ALSIP, IL (May 3, 2019) – The Illinois Fire Sprinkler Coalition is doing its part to educate communities across the state on the life-saving benefit of home fire sprinklers. On May 23, 2019, 10:30 a.m., the coalition is hosting its National Home Fire Sprinkler Day at Alsip Fire Department – Station #2 and Fire Sprinkler Fitters Local #281 UA Training Facility.
The Illinois event will be one of more than 50 held across the U.S. and Canada. The Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a project of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) initiated this North America-wide campaign to raise awareness of the growing dangers of home fires and the life-saving benefits of installing fire sprinklers in new homes. They have established the week of May 19 – 25, 2019 as Home Fire Sprinkler Week.
“The alarming number of home fire deaths and injuries each year should be on the radar of every decision maker,” says Jim Kreher, fire chief, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, and one of the event organizers. “Home fires can become deadly in as little as two minutes. That is not much time for people to escape, especially families with small children, older adults or people with disabilities. Home fires also put our firefighters at risk,” he added.
According to Tom Lia, executive director, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB,) home fire sprinklers have been in national model codes since 2006. More than 110 towns and fire districts in Illinois require home fire sprinklers installed in all new construction.
“We want to provide fire and building officials with all of the latest facts, documents and reports from NFPA, NFSA, HFSC, UL, ISO and many others as they make decisions on future codes for their communities,” Lia said.
Attendees will receive educational materials on home fire sprinklers. The event will include the following:
- Recognition of seven Illinois communities and fire districts that passed home fire sprinkler codes and ordinances in 2018 and 2019: Lake Forest, Wauconda, Crestwood, Carol Stream, Elk Grove Village, Palatine and Rock Island.
- Recognition of individuals who participated in key home fire sprinkler votes for the national model codes from the International Code Council (ICC) and NFPA.
- Recognition of existing communities with home fire sprinkler codes and ordinances.
- A live, simulated house burn with side-by-side fire sprinkler protected room and unprotected room.
Presenters:
- Russ Sanders, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Jim Kreher, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
- Dan Riordan, Illinois Fire Inspectors Association
- Phil Zaleski, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
- Steve Iovinelli, Illinois Fire Services Association
- Tom Lia, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board
- Bob Tinucci, National Fire Sprinkler Association – IL Chapter
- Host: Fire Chief Tom Styczynski, Alsip Fire Department / Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association of Illinois
About the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Coalition
The purpose of the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Coalition is to increase awareness about the residential fire problem in Illinois and to encourage the use of residential fire sprinkler systems to save lives and prevent injuries for both residents and firefighters alike.
