Mike Huffman
Battalion Chief
Capt. Mike Huffman joined the department in the fall of 2000. He previously served nine years on North Park Fire. He was promoted to Lieutenant on June 8, 2010, and to Acting Captain on Oct. 20, 2014 and Full Captain on February 13, 2015. Mike became an EMT in 1993.
While serving on North Park Fire, Mike received a "Certificate of Honor from the Office of Illinois State Fire Marshal" for his heroism in helping save a young girl from her burning home. Mike is a 4-time Hurst Green Cross participant.
Mike is IL State Certified Fire Officer 2, FFII and FFIII with Hazardous Materials Operations, Instructor I & II, Trench Ops, Technical Rescue Awareness, Ropes Operations, Hazardous Materials Incident Command, Haz-Mat Ops, Emergency Roadway Extrication Technician, Vehicle Machinery Ops, vehicle Machinery Tecnician, and is a Senior Fire Apparatus Operator. Mike has taken numerous classes in: Vehicle Extrication, Big Rig Rescue, New Vehicle Technology, NFPA - Electrical Vehicle Safety for Emergency Responders, Rapid Intervention Team Training , Fire Ground Tactics, Commercial Building Operations, Rescue Company Operations, Truck Company Operations, Smoke Divers and is NIMS compliant.
Mike is currently the HRFD Extrication Team leader. Mike has competed in extrication competitions as the Incident Commander for HRFD throughout the USA. Mike has competed in 18 regional, 5 National, and 4 International Events. Mike is also a adjunct field instructor & Assessor for NAVRA – (North American Vehicle Rescue Association. Mike also in a FDIC Instructor for the last 4 years. Mike is the co founder of Auto X, a mobile training unit / company that travels throughout the Midwest teaching vehicle extrication. Auto X has developed and implemented Crunch Time Vehicle extrication symposium and Bus Bash, School Bus Rescue that is held in Illinois. Auto X and PXT Teamed up and taught Hand to Hand combat - Vehicle Extrication at FDIC 2016 and 2017 and in 2018 taught The Art of Making Space with PXT, 2019, Auto X taught Not you everyday extrication @ FDIC. Auto X has been selected again to teach at FDIC 2020 - Complete Extrication - Routine to Complex which was canceled do to covid 19.