This school year, St. Joseph Catholic School in southwest suburban Manhattan completed a detached building renovation – converting a storage garage into additional classroom space in a move to better serve its students, teachers, and staff. As part of that project, the school also met an important life-safety requirement: the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in the newly converted instructional space. What makes this project notable is not just the outcome; but also how it came together—through ordinance-driven planning, community leadership, and collaboration among local and industry partners.

Since a 2012 code update, Manhattan ordinance has required fire sprinklers for any new commercial construction (regardless of square footage) or change of occupancy. So, when St. Joseph Catholic School began planning its building conversion, compliance with the ordinance was made a priority by the village and the Manhattan Fire Protection District. As Fire Marshal Dave Kolosh of the Manhattan Fire Protection District explained, “The ordinance is the reason this project happened.”

From the Village’s perspective, the ordinance reflects broad accountability to protect public safety. “The Village has a responsibility to uphold its ordinances, particularly those that protect public safety,” Manhattan’s Mayor Mike Adrieansen said. “Preserving the integrity of the ordinance ensures consistent enforcement and helps safeguard the entire community.”

As the project moved forward, coordination among the village, fire protection district, and the school played a key role. Early planning and open dialogue helped ensure the renovation met local fire protection requirements, keeping safety at the forefront. “The Village worked collaboratively and went above and beyond to accommodate the school’s project while continuing to prioritize community standards,” said Mayor Adrieansen.

In this case, that collective process also included support from industry partners who recognized the unique needs of the project. RAM Fire Protection donated the labor for the fire sprinkler installation and the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board paid for the fire sprinkler system materials. Fire Marshal Kolosh noted that this cooperation helped ensure the addition was fully protected, resulting in a sprinklered space that reflects a shared commitment to safety for the children and teachers who will use it.

The value of automatic fire sprinklers cannot be overstated. Fires can grow rapidly, often faster than occupants can react. “Fires don’t wait,” Kolosh said. “Fire sprinklers work right away. They control the fire before it spreads – giving people the time to get out and keeping a bad situation from turning into a tragedy.”

Kolosh also emphasized that fire sprinklers in the building will reduce unnecessary risk for fire crews while also limiting property damage and loss—outcomes that benefit both first responders and the broader community.

“I hope residents see that the village and the fire protection district genuinely care about the community,” noted Mayor Adrieansen. “As a small [village], it was especially meaningful to see everyone come together to support a school that has been part of Manhattan for over 100 years.”

The completed fire sprinkler installation at St. Joseph Catholic School demonstrates that when ordinances are paired with cooperation and shared responsibility, communities can uphold safety standards while supporting and preserving institutions that serve future generations. As Kolosh put it, “Fire sprinklers save lives. That’s the bottom line.”

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Tinley Park, IL (September 2, 2025) – 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 throughout September and October to conduct live fire demonstrations at their open house events

Fire Prevention Week is slated for October 5 to 11 and this year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” The campaign will work to educate everyone about using these batteries, stressing how important it is to buy, charge and recycle them safely.

“Charge into Fire Safety” includes expanded resources, guidelines and information in response to the concerns fire officials have about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that power devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters, smaller electronics such as cell phones and laptops, and electric vehicles. As the use of these items has increased in recent years, so too has the number of fires associated with them. Combined with fire safety precautions such as working smoke alarms, well practiced escape plans and lithium-ion battery safety measures, home fire sprinklers can significantly reduce fires, deaths, injuries and property damage. One of the more recent examples of a fire sprinkler save with a lithium-ion battery fire was when the fire sprinkler system in an off-campus apartment in Champaign controlled a fire caused by a charging e-scooter last November.

Nothing proves the effectiveness of sprinklers more convincingly than a live side-by-side demonstration of home fires in two similarly furnished rooms – one with a single fire sprinkler and the other without protection. These dramatic public demonstrations vividly and memorably display how fast a fire can become deadly and the crucial, fast response and life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers as they control or extinguish a fire. “Today’s home fires can fully engulf a room and become deadly in just two minutes,” said NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer. “Modern furniture and belongings that are made of plastics and other synthetics contribute to faster growth and emit more toxic smoke, while open-space home designs allow fires to spread more quickly. Lithium-ion battery fires further exacerbate these challenges.”

“With these powerful demonstrations we’ll be conducting with fire departments, audiences can see fire sprinklers in action. Unlike the Hollywood movie stereotype, fire sprinklers do not all activate at once but instead are individually activated by the heat of a fire, stopping a blaze in its tracks and limiting the spread of smoke.”

Today, nearly 120 Illinois communities have adopted national model codes that include fire sprinklers in all new construction homes. 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 fire-related, cancer-causing carcinogens.

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

Saturday, September 6:
St. Charles Fire Department

Tuesday, September 9:
Paul Davis Restoration of NW & SW Cook County (w/ Elgin Fire Department)

Wednesday, September 10:
Cary Fire Protection District

Saturday, September 13:
Inverness Fire Protection District
Lake Villa Fire Protection District
MAAC Foundation (Valparaiso, IN)

Sunday, September 14:
Roselle Fire Department

Saturday, September 20:
Buffalo Grove Fire Department
Des Plaines Fire Department
Elgin Fire Department
Evanston Fire Department
Evergreen Park Fire Department
West Dundee Fire Department
Wheeling Fire Department

Sunday, September 21:
Glenview Fire Department

Saturday, September 27:
Itasca Fire Protection District
Naperville Fire Department
Plainfield Fire Protection District
Pleasantview Fire Protection District

Sunday, September 28:
Batavia Fire Department
Mundelein Fire Department

Wednesday, October 1:
Warrenville Fire Protection District

Thursday, October 2:
Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Saturday, October 4:
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Carpentersville Fire Department
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Hobart (IN) Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department (Station 23)
Homer Township Fire Protection District
Homewood Fire Department
Lake Bluff Fire Department
Lansing Fire Department
Lemont Fire Protection District
Morton Grove Fire Department
Northbrook Fire Department
Norwood Park Fire Protection District
Palatine Fire Department
South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District

Sunday, October 5:
Lake Zurich Fire Department
Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force (IN)
Lockport Township Fire Protection District
McHenry Township Fire Protection District
Roberts Park Fire Protection District

Monday, October 6:
Moraine Valley Community College – Fire Science Program
Westchester Fire Department
Western Springs Fire Department

Wednesday, October 8:
Fermilab Fire Department
La Grange Fire Department

Thursday, October 9:
Hazel Crest Fire Department

Friday, October 10:
Beecher Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 11:
Broadview Fire Department
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District
Hammond (IN) Fire Department
Hinsdale Fire Department
La Grange Park Fire Department
Rolling Meadows Fire Department
Romeoville Fire Department
Schaumburg Fire Department
Streamwood Fire Department

Sunday, October 12:
Wauconda Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 18:
Berwyn Fire Department
Bloomingdale Fire Protection District

Monday, October 20:
Hampshire Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 25: 
Highland Park Fire Department

Sunday, October 26:
Forest View Fire Department

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The City of St. Charles has expanded its Business Improvement Grant (BIG) program to strengthen the local business environment, foster economic growth, and promote accessibility and fire safety improvements – including fire sprinklers and fire alarms.

Originally launched in 2013, the BIG program is a 50/50 cost-matching initiative designed to assist business owners with essential upgrades to their commercial spaces. In response to rising inflation and increasing construction costs, City Council recently approved program updates, raising the maximum grant amounts from $25,000 to $30,000. The updated program now offers up to $15,000 in matching funds for general building improvements and up to an additional $15,000 specifically for ADA accessibility upgrades.

“The BIG Program was developed in 2013 to attract and retain businesses in the area,” explained Economic Development Director Derek Conley. “Although the program has seen several successful years, rising inflation has significantly increased the cost of necessary upgrades. By adjusting to current economic conditions, the revised grant program continues to deliver impactful support to local businesses.”

Eligible businesses located within the downtown zoning districts can apply for grant reimbursements related to the installation or upgrade of fire sprinkler systems (including water service improvements), fire alarm systems, electrical upgrades, HVAC improvements, facade enhancements, accessibility upgrades, and installation of elevators or lifts.

“Installing or upgrading commercial fire sprinkler systems can be a significant upfront investment for business owners looking to move to a new space or expand their business,” stated Conley. “Through the BIG program, the city helps offset these costs and encourages safer, code-compliant improvements.”

Applicants must schedule a Building Assessment & Safety Evaluation (BASE) visit, where representatives from the Building & Code Enforcement Division and Fire Department inspect the site and provide recommendations to ensure fire and building code compliance.

Beyond individual projects, the BIG program helps preserve the historic and architectural character of St. Charles while supporting local entrepreneurship. By easing the financial burden of structural improvements, the program encourages investment in the downtown core and key commercial corridors, boosting the vitality and inclusiveness of the entire community.

In 2023 and 2024, the City of St. Charles awarded 12 grants totaling approximately $130,000. With the increased funding allocation—rising from $50,000 to $120,000 annually—the program is positioned to support even more businesses in the years ahead.

View more information about the BIG program at https://econdev.stcharlesil.gov/Incentive-Programs

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The City of West Chicago has launched a new Downtown Investment Program aimed at revitalizing its historic downtown, attracting private investment, and encouraging significant property upgrades—including the installation of fire sprinkler systems.

The program, effective January 1, 2025, offers from 25 to 50 percent reimbursement grants of up to $75,000 for eligible projects, with as much as $100,000 available for improvements to historically significant or landmarked buildings. The new initiative consolidates two underutilized programs—the city’s former Façade Improvement Program and Retail & Restaurant Grant Program—into a single, more impactful grant offering.

“We were really trying to generate more interest, while also being more impactful with the grant funding to encourage private investment within our downtown,” said Business & Community Relations Director Kelley Chrisse. “One of the program’s standout changes is the newly eligible category of fire sprinkler installations—a safety upgrade not explicitly supported under previous programs.

“Fire sprinklers were not included before,” Chrisse noted. “We really wanted to make sure that was an option. With the age of buildings in the downtown, it was highly unlikely that investment would be made unless financial support was available.”

Fire sprinklers are critical for protecting life and property, especially in older structures where upgrades often come with challenges. By covering a portion of these costs, West Chicago is making it more feasible for property owners to modernize their buildings without compromising on fire safety.

Eligible properties include commercial and mixed-use buildings within Downtown TIF District #2. Improvements can range from large-scale interior and exterior renovations to smaller maintenance-focused projects such as roofing or accessibility enhancements. Fire alarms, HVAC systems, elevators, and chairlifts are also eligible for reimbursement.

“The goal is to preserve the integrity of these structures for the long term,” said Chrisse. “We weren’t seeing enough private investment in the ongoing maintenance of buildings, so we expanded the list of eligible improvements to encourage that work.”

The city budgeted $125,000 for the program in 2025 with the possibility of allocating additional funding if interest exceeds expectations. Chrisse has called on downtown property and business owners to apply and is hopeful that their interest will create a need for an additional funding request. “That’s the kind of success we want to see,” she adds.

The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) supports these types of initiatives that promote fire protection as part of revitalization, while encouraging code compliance and mitigating long-term risk. For more information, search Downtown Investment Program on https://westchicago.org/

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Tinley Park, IL (April 3, 2025) – A fire in a split-level Carpentersville home with no fire sprinklers tragically resulted in the deaths of three young brothers on March 30. The boys, a one-year-old and two-year old twins, were too young to escape the home’s basement on their own. Two of the family’s dogs also perished in the fire.

The fire occurred mid-morning as all three boys were sleeping in the basement. Firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes of the fire being reported, but flames were coming out of the windows on the front of the house. According to officials, three other family members were also trapped inside the home but eventually got out with the help of responding firefighters. The children’s grandmother was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and is expected to recover. Even with a quick response from the fire department, the fire moved too quickly to get the children out of the home – highlighting an all-too-common occurrence in modern home fires across the country.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it may have been caused by a space heater. During a press conference, officials said the home did have working smoke alarms. The home is uninhabitable and suffered $350,000 in damages. The village social worker has been working with the family to deal with the trauma and loss.

Unfortunately, the tragic fire in Carpentersville follows another recent example of a house fire that moved too fast for occupants to safely escape in Naperville on February 18. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found heavy flames engulfing the first and second floors with a person trapped on the second floor. Efforts to reach the second floor were hindered by the intensity of the fire, flames erupting from nearly every window, the collapse of an interior stairwell, and holes in the second-story flooring.

A 75-year-old man, who had limited mobility, was eventually found dead on the second floor. His wife was taken to the hospital for treatment. According to the fire department, the fire, which was caused by unattended candles, displaced five people and caused estimated damages of $800,000.

Today’s fires can become deadly in as little as two to three minutes due to a variety of factors such as petroleum-based plastic furnishings that burn faster and more toxic, building practices such as lightweight construction materials that fail quicker and open-concept designs that allow smoke to travel more freely, and the emergence of problems with an increasing number of lithium-ion batteries in homes.

Both recent fires in Chicagoland are a tragic reminder of why fire sprinkler requirements are present in national building codes. More than 110 Illinois communities currently require fire sprinklers in all new construction homes. Fire sprinklers are individually heat activated, controlling a fire while it is small, which limits the smoke, and allows occupants to safely escape while the fire department responds. In approximately 90 percent of residential fires, only one fire sprinkler activates to control or extinguish the fire.

According to Erik Hoffer, executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, cost is often cited as the reason fire sprinklers are amended out of the national model codes when adopted on a local level, however, that puts residents and responding firefighters at unnecessary risk.

“Families affected by these recent home fires not only have to face the reality of lost loved ones and cherished possessions, but also the insurmountable costs associated with recovery from a devastating fire, such as medical care for injuries, long-term displacement, and property loss,” states Hoffer. “The savings offered by fire sprinklers far outweigh their initial cost. Fire sprinklers are proven to be the best solution to reduce fire risk while protecting residents, firefighters and property.”

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Understand, Applying, and Enforcing NFPA 25 Class

This highly interactive full-day course describes the requirements for properly maintaining a water‐based fire protection system in accordance with NFPA 25.
NOTE: The class will follow the 2023 edition of NFPA 25. We will provide attendees with a copy (one per fire department) if they are unable to bring it.

Date:  Thursday, April 17
Time:  8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Check-in begins at 7:30 am
Location:   Medinah Banquets, 550 Shriners Drive, Addison, IL

Continental breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided.
Certificates will be issued for contact hours/CEUs (ICC Preferred Provider approved.)

Please register by Friday, April 11

Register at www.bit.ly/nfpa25addison

Class is FREE with gift card #GIFT-01040

(After typing gift card number, you MUST click on the  button to apply the credit.)

Questions?  Please contact Erik Hoffer:  [email protected] or (708)403-4468.

This class is provided by: 
Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and Illinois Fire Inspectors Association

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