Palos Park Deputy Fire Chief Running For Orland Fire District Board

ORLAND PARK, IL — A deputy fire chief in nearby Palos Park has announced his candidacy for trustee with the Orland Fire Protection District.

Michael Gabriele, a resident of Orland Park for the last 15 years, said in a release he has the highest respect and integrity for the Orland Fire Protection District. Michael and his wife are proud to live in Orland Park and raise their family in this community.

Gabriele has been in the Fire Service for 20 years and currently serves as Deputy Fire Chief in neighboring Palos Fire Protection District in Palos Park. He has worked closely with the Orland Fire Protection District and has personally served the residents of Orland Fire with emergency medical services and structure fires through auto-aid agreements. As a deputy fire chief, he says he has the professionalism and leadership to run a Fire District. His goal is to continue being a public servant as a trustee with the Orland Fire Protection District.

Gabriele "has first-hand knowledge and experience on how Fire Protection Districts operate and understands the challenges that any fire district faces," according to a release. He "is determined to make sure Orland Fire Protection District remains in the right hands with no political agenda. Only to continue making Orland Fire Protection District one of the best departments around."

“The residents of Orland Fire deserve to have a Fire department that provides excellent service," Gabriele said in a release. "When someone calls 911, they expect the fire department to show up and be the best. I’m afraid that if politics gets involved in any operational or financial decision-making, it could impact crucial services.”

Gabriele said in a release that his experience working with the board of the Palos Fire Protection District would lend itself well to a role with the Orland Fire Protection District.

“I am not a politician, nor do I plan on being one," Gabriele said in a release. "I have no political endorsements or agenda. The fire service is what I know and my passion. The most important priority is to always ensure the fire department has properly trained personnel, equipment, apparatus, and resources to complete any task while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.”