Tinley Park, IL (February 22, 2024) – Eight people were hospitalized following a fire in a 14-story Chicago high-rise building at 7144 S. Jeffery Boulevard that lacked fire sprinklers. One of those hospitalized was an infant in critical condition. The fire started in a kitchen of a second-floor unit in the 1920s-era high-rise and moved its way into an interior stairwell, sending extreme heat up multiple stories and smoke billowing to the highest floors of the building.

According to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB), fire sprinklers would have stopped the fire and heavy smoke from spreading throughout the building, which created a tense scene for responding firefighters who made numerous rescues for residents hanging out windows on upper floors. Even on the fourth floor, a resident jumped to avoid the smoke.

The building was constructed prior to the 1975 City of Chicago Municipal Code requiring fire sprinkler systems. Following the fatal Cook County Administration Building fire of 2003, the city instituted a Life Safety Evaluation (LSE) program for all pre-1975 residential high-rise buildings, but buildings could pass without retrofitting fire sprinklers.

“This building, along with more than 600 others passed the city’s LSE by merely installing passive fire protection measures, nothing that actually controls or extinguishes a fire,” says NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer. “Passive measures, such as self-closing doors, rely on the concept of compartmentation, which attempts to keep a fire confined to a single space. Yet, without a fire sprinkler system suppressing the fire, compartmentation is not enough to protect residents and responding firefighters. This South Shore high-rise fire exhibits the failures of the city’s weak LSE.”

“And while the cost of sprinklers is often cited as an obstacle to installing them, the toll that fires take in lives, injuries, property losses, and long-term displacements far outweighs the expenditure,” adds Hoffer.

This is the fourth reported fire this year in a Chicago residential high-rise that is not protected with fire sprinklers. Last year, 17 residential high-rise fires that resulted in deaths to a resident and Chicago firefighter, injuries, millions of dollars in property loss, and the disruption of peoples’ lives.

Visit www.highriselifesafety.com/high-rise-fires-in-2023 to view a map and details about the impact of each of the 17 unsprinklered Chicago residential high-rise fires of 2023.

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Tinley Park, IL (January 24, 2024) – One year ago, a fatal fire at the 25-story Harper Square Cooperative building at 4850 S. Lake Park Ave in Chicago could have been prevented if the high-rise would have been fully protected with a fire sprinkler system according to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB). Because the building was not protected with fire sprinklers, the fire spread from the 15^th to the 24^th floor. In addition to one fatality, eight residents were sent to the hospital, one firefighter was injured, more than 140 units were damaged and 200 people are still displaced living with relatives or in temporary housing.

The Harper Square fire was the first of 17 reported fires in unsprinklered Chicago residential high-rise buildings during 2023 that resulted in two fatalities, including a firefighter, multiple injuries, and hundreds of residents displaced with millions of dollars in property loss. All 17 buildings were constructed before the 1975 City of Chicago Code that required fire sprinklers in high-rise buildings. Following the deadly fire at the Cook County Administration building in 2003, high-rise building owners were encouraged to retrofit their buildings with fire sprinklers. However, today, more than 600 residential high-rise buildings in Chicago are not protected with fire sprinkler systems, placing residents and firefighters at greater risk of injury and death.

According to NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer, many building owners and managers claim the cost of retrofitting a high-rise building prevents them from protecting these older buildings. “After seeing the resulting tragedies of these 17 unsprinklered fires, the concern is the true long-term impact and cost of not protecting these buildings, not to mention the risk to occupants and firefighters. What is the cost of lives lost and injured?”

For more information about the 17 Chicago high-rise fires in 2023, please visit: https://highriselifesafety.com/high-rise-fires-in-2023/

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Valparaiso, IN– On October 14, Journeyman Distillery opened its second location in Valparaiso, Indiana, after a restoration project designed to honor both history and modern technology. The distillery is housed in a renovated 140,000 square-foot factory warehouse, parts of which are over a century old. It is steeped in manufacturing history having served as home to the area’s first post-Civil War woolen mills, then later a wagon and carriage company, soap company, pin factory, and most recently a windshield wiper factory. The distillery owners wanted the building’s history preserved as they transitioned the space into an entertainment venue with a distillery, brewery, restaurant, whiskey garden, event spaces, and more.

As part of the renovation process, the dated existing fire sprinkler system was taken out of service and fire sprinklers (some dating back to the 1920s) were removed., A new system was installed among the old, disconnected piping and dry valves, which were were left in place to maintain the distillery’s historic aesthetic.

Keith Eggert, project executive for the Chesterton, Indiana, branch of Hill Fire Protection, noted that historical restoration is standard in the industry. “We have worked in many older buildings that were renovated, and there are many challenges and surprises you run into. Working with the general contractor and architect when needed was important,” he said. “There were ceilings that had to change and mechanical systems that had to be modified due to existing building challenges, but that is typical on a job like this. The design and survey are critical when getting involved in a project of this nature.”

In the interest of public safety, the Valparaiso Fire Department requested that any out-of-service fire and life-safety system equipment have its identifying markings removed. Additionally, it was suggested to hang signs on the original risers, labeling them as ‘Spirits’ and ‘Whiskey’ to reinforce their artistic versus protective value.

Tim Stites, Division Chief and Fire Marshal for the Valparaiso Fire Department was responsible for reviewing the fire sprinkler design and conducting inspections of the building. He said it was a brilliant idea to both pay respect to the past and modernize the building for the safety of patrons and staff.

“I thought it was good that they wanted to keep the old industrial look of the building and then incorporate some modern aspects into it for fire protection because, obviously, it is a distillery, so we do have to worry about those types of things,” Stites said.

When Journeyman Distiller owner Bill Welter first saw the building, he knew it would require much attention due to its large size and old age. However, he described the fire sprinkler retrofit process as smooth and seamless despite having to install an entirely new system throughout the building.

“Obviously, providing safety and security for our staff and patrons, if God forbid there is a fire, there’s a lot of confidence in the fire suppression system. It will provide the necessary support to control or extinguish the fire and undoubtedly keep it at bay,” Welter said, noting that extra protection allows the local fire department added time to do its job.

“I think the fire suppression system adds a lot,” Welter said. “So, it’s kind of a raw factory building; we have a lot of the original bones of the building that are still there. I think the suppression system not only provides a necessary function but contributes to the look and feel of the factory. It’s almost part of the aesthetics and one of those things where because there’s no drop ceiling or something like that, you see the system fully exposed, and I think that’s a curiosity to people and something they quite enjoy.”

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Vehicles pass underneath the Rev. Jon A. Sibley St. underpass.

A portion of downtown Galesburg, looking west, is seen from the third floor of Lindstrom’s TV & Appliance, 400 E. Main St.

Galesburg, IL – The city council of Galesburg has approved a new fire sprinkler grant program for residential units in its downtown area.

The Downtown Residential Fire Sprinkler Grant Program’s primary feature is to encourage installation of more fire sprinkler systems by reimbursing property owners of downtown residential areas 50 percent of the system cost, up to $20,000. This program aims to increase the number of sprinklered residential units in the downtown area, protecting residents and improving the overall community.

When meeting current construction codes, this grant will help cover the cost of fire alarm and sprinkler system installations, repairs, and updates. Steve Gugliotta, the Director of Community Development for Galesburg, expects this grant to benefit the community beyond increased fire protection because it will ultimately increase activity in the downtown area.

“There are a number of vacant upper stories, some of which would require extensive renovation to turn into apartments. There are other buildings that have apartments, but they have not been used as such in 20-plus years. With installed fire protection, they may need less renovation to get back into productive use,” Gugliotta said.

“The presence of people in the downtown at all times of day and night is very desirable and could be particularly attractive to young professionals, retired persons, and all those seeking an urban residential experience,” he added. “Living in the heart of the city puts you within walking distance of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and other amenities. One can also easily get around using public transportation or by foot.”

To qualify for the grant, applicants must own property within the Galesburg downtown area as it has been geographically defined and meet someother conditions.

For more information on the grant program, visit  www.ci.galesburg.il.us/government/community_development/economic_development/business_incentives.php

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This summer, the Lake County Board adopted the 2018 series of International Code Council codes, which took effect for unincorporated areas of the county on July 27. The adoption implements the International Residential Code, which requires the installation of fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes. As part of the code adoptions, the minimum threshold for commercial buildings to be protected with fire sprinklers was also lowered to 5,000 square feet. Prior to this, the threshold for commercial buildings varied throughout the county.

Fire officials throughout Lake County and members of the Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association (NIFIA) worked with Lake County Building & Zoning for two years to achieve this adoption. Wauconda Fire District Fire Marshal Mike DaValle, also president of NIFIA, explained that time was the main challenge in adopting the codes. “It took us two election cycles,” he said. “We would present something to Lake County Building & Zoning but then they would have to bring it to each of the various members of the Lake County Board to review and gather their input. That process added further delay.”

Lake County Board Members

The codes will cover 23 unincorporated areas of the county. DaValle explained the driver of the code adoptions was to keep residents and the firefighters safer from fire.

“(These codes) make sure everyone is safe and that we’re all on the same page,” DaValle said. “When it relates to residential fire sprinklers, for the longest time we would struggle because some fire districts had not adopted them in unincorporated areas, and some had challenges with adopting them. Sometimes, something would slip through. We might not have seen a code, a permit list, or that a home was supposed to be built and needed a fire sprinkler system. Now, everything is standardized.  It doesn’t matter if it is one house standing on its own or a whole new neighborhood. It’s all going to be the same, and it’s all going to be as safe as possible.”

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By Erik Hoffer, Executive Director, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board

 Summary of Fires in Unsprinklered Residential High-Rises in Chicago This Year

• Jan. 25: 4850 S. Lake Park Ave. – 1 resident death
• Apr. 5: 1212 N. Lake Shore Dr. – 1 firefighter death, others injured
• Apr. 8: 6430 S. Stony Island Ave. – Residents injured
• Apr. 12: 6151 N. Winthrop Ave.
• May 4: 6730 S. South Shore Dr. – 2 resident deaths in this same building in a 2013 fire
• July 31: 7100 S. South Shore Dr.
• Aug. 18: 421 W. Montrose St. – 1 resident critically injured
• Sep. 10: 3620 S. Rhodes Ave.
• Sep. 23: 3550 S. Rhodes Ave.
• Oct. 4: 6401 S. Yale Ave.
• Oct. 9: 3110 N. Sheridan Rd. – 1 resident critically injured

Less than 10 months. Eleven fires. Residents and firefighters killed and injured. Residents displaced for months on end and lives disrupted. Precious memories destroyed. Millions in property losses.

Like clockwork, the fires keep happening. And in unsprinklered high-rises the destruction of fires is massive.  We must not become numb to the persistent tragedy of high-rise fire losses that could have been prevented by retrofitting the buildings with fire sprinklers. This is a problem in Chicagoland and across our state.

The fire danger in older residential high-rises is alarming. There are roughly 600 to 700 unsprinklered high-rises in Chicago alone. These substandard buildings risk the lives of residents as well as responding firefighters.

Anyone living in a high-rise without fire sprinklers is living in extreme danger. Residents of unsprinklered high-rises are much more likely to die or be injured in a fire, and those lucky enough to escape a high-rise fire may face significant property losses. According to the NFPA report, U.S. Experience with Sprinklers (2021), “Sprinklers reduce the impact of fires. Compared to reported fires in properties with no automatic extinguishing systems (AES), when sprinklers were present, the civilian fire death and injury rates per fire were 89 percent and 27 percent lower, respectively. The rate of firefighter injuries per fire was 60 percent lower.”

Fire sprinklers are the single most effective way to protect high-rise occupants, firefighters and property when a fire occurs. All high-rises that lack this critical safeguard should be retrofitted with sprinklers due to the fact that high-rises present life-safety challenges such as smoke movement and control, large numbers of people, and longer egress distances traveled on stairs.

Fire sprinklers can stop a fire in less than one-and-a-half minutes, giving residents more time to escape, protecting residents and firefighters and dramatically reducing property damage. Sprinklers prevent fires from reaching flashover, which can trap and kill occupants in as little as two minutes.

In addition to the savings in lives and property, sprinklers have monetary value. Installed fire sprinklers earn residents reduced fire insurance rates and make a high-rise more attractive to prospective occupants. Plus, installing fire sprinklers in residential high-rise buildings yields insurance savings for building owners when common areas are sprinklered.

“These tragic fires simply didn’t have to happen,” said Erik Hoffer, executive director of NIFSAB. “Any high-rise without fire sprinklers is high risk and needs to retrofitted with them to keep residents and firefighters safe.”

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Tinley Park, IL (September 22, 2023) – As part of national Fire Prevention Week, the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) is teaming up with fire departments in the greater Chicago region to conduct live burn demonstrations at their open house events.

These dramatic and effective demonstrations will show the public how fast fires can become deadly, while conveying the crucial benefits of fire sprinklers. Fire Prevention Week runs from October 8 to 14 and this year’s theme is: “Cooking safety starts with You. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

In the side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations, two similarly furnished rooms, each with smoke alarms, will be set on fire. One room will feature a single fire sprinkler, the other room will not. Attendees will be able to feel the extreme heat and see the rapid spread of fire in the unsprinklered room and contrast it with how quickly the sprinkler responds and controls or extinguishes the fire in the other room.

Besides these up close and personal demonstrations, fire departments will discuss typical fire department response times, the importance of working smoke alarms, and well-practiced escape plans.

“Because today’s homes tend to have open designs and furniture and other contents made from petroleum-based plastics and synthetic materials, a fire can turn deadly in less than two minutes,” said NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer.  “These fires burn hotter and faster than years ago while also producing more deadly, toxic smoke. With these demonstrations, people can see how fast the entire room ignites and reaches flashover, which not even firefighters in their full gear can survive. Simultaneously, they can see how heat automatically activates a fire sprinkler, stopping the fire from becoming deadly and giving people precious time to evacuate.”

There are more than 115 Illinois communities that have ordinances or codes requiring fire sprinklers in all new construction homes. Fire sprinklers not only help safeguard occupants and property, they also protect the lives of first responders.

Home fire sprinklers have controlled or extinguished thousands of cooking fires over the years, but the best strategy is to prevent these fires from starting in the first place. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for about half of all U.S. home fires. During Fire Prevention Week, fire departments will also be educating their communities about the simple but crucial actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around
them safe.

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

Saturday, September 23:
Des Plaines Fire Department
Glenview Fire Department
Naperville Fire Department
Pleasantview Fire Protection District
West Dundee Fire Department

Sunday, September 24:
Mundelein Fire Department

Saturday, September 30:
Buffalo Grove Fire Department
Itasca Fire Protection District
Lemont Fire Protection District

Sunday, October 1:
Lockport Township Fire Protection District

Monday, October 2:
Moraine Valley Community College -Fire Service Program

Wednesday, October 4:
Warrenville Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 7:
Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District
Elk Grove Village Fire Department
Evanston Fire Department
Hammond (Indiana) Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department
La Grange Park Fire Department
Lansing Fire Department
Norwood Park Fire Protection District
Palatine Fire Department
Roberts Park Fire Protection District
Schaumburg Fire Department

Sunday, October 8:
Countryside Fire Protection District

Monday, October 9:
Western Springs Fire Department

Tuesday, October 10:
La Grange Fire Department

Wednesday, October 11:
Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Friday, October 13:
Beecher Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 14:
Batavia Fire Department
Bolingbrook Fire Department
Hillside Fire Department
Hinsdale Fire Department
Hobart (Indiana) Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department
Homewood Fire Department
Lake Bluff Fire Department
Northbrook Fire Department
Richton Park Fire Department
Rolling Meadows Fire Department
Romeoville Fire Department
St. Charles Fire Department
Streamwood Fire Department
Villa Park Fire Department
Wauconda Fire Protection District

Sunday, October 15:
Forest View Fire Department

Saturday, October 21:
Hoffman Estates Fire Department
Oswego Fire Protection District

Sunday, October 22:
Bloomingdale Fire Protection District

Monday, October 23:
Hampshire Fire Protection District

Saturday, October 28:
Highland Park Fire Department

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