Fire Departments Use Live Fire Demonstrations To Teach About Fire Prevention

Orland Park, IL (October 1, 2019) – The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) is assisting local fire departments in conducting live burn demonstrations to educate the public about how quickly fires can become deadly, as well as the important life-and property-saving benefits of fire sprinklers. The events are centered around National Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 6 to 12.

The demonstrations provide a side-by-side comparison with two similarly furnished rooms — only one with a fire sprinkler installed in the room. Audiences will be able to feel the extreme heat and view the quick growth of fire in the unprotected room and compare it with the quick response and cooling action of the fire sprinkler in the other room. The demonstrations also allow fire departments to talk to attendees about pre-fire planning, smoke alarms, and escape plans.

“These demonstrations provide a dramatic visualization of the speed at which fire grows due to the high flammability of synthetic furnishings in today’s homes, but they also prove how fast fire sprinklers respond to fire and control or extinguish it,” says fire safety advocate and NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer. “It’s important that homeowners understand that fire sprinklers are not just for commercial buildings. Home fire sprinklers are individually activated by heat and provide a line of defense to allow homeowners to safely escape.”

By the end of the year, NIFSAB will have assisted with approximately 48 side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations, along with 23 fire sprinkler trailer demonstrations.

More than 110 Illinois communities now require fire sprinklers in new construction homes, and many more require them in new multi-family and commercial buildings, because sprinklers not only protect occupants and property, but they also protect the lives of first responders.

Below is a list of upcoming fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations:

Wednesday, Oct. 2:
Warrenville Fire Protection District

Saturday, Oct. 5:
Norwood Park Fire Protection District (Trailer Demonstration)
Palatine Fire Department
Aurora Regional Fire Museum (Trailer Demonstration)
Minooka Fire Protection District
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District with Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District
Lemont Fire Protection District
Bartlett Fire Protection District
La Grange Fire Department
Barrington Fire Department

Sunday, Oct. 6:
Lake Zurich Fire Department
Sugar Grove Fire Protection District
Garden Homes Fire Protection District

 Monday, Oct. 7:
Moraine Valley Community College
Western Springs Fire Department (Trailer Demonstration)

Thursday, Oct. 10:
Westchester Fire Department

Saturday, Oct. 12:
Alsip Fire Department
Westmont Fire Department
Elk Grove Village Fire Department (Trailer Demonstration)
Wood Dale Fire Protection District
Plainfield Fire Protection District
Elgin Fire Department
Rolling Meadows Fire Department
Country Club Hills Fire Department
LaGrange Park Fire Department

Sunday, Oct. 13:
Elmhurst Fire Department

Saturday, Oct. 19:
Berwyn Fire Department
Bloomingdale Fire Protection District
St. Charles Fire Department

Wednesday, Oct. 23:
Chicago Ridge Fire Department

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