥� he said. Reeder earned an associate degree in fire science technology from Moraine Valley, a bachelor鈥檚 degree in fire science management from Southern Illinois University and a master鈥檚 degree in public safety administration from Lewis University.
鈥淚 got a late start in education, but I went from an associate鈥檚 to a master鈥檚 in five years, so I think I was able to catch up relatively quickly,鈥� he said, adding he is happy more emphasis is placed on education for today鈥檚 firefighters. 鈥淭he shift is now for degrees to be completed much earlier in a firefighter鈥檚 career. I鈥檓 glad to see that. I don鈥檛 think a lot of people know the amount of education a lot of their firefighters have.鈥�
As chief, he鈥檚 finding a rewarding part of this job is seeing the involvement they have in the community. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the professionalism of the Tinley Park firefighters. They obviously have to deal with some very difficult moments, and I think we have a positive impact both in an emergency and a non-emergency capacity,鈥� he said.
The focus over the past few years, Reeder said, has been on the critical incident stress issues that have been overlooked. 鈥淭he number of fire service and emergency responses is up. A lot of the factors that affect the firefighters are attributed to things you can鈥檛 un-see, un-hear or un-smell. We鈥檙e working hard to address this,鈥� he said.
Reeder has remained connected to Moraine Valley, where he has been an adjunct teacher for nearly 30 years, is a curriculum advisor and for 15 years oversaw the Fire Science Program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun to watch the program grow鈥攅specially under Andy Hufnagl鈥檚 (Fire Academy coordinator) leadership. To now have a professional fire academy program, a fire apparatus garage, dedicated classrooms for the EMT and fire academy programs that are so very well respected in the area鈥攊t鈥檚 amazing,鈥� said Reeder, who is a recipient of the George D. Post Instructor of the Year by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and Instructor of the Year by the Illinois Society of Fire Science Instructors.
Reeder noted the men and women in the stations always try to find something on the job they can find humor in. 鈥淔or us, it tends to be a little bit of a tension release. Firefighters are the greatest practical jokers鈥攁nd some of the greatest chefs in the world,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very rewarding career, and I鈥檝e been blessed to be able to hang around and do it as long as I have.鈥�
