Roberts Park Fire Protection District, Justice, IL (2026)

06/16/2026

⚠️ WEATHER ALERT ⚠️

Just when we thought we might catch a break...

The National Weather Service is monitoring the potential for additional strong to severe storms today, with the possibility of severe weather and tornadoes again tomorrow.

After the week our communities have experienced, we know many residents are tired, frustrated, and focused on recovery efforts. Unfortunately, now is not the time to let our guard down.

Please take a few minutes today to:

📱 Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on your phone.

🔋 Charge phones, flashlights, battery packs, and other essential devices.

🌪️ Review your severe weather plan and know where you would take shelter if a warning is issued.

🌳 Secure or move any loose items that may have been displaced during cleanup efforts.

⚡ Continue to stay clear of downed power lines and damaged trees.

🚨 Most importantly, have multiple ways to receive weather alerts—especially overnight while you may be sleeping.

We'll continue to monitor conditions and share updates as they become available.

Stay weather aware, stay safe, and let's hope Mother Nature decides we've had enough excitement for one week.

06/15/2026

🌪️ STORM RECOVERY UPDATE 🌪️

We now know just how significant last week’s storms were.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that our area was impacted by a derecho on Wednesday and an EF2 tornado on Thursday. These back-to-back severe weather events caused extensive damage throughout Justice, Hickory Hills, and neighboring communities and help explain the widespread tree damage, downed power lines, damaged utility poles, flooded roadways, and prolonged power outages many residents continue to experience.

As our communities continue the recovery process, we’d like to share some important cleanup information from our local public works departments.

🏡 If You Live in Hickory Hills

To help debris removal operations move as quickly and safely as possible:

• Do not place debris piles in the street. This creates hazards for motorists, emergency vehicles, and cleanup crews.

• Keep natural tree debris separate from other materials. Do not mix branches with treated lumber, metal, fencing, garbage, or other debris. Mixed piles may be passed by because they create safety concerns for workers and equipment.

• Cut branches into manageable lengths whenever possible.

• Stack debris neatly to help crews remove it more efficiently.

🏡 If You Live in Justice

• Place downed trees and branches near the curb for pickup.

• Branches and tree debris should be no larger than 6 inches in diameter so Public Works crews can process them using wood chipping equipment.

• Please keep debris out of the roadway and avoid blocking sidewalks, storm drains, or access points.

🌧️ Help Prevent Flooding

Additional rain remains possible, and residents can help reduce localized flooding by:

• Clearing leaves and storm debris away from nearby storm drains.

• Sweeping excess leaves and debris away from the curb line in front of their homes.

Keeping drains clear helps reduce street flooding and allows public works crews to remain focused on storm cleanup efforts.

📸 Document Property Damage

If your property sustained storm damage, consider taking photographs before beginning major cleanup or repairs. This documentation may be helpful for insurance claims and repair estimates.

⚠️ Safety Reminder

Please continue to assume all downed power lines are energized and dangerous. Stay far away from any downed or low-hanging wires and never attempt to move a wire, branch, fence, or other object that may be in contact with a power line.

⏳ Recovery Will Take Time

The amount of debris generated by these storms is significant, and it will take time for crews to work through every neighborhood.

Public works departments, utility crews, contractors, and first responders have been working around the clock for days and will continue doing so until the job is done. While the wait can be frustrating, please know that progress is being made every day and cleanup efforts remain underway throughout both communities.

🤝 Thank You

It’s been a long week for everyone, but we’ve also seen countless examples of neighbors helping neighbors, residents checking on one another, and community members stepping up when help was needed.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and resilience as Justice and Hickory Hills continue to recover.

We will continue sharing recovery information and community resources as they become available.

06/14/2026

178 calls in 96 hours.

As our community enters another day without power, Roberts Park Fire Protection District continues responding to storm-related emergencies throughout Justice and Hickory Hills.

We know this has been a frustrating and exhausting week for many residents, businesses, and families.

The storms caused extensive damage throughout the area, including downed trees, downed power lines, damaged utility poles, and flooded roadways. Utility crews, public works employees, first responders, and countless others continue working around the clock to restore services and clear hazards.

Like many homes and businesses throughout our community, Roberts Park Fire Protection District has been operating on generator power since Wednesday while continuing to provide emergency services.

⚠️ Generator & Carbon Monoxide Safety

Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), a deadly gas that cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.

Even when a generator is outside, CO can enter your home through doors, windows, garages, vents, and other openings.

• Never operate a generator inside a home, garage, basement, shed, or enclosed porch.
• Keep generators at least 20 feet from buildings.
• Direct exhaust away from occupied areas.

🚨 If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, trust it.

Do not ignore it because you don’t smell anything. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible.

If your CO alarm activates:
• Move everyone outside immediately.
• Call 911.
• Do not re-enter until emergency responders determine it is safe.

⚠️ Downed Power Lines

Assume all downed or low-hanging wires are energized.

• Stay away.
• Keep children and pets away.
• Never attempt to move wires, branches, or objects touching power lines.
• Call 911 if there is an immediate hazard.

⚠️ Flooded Roadways

Please do not drive through flooded roadways.

Last night, firefighters responded to multiple incidents involving vehicles stranded in floodwaters, helping motorists reach safety while conditions continued to deteriorate across the area.

🚗 Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

🤝 Check on Your Neighbors

Please continue checking on elderly neighbors, family members, and anyone who may need assistance during this extended outage.

Cooling centers:
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/cooling-centers

If you know of open grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, charging locations, or other community resources, please share them in the comments so neighbors can help neighbors.

Thank you for your continued patience, understanding, and support as recovery efforts continue.

06/12/2026

STORM DAMAGE UPDATE – JUNE 12, 2026

The Roberts Park Fire Protection District continues to respond to the impacts of the severe weather that affected our communities over the past two days.

Between Wednesday's storms and a second round of severe weather on Thursday, firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 100 calls for service throughout Justice and Hickory Hills. At one point, portions of both communities experienced widespread power outages, blocked roadways, and significant damage to homes and apartment buildings. Crews handled incidents ranging from downed trees and power lines to damaged utility poles, structural damage, medical emergencies, and numerous other storm-related hazards.

Thursday alone accounted for 65 calls for service, making it one of the busiest operational periods in district history. During Thursday's incidents, firefighters assisted with approximately 12 rescues from damaged or impacted buildings, with 7 individuals transported to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries. We are grateful to report that no life-threatening injuries have been reported at this time.

The photos below provide a look at some of the damage our personnel encountered while operating throughout the district. As residents can see, many areas sustained significant impacts, including widespread tree damage, utility infrastructure damage, and damage to residential and multi-family buildings.

While conditions have improved since the storms passed, numerous hazards remain throughout the community.

⚠️ Important Safety Reminders

• Stay away from all downed or low-hanging power lines. Assume every wire is energized and dangerous.
• Do not attempt to move utility lines, poles, or tree limbs that may be in contact with electrical equipment.
• Use caution during cleanup operations and wear appropriate protective equipment.
• Never operate generators inside homes, garages, or other enclosed spaces due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Check on elderly neighbors, family members, and anyone who may need assistance during extended power outages.

🔌 Helpful Resources

• Report outages and view restoration information through ComEd.

❄️ Cooling Centers

• Residents without air conditioning or electricity who need relief from the heat can locate available cooling centers throughout Cook County here:
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/cooling-centers

❤️ Disaster Recovery Resources

• American Red Cross Disaster Recovery Information:
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services.html

• Ready.gov Power Outage Safety Information:
https://www.ready.gov/power-outages

🤝 Community Resource Sharing

We know many residents are still dealing with power outages and storm-related challenges. If you are aware of resources that may be helpful to our community—such as grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, pharmacies, charging locations, cooling centers, hotels, or other businesses that are open and operating—please share that information in the comments.

By working together and sharing information, we can help connect residents with the resources they need while recovery efforts continue.

We would like to thank our firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers at Southwest Central Dispatch, law enforcement partners, public works crews, utility workers, contractors, neighboring agencies, and the many residents who have stepped up to help their neighbors during this event. The teamwork displayed throughout these storms has been remarkable.

Recovery efforts will continue in the coming days. Please remain vigilant, stay informed, and continue to use caution around damaged trees, structures, and utility infrastructure.

Roberts Park Fire Protection District
Serving the Communities of Justice and Hickory Hills 🚒

06/12/2026

⚠️ STORM RECOVERY & SAFETY UPDATE ⚠️

Our communities experienced another significant round of severe weather overnight, resulting in widespread power outages, downed trees, damaged utility poles, and numerous reports of downed power lines throughout the area.

First and foremost, please know that firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, public works crews, utility workers, law enforcement personnel, and many others have been working around the clock to respond to emergencies and help our community recover.

As cleanup efforts continue, we ask everyone to keep the following safety tips in mind:

🚫 Stay away from downed power lines.
Always assume any downed or low-hanging wire is energized and dangerous. Never attempt to move or drive over power lines. Report them immediately and keep children and pets away from the area.

🌳 Use caution around damaged trees and limbs.
Trees weakened by the storm may continue to fall long after the weather has passed. Be aware of your surroundings while walking, driving, or cleaning up debris.

🔦 Use generators safely.
Generators should only be operated outdoors and well away from doors, windows, and garages. Never run a generator inside your home or attached garage due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

🕯️ Be careful with candles.
If your power is out, battery-powered lanterns and flashlights are the safest option. Never leave candles unattended and keep them away from anything that can burn.

🚗 Treat dark intersections as four-way stops.
Many traffic signals remain without power. Slow down, be patient, and watch for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

📱 Check on family, friends, and neighbors.
A quick phone call, text message, or visit can make a big difference—especially for older adults, individuals with medical needs, and those who may need assistance during extended power outages.

❄️ Stay cool and stay hydrated.
With temperatures rising and many homes without air conditioning, drink plenty of water and take breaks from cleanup efforts. Consider spending time in air-conditioned public spaces if needed.

🚨 Call 911 for emergencies only.
Please continue to report life-threatening emergencies immediately. Non-emergency storm-related issues may take longer to address as crews work through a high volume of calls.

We know many residents are dealing with property damage, extended power outages, and disrupted routines. Recovery takes time, but our community has always come together during difficult moments, and we will get through this one together as well.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for looking out for one another.

Stay safe, stay alert, and please give utility and public works crews plenty of room to work.

🚒❤️

06/12/2026

Two members of Roberts Park Fire Protection District recently attended the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s Fire College in Champaign where they spent the weekend participating in the First-In Company Officer program.

While there, they ran into a couple familiar faces — former Roberts Park Firefighter/EMT Matt Ketchen, now with the City of Milwaukee Fire Department, as well as actor David Eigenberg from Chicago Fire.

David jumped right in with their company for several live burn evolutions where crews were assigned truck company operations including search and rescue. Pretty cool to see someone who plays a firefighter on TV taking the opportunity to train alongside real firefighters and get hands-on in the burn building.

We’re proud of our members for continuing to sharpen their skills and represent Roberts Park at training events across the state.

06/11/2026

Yesterday was one for the record books.

Over a 24-hour period, Roberts Park Fire Protection District responded to 43 calls for service—the busiest single shift in our District’s history. Those calls included 19 EMS incidents along with numerous storm-related emergencies as severe weather moved through our area.

Despite the unprecedented call volume, our crews answered every call for service without the need for mutual aid while continuing to provide assistance to our neighboring communities as needed throughout the storm. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, professionalism, and teamwork demonstrated by our firefighters, paramedics, and officers during a very busy day and night.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the dispatchers at Southwest Central Dispatch, who managed an overwhelming number of emergency calls and radio traffic while ensuring help was sent where it was needed most. Their calm, professional work behind the scenes is critical during events like these.

A special thank you also goes out to our local Public Works Departments for their efforts clearing downed trees and debris, as well as the crews from ComEd and Nicor who worked through the night and continue working around the clock today to restore utilities and address storm damage throughout our communities.

⚠️ Important Safety Reminders ⚠️

📱 Stay weather-aware and have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts.

🔋 Charge phones, flashlights, battery packs, and other essential devices in case additional power outages occur.

⛈️ More severe weather is possible today. If storms approach, move indoors and stay away from windows.

🚗 Never drive through flooded roadways. Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

⚡ Stay away from all downed or low-hanging power lines. Assume every wire is energized and dangerous. Do not attempt to move wires, trees, or branches that are touching utility lines. Report hazards immediately and allow utility crews to safely address them.

🏡 Please check on your neighbors, especially seniors and those who may need assistance during power outages or cleanup efforts.

We are proud to serve such a resilient community. Thank you for your patience, your support, and for looking out for one another as recovery efforts continue.

06/11/2026

⚠️ Post-Storm Safety Update ⚠️

Today’s severe weather left behind numerous hazards throughout Hickory Hills and Justice, including downed trees, damaged utility poles, and downed power lines.

Our crews, along with our public works and utility partners, are working to answer calls and address hazards as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience as response resources are stretched across multiple incidents.

Please remember:
🔹 Stay away from any downed or low-hanging power lines. Always assume they are energized and dangerous.
🔹 If a power line is involved, emergency responders may be unable to remove trees, branches, or other hazards until ComEd has secured and de-energized the area.
🔹 ComEd crews are actively working throughout the area and are prioritizing calls based on severity and public safety concerns, not necessarily the order in which calls were received.
🔹 Use caution when traveling and watch for debris, damaged trees, and utility equipment operating in roadways.

Most importantly, check on your neighbors—especially older adults, those with medical needs, and anyone who may need assistance following the storm. A quick phone call or visit can make a big difference.

Forecasts indicate the potential for another round of severe weather later today. Take this time to charge electronic devices, secure loose outdoor items, review your emergency plans, and stay weather aware.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and willingness to help one another. We’ll continue working to keep our communities safe

06/10/2026

Some traditions are just too special not to continue.

Retired Battalion Chief Gary Foster recently stopped by the firehouse with his brand new granddaughter to recreate a tradition he started years ago with his own children — taking a photo in front of the fire engine to celebrate a new addition to the family.

We’re honored to be a small part of those memories once again. Congratulations to the Foster family on their newest little one!

06/09/2026

May was another busy month for the members of Roberts Park Fire Protection District both on the training ground and out in the community.

Throughout the month, crews responded to 385 calls for service, including 251 EMS incidents. Our neighboring departments provided mutual aid assistance to Roberts Park 26 times, while our crews provided aid to surrounding communities on 13 incidents. These partnerships continue to play an important role in ensuring resources are available whenever and wherever they are needed.

Our crews also logged 742 hours of training during the month. Members completed several specialized courses including Active Shooter Incident Management Advanced through IFSI sponsored by MABAS 21 and Trench Technician through IFSI. Crews also spent three days at the Bedford Park Burn Tower performing firefighter rescue training under smoke conditions to sharpen critical rescue skills in challenging environments.

Our Hazardous Materials Team remained busy in May as well. The division approved the purchase of a new decontamination solution for Decon 321 which will improve our capabilities when responding to a wider range of hazardous substances, including fentanyl-related incidents. Lt. Baron and Lt. Janchenko also represented MABAS Division 21 at a regional Hazmat Deployment Drill where members mitigated multiple simulated leaks while reviewing product sampling techniques, radiation monitoring, and the use of specialized hazmat identification equipment.

Outside of emergency response and training, our Community Risk Reduction and Public Education efforts continued throughout the district. Members participated in the 8th Grade Career Fair at Conrady Junior High, taught CPR to the Hickory Hills Park District employees, and alongside our Fire Prevention Bureau assisted Rosary Hill with planning and conducting a large-scale fire drill.

And of course, one of the more memorable calls of the month included the rescue of 9 ducklings by members assigned to Red Shift at Station 2. All ducklings were safely reunited and transported away from danger — and at least one was more than happy to pose for a photo afterward.

We’re looking forward to another busy month ahead with several community events coming up, including the Hickory Hills Street Fair on June 28. We hope to see you there!

Roberts Park Fire Protection District

06/16/2026

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