Tinley Park, IL (September 4, 2024) – This fall, as part of national Fire Prevention Week education efforts, the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) will be working with greater Chicago area
fire departments throughout September and October to present live burn demonstrations at their open house events.

Fire Prevention Week is scheduled for October 6 to 12 and this year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!” Smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers together make a great team by providing early warning and giving occupants time to safely escape a home fire. According to a March 2024 “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers” report from the National Fire Protection Association, home fire deaths are reduced by 92 percent when fire sprinklers and hardwired smoke alarms are present compared to when neither are present.

Nothing is more powerful evidence of that NFPA statistic than a live side-by-side demonstration of home fires. These dramatic burns are remarkably effective at showing people how fast fires can become deadly and the crucial, life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers.

In the side-by-side burn demonstrations, two similar rooms with smoke alarms are set on fire. However, one room contains a single fire sprinkler, while the adjoining room does not. Attendees can witness the rapid spread of fire in the unsprinklered room in stark contrast with how quickly the fire sprinkler responds and controls or extinguishes the fire in the other room.

In addition to these demonstrations, Chicago area fire departments will discuss the importance of early warning with working 10-year-sealed-battery smoke alarms, typical 9-1-1 dispatch and fire department response times, and well-practiced escape plans for families.

“With today’s home furnishings, a fire can turn deadly in just two minutes,” said NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer.  “Home fires are more deadly because our furniture and belongings are made of plastics and synthetic materials that make fires burn faster and produce more toxic smoke, while open-space design concepts cause fires to spread more quickly from room to room. Evolving technologies such as lithium-ion batteries are also adding new fire challenges, driving quicker growth of fires.”

“With these riveting demonstrations, audiences can see fire sprinklers in action. They do not all activate at once as the movies incorrectly portray, but instead are individually activated by the extreme heat of a fire, providing life safety by stopping a fire in its track and limiting the spread of smoke.”

More than 110 Illinois communities have adopted national model codes requiring fire sprinklers in all new construction homes. Leaders in those communities recognize that fire sprinklers not only help safeguard residents and property, they also protect the lives of first responders from fire and cancer-causing carcinogens associated with the smoke.

Below is a list of upcoming fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations*. Please contact NIFSAB or the fire departments for more details.

Saturday, September 7:
Elgin Fire Department
Inverness Fire Protection District
Lake Villa “Celebration of Fall” (Lake Villa Fire Protection District)

Tuesday, September 10:
Will County Public Health/Safety Committee (Joliet Fire Department)

Saturday, September 14:
Batavia Fire Department
MAAC Foundation’s “First Responder Appreciation & Demonstration Day” (Valparaiso, Indiana)

Saturday, September 21:
Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District
Buffalo Grove Fire Department
Des Plaines Fire Department (Fire Sprinkler Demo Trailer)
Glenview Fire Department
Plainfield Fire Protection District
Pleasantview Fire Protection District
West Dundee Fire Department
Wheeling Fire Department

Sunday, September 22:
Roselle Fire Department

Saturday, September 28:
Fox River Grove Fire Protection District
La Grange Park Fire Department (Fire Sprinkler Demonstration Trailer)
Naperville Fire Department
St. Charles Fire Department

Sunday, September 29:
Mundelein Fire Department

Wednesday, October 2:
Warrenville Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 5:
Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s “Community Hero Day”
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District
Elk Grove Village Fire Department (Fire Sprinkler Demo Trailer)
Hammond (Indiana) Fire Department
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Hobart (Indiana) Fire Department
Homewood Fire Department
Lake Bluff Fire Department
Lansing Fire Department
Lemont Fire Protection District
Northbrook Fire Department
Norwood Park Fire Protection District
Palatine Fire Department

Sunday, October 6:
Belvidere Fire Department
Countryside Fire Protection District (Fire Sprinkler Demo Trailer)
Evanston Fire Department
Lake Zurich Fire Department
Lockport Township Fire Protection District
McHenry Township Fire Protection District
Merrillville (Indiana) Fire Department
Streamwood Fire Department

Monday, October 7:
Lake Villa Village Board Meeting (Lake Villa Fire Protection District)
Moraine Valley Community College – Fire Science Program
Westchester Fire Department
Western Springs Fire Department

Thursday, October 10:
La Grange Fire Department

Friday, October 11:
Beecher Fire Protection District
Richton Park Fire Department (Fire Sprinkler Demo Trailer)

Saturday, October 12:
Berwyn Fire Department
Hillside Fire Department
Hinsdale Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department – Station 24
Rolling Meadows Fire Department
Romeoville Fire Department (Fire Sprinkler Demo Trailer) Waukegan Fire Department

Sunday, October 13:
Roberts Park Fire Department

Wednesday, October 16:
Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Saturday, October 19:
Bloomingdale Fire Protection District
Hoffman Estates Fire Department – Station 23

Monday, October 21:
Hampshire Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 26:
Oswego Fire Protection District

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