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As part of national Fire Prevention Week education initiatives, the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) will be working with greater Chicago area fire departments during September and October to conduct live fire demonstrations at their open house events.
Scheduled for October 4 to 10, Fire Prevention Week will feature the theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” The NFPA campaign will focus on simple everyday habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safe.
“Charge into Fire Safety” will empower fire officials and community leaders to counteract the growing incidence of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries powering devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters, cell phones and laptops, and electric vehicles. In 2025, there were approximately 2,500 incidents of lithium-ion battery fires reported in the U.S., representing a significant increase in such events over recent years.
Together with working smoke alarms, well-practiced escape plans and battery safety measures, home fire sprinklers can dramatically reduce fires, deaths, injuries and property damage caused by lithium-ion batteries.
During Fire Prevention Week throughout the Chicago region, live side-by-side demonstration of home fires in two similarly furnished rooms – one with a single fire sprinkler and the other without protection – will prove the effectiveness of fire sprinklers. These demonstrations show how quickly a fire can become deadly and the fast, life-saving response of home fire sprinklers.
“Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as the power source of choice for a vast array of devices—from toothbrushes to tools, smartphones to scooters,” said NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer. “But there are significant fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, and everyone needs to be aware of the challenges they present and the range of measures that can mitigate these dangers, including home fire sprinklers.”
Today, nearly 120 Illinois communities have adopted national model codes that include fire sprinklers in all new construction one- and two-family homes and townhomes. Leaders in those communities recognize that fire sprinklers not only help safeguard residents and property, but they also protect the lives of first responders from fire and the associated exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens.
Below is a list of upcoming fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations*. Please contact NIFSAB or the fire departments for more details.
Friday, September 4
- Illinois State University (Normal Fire Department and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office)
Saturday, September 12
- Elgin Fire Department
- Inverness Fire Protection District
- Charles Fire Department
Tuesday, September 15
- New Lenox Fire Protection District
Saturday, September 19
- Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District
- Des Plaines Fire Department
- Itasca Fire Protection District
- MAAC Foundation (Valparaiso, IN)
- Orland Fire Protection District
- Plainfield Fire Protection District
- River Forest Fire Department
Sunday, September 20
- Glenview Fire Department
Saturday, September 26
- Central Stickney Fire Protection District
- Naperville Fire Department
- Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District
- Pleasantview Fire Protection District
- West Dundee Fire Department
- Wheeling Fire Department
Sunday, September 27
- Batavia Fire Department
- Mundelein Fire Department
Thursday, October 1
- Chicago Ridge Fire Department
Friday, October 2
- Paul Davis Restoration (Elgin)
Saturday, October 3
- Aurora Regional Fire Museum (Aurora Fire Department)
- Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District
- Elk Grove Village Fire Department
- Evanston Fire Department
- Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company
- Hobart Fire Department (IN)
- Hoffman Estates Fire Department
- Homewood Fire Department
- Lake Bluff Fire Department
- Lemont Fire Protection District
- Northbrook Fire Department
- Norwood Park Fire Protection District
- Oak Park Fire Department
- Oswego Fire Protection District
- Palatine Fire Department
Sunday, October 4
- Countryside Fire Protection District
- Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force (IN)
- Lake Zurich Fire Department
- Lockport Township Fire Protection District
- McHenry Township Fire Protection District
- Roberts Park Fire Protection District
Monday, October 5
- Moraine Valley Community College – Fire Science Program
- Western Springs Fire Department
Wednesday, October 7
- Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection District
- Hinsdale Fire Department
- La Grange Fire Department
- Warrenville Fire Protection District
- Westchester Fire Department
Friday, October 9
- Beecher Fire Protection District
Saturday, October 10
- Belvidere Fire Department
- Broadview Fire Department
- Cicero Fire Department
- Crown Point Fire Department (IN)
- Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District
- East Hazel Crest Fire Department
- Hammond Fire Department (IN)
- Lansing Fire Department
- Minooka Fire Protection District
- Rolling Meadows Fire Department
- Romeoville Fire Department
- Winnetka Fire Department
Sunday, October 11
- Crown Point Fire Department (IN)
Saturday, October 17
- Berwyn Fire Department
- Forest View Fire Department
Monday, October 19
- Hampshire Fire Protection District
Saturday, October 24
- Bloomingdale Fire Protection District
- La Grange Park Fire Department
- Morton Grove Fire Department
Thursday, October 29
- Shambaugh & Son (Aurora)
About the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB)
The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting progressive legislation, raising public awareness, educating code officials and governmental policy makers by demonstrating the proven performance of fire sprinklers in saving both lives and property.
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