February 12, 2022
DEKALB, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire inside a resident’s third floor bedroom. Dekalb firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Oak Crest Retirement Center. Firefighters made sure the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.
Source: Daily Chronicle
The deadline to apply is February 21, 2022.
February 7, 2022, Frankfort, IL – The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) will award stipends to 30 qualifying fire departments that demonstrate a plan to conduct community outreach during home Fire Sprinkler Week 2022.
The stipends, funded through a grant from State Farm Insurance, are being rolled out ahead of Home Fire Sprinkler Week, which will take place across North America May 15-21, 2022. Co-Sponsored by HFSC and the NFPA Fire Sprinkler Initiative, the week emphasizes the dangers of home fires to residents and firefighters and promotes the importance of building new homes with automatic fire sprinklers.
The stipends will help fire departments of any size or type conduct educational programs that may include:
To qualify, applicants must be current members of the free Built for Life Fire Department Program (BFLFD). They will also be required to describe their plan to use and evaluate their awards. Join the BFLFD program and apply for a stipend here: 2022 HFSC Stipend Program. The deadline to apply is February 21, 2022.
Now in its fifth year, Home Fire Sprinkler Week has become popular with fire departments in the US and Canada and HFSC anticipates widespread participation again in 2022.
Learn more about Home Fire Sprinkler Week and follow HFSC activities on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HFSCorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homefiresprinklercoalition/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/HFSCorg and in Canada https://twitter.com/HFSCinCanada
About the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC)
For 26 years, HFSC has developed and provided comprehensive, non-commercial, educational resources that highlight the life safety benefits of protecting homes with fire sprinklers. HFSC’s mission is solely educational and its materials are available to everyone at no cost through HFSC’s website.
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February 4, 2022
NORMAL, IL – Fire sprinklers contained a fire in car that was on an assembly line at the Rivian Electric Vehicle Production Plant. The fire was contained to a single car until firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.“The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to do – put water on the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading until the fire department arrived to do its job,” said Matt Swaney, public information officer, Normal Fire Department.
Sources: Matt Sheehan TV Facebook Post and HOIABC.com (Heart of Illinois ABC)
January 18, 2022
PALATINE, IL – A fire sprinkler prevented a furnace fire from spreading in an apartment in Palatine. When firefighters arrived at the 40-unit multi-family complex, they found a sprinkler activated after a furnace overheated in a second-floor unit.
“If not for the 13R sprinkler system, we have no doubt that this would [have] progressed to a structure fire as no one was home,” said Palatine Fire Marshal Jay Atherton.
It is estimated that more than $200,000 was saved in damages. No injuries were reported.
Source: Fire Marshal Jay Atherton, Palatine Fire Department
Winter 2022 Sprinkler Saves in the Chicagoland area. You can submit stories here and view other saves here.
March 31, 2022
NILES, IL – Two fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in a print shop located in a commercial building and warehouse. According to Niles Fire Chief Marty Feld, the fire appeared to have started under a conveyer belt that was part of a printing press. Because the sprinklers extinguished the fire, the incident was never upgraded to an active fire. No injuries were reported.
Source: Journal & Topics (journal-topics.com)
March 23, 2022
CAROL STREAM, IL – Two fire sprinklers controlled a fire at a large manufacturing plant. Crews from the Carol Stream Fire Protection District arrived at the scene and found two sprinklers controlling the fire in the center of the warehouse. No injuries were reported. Plant operations continued that day.
Source: dailyherald.com
March 20, 2022
PEORIA, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in a unit on the 26th floor of the Twin tower apartments inn Peoria. Two occupants were inside the unit at the time of the fire. One was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Source: Centralillinoisproud.com
March 20, 2022
LAKE ZURICH, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in the basement of a home under construction. According to Bob Kleinheinz, fire prevention specialist, Lake Zurich Fire Department, the cause of the fire was construction material too close to a space heater.
Minor smoke and water damage was quickly cleaned up, keeping the home on its construction schedule. The fire occurred just a few weeks after Nova Fire Protection installed the fire sprinklers. According to Kleinheinz, the system had been recently hydro tested.
Source: Bob Kleinheinz, Fire Prevention Specialist-CFO, Lake Zurich Fire Department
March 13, 2022
QUINCY, IL – Two fire sprinklers extinguished a kitchen fire in a restaurant located at a Holiday Inn Hotel. The fire was caused by rags that combusted inside a plastic tub. No injuries were reported. The restaurant and hotel were able to continue operations the same day.
Source: Herald-Whig (whig.com)
March 9, 2022
CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a mattress fire saving the life of the guest at the Country Inn and Suites Hotel in Crystal Lake. Police arrived at the scene first and found the activated sprinkler and the guest unconscious in the room where the fire originated. The occupant was transported to an area hospital for evaluation The room was isolated and the hotel remained open for business.
Source: Arlington Cardinal News
February 24, 2022
LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a first-floor unit of a multi-family apartment building. When fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and confirmed that the fire was extinguished. All occupants and their pets were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Source: Deputy Fire Chief John Knebl, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District (Press Release)
February 23, 2022
SPRINGFIELD, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in storage room in the basement of the Wyndham Hotel. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the remaining fire. The cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries were reported.
Source: wandtv.com
February 12, 2022
DEKALB, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire inside a resident’s third floor bedroom. Dekalb firefighters responded to a structure fire at the Oak Crest Retirement Center. Firefighters made sure the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.
Source: Daily Chronicle
February 8, 2022
ROCKFORD, IL – Fire sprinklers contained a fire caused by an appliance gas leak in a utility room at the Rockford Holiday Inn. The Rockford Fire Department arrived at the scene and found the sprinklers controlling the fire. Two contractors were doing maintenance work when the gas ignited sending one to the hospital for moderate burns. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire. The building was evacuated for about 30 minutes. Both the hotel and restaurant re-opened for business.
Sources: MyStateLine.com and WTVO WQRF Eyewitness News
February 4, 2022
NORMAL, IL – Fire sprinklers contained a fire in car that was on an assembly line at the Rivian Electric Vehicle Production Plant. The fire was contained to a single car until firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.“The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to do – put water on the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading until the fire department arrived to do its job,” said Matt Swaney, public information officer, Normal Fire Department.
Sources: Matt Sheehan TV Facebook Post and HOIABC.com (Heart of Illinois ABC)
January 27, 2022
LITCHFIELD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in the front end of a school bus parked inside a bay at the bus company. Fire crews arrived to find light smoke and the extinguished fire in the engine of the bus. No injuries were reported.
In a press release, the Litchfield Fire Department reminded business/building owners about the importance of maintaining and inspecting their fire sprinkler systems for other successful outcomes.
Source: Litchfield Fire Department Facebook Post
January 26, 2022
GALESBURG, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a kitchen fire inside a home. When fire crews arrived, police were helping occupants evacuate. Firefighters confirmed that the fire sprinkler extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was cooking grease. No injuries were reported.
Source: City of Galesburg Illinois website: ci.galesburg.il.us
January 18, 2022
PALATINE, IL – A fire sprinkler prevented a furnace fire from spreading in an apartment in Palatine. When firefighters arrived at the 40-unit multi-family complex, they found a sprinkler activated after a furnace overheated in a second-floor unit.
“If not for the 13R sprinkler system, we have no doubt that this would [have] progressed to a structure fire as no one was home,” said Palatine Fire Marshal Jay Atherton.
It is estimated that more than $200,000 was saved in damages. No injuries were reported.
Source: Fire Marshal Jay Atherton, Palatine Fire Department
January 16, 2022
SCHAUMBURG, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a 7th floor unit of a 12-story high-rise building. According to Schaumburg Fire Marshal Michael Rons, the fire started in the living room. The resident was unable to evacuate, went into the bedroom and called 9-1-1. One fire sprinkler activated and extinguished the fire before the fire department arrived.
The building was retrofit with fire sprinklers after the Village of Schaumburg adopted a high-rise sprinkler retrofit ordinance in 2004. No injuries were reported.
Sources: Michael Rons, Fire Marshal, Schaumburg Fire Department
January 8, 2022
ROCKFORD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in a second floor unit of a high-rise apartment building. According to the Rockford Fire Department, the crew arrived within four minutes of the call. They found a water flow alert on the second floor and confirmed that the sprinkler extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to a single unit. One resident was sent to the hospital. The cause of the fire was undetermined.
Source: IllinoisNewsToday.com
January 7, 2022
LANSING, IL – Fire Sprinklers contained two fires that were intentionally set inside of a Walmart store. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke inside the store and the sprinkler system controlling the fire until firefighters extinguished the remaining fire. The cause was determined to be intentionally set by two individuals in the store at the time. No injuries were reported.
Source: Northwest Indiana Times (nwitimes.com)
January 7, 2022
FOX LAKE, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire in the master bedroom of a townhome. When the crew from the Fox Lake Fire Protection District arrived, they found a single fire sprinkler activated and the humidifier had melted into a set of plastic drawers.
According to Lieutenant Katie Neulist the fire sprinkler system did its job. It saved a townhome complex. It is estimated that about one million dollars was saved thanks to the fire sprinkler system. No injuries were reported.
Source: Lieutenant Katie Neulist, Fox Lake Fire Protection District
Fall 2021 Sprinkler Saves in the Chicagoland area. You can submit stories here and view other saves here.
December 8, 2021
NAPERVILLE, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a fire inside a second-floor unit of a three-story apartment building in Naperville. When fire crews arrived, they found a single sprinkler activated and held the fire in check until firefighters fully extinguished it. The cause is under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Source: PositivelyNaperville.com
November 30, 2021
ROUND LAKE, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire at an industrial building, until firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire.
According to Battalion Chief Anthony Carraro, Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, the fire involved industrial chemicals stored in a box truck that was inside the building. Northern Insulation, Inc., specializes in insulating various types of construction for residential and commercial buildings.
The building was not occupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.
Source: LakemMcHenryScanner.com
November 23, 2021
PALATINE, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a kitchen fire in a 40-unit apartment building. Palatine Fire Department crews arrived four minutes after the call and reported heavy smoke and fire coming from a second-floor unit. Upon entry, crews found the sprinkler extinguished most of the fire. Crews deployed a hose line and extinguished the remaining fire.
According to Fire Marshal Jay Atherton, without the sprinkler controlling the fire, multiple units would have been left uninhabitable.
The cause of the fire was improper storage of combustible material in the boiler. No injuries were reported.
Source: Palatine Fire Department Press Release, Journal-Topics.com, and Fire Marshal Jay Atherton, Palatine Fire Department
November 17, 2021
KANKAKEE, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire at the front entrance of the Hilton Garden Inn in Kankakee. Firefighters were dispatched to the hotel after a heating element caused the fire inside the ceiling area near the front door. No injuries were reported. The hotel was able to remain open.
Source: Daily Journal, Kankakee
November 16, 2021
SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a kitchen fire at the Wok-N-Fire restaurant in South Barrington, protecting eight employees who were in the building at the time of the fire.
According to Fire Chief Jason Parthun, a water heater caught fire due to a negative pressure situation caused by the hood exhaust. One fire sprinkler extinguished the fire before the crew arrived. The damage was kept to a minimum and the restaurant was able to open the next day.
Source: Jason Parthun, Fire Chief of East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District
November 13, 2021
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in a two-story townhouse until the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Department arrived and extinguished the remaining fire. The home had working smoke alarms and alerted the residents to escape. The cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries were reported.
Source: Daily Herald
November 11, 2021
SCHAUMBURG, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a fire inside a room at an extended stay hotel. A contractor working with chemicals that contacted a heat source caused the fire. Residents were not displaced from the hotel. No injuries were reported.
Source: Michael R. Rons, Fire Marshal, Schaumburg Fire Department
November 5, 2021
LAKE ZURICH, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a fire caused by a floor cleaning machine inside Lake Zurich Middle School – South Campus. The blaze was contained to the area of origin. The school was not occupied at the time of the fire. After a quick clean up, school conducted as usual. No injuries were reported. “The alarm system did a great job and notified them of the problem, and the sprinkler system did a great job almost completely extinguishing it,” said Lake Zurich Fire Chief David Pilgard.
Sources: Lake & McHenry County Scanner and Daily Herald
October 23, 2021
ROMEOVILLE, IL – A single fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in a bedroom of a 20-unit apartment building in Romeoville. According to William Sterling, Deputy Fire Marshal, Romeoville Fire Department, it is believed an unattended candle in a master bedroom on the second floor caused the fire. The unit was unoccupied at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.
Source: Deputy Fire Marshal William Sterling, Romeoville Fire Department
October 17, 2021
Mundelein, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire in a large manufacturing facility. According to Chief Bill Lark, Mundelein Fire Department, firefighters responded to a fire alarm and found heavy smoke. It took firefighters about an hour to fully extinguish the fire due to the size of the building and amount of smoke. The cause is under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Source: Daily Herald
October 6, 2021
Lockport, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a closet at Above All Homecare, a local business in Lockport.
According to the Lockport Township Fire Protection District, firefighters were called to the business for the smell of smoke. A fire started in a closet where the water heater was kept. The fire sprinkler extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.
Source: Homer Glen-Lockport Patch
Summer 2021 Sprinkler Saves in the Chicagoland area. You can submit stories here and view other saves here.
September 20, 2021
Frankfort, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in the basement of a high school building. The Frankfort Fire Protection district was dispatched for an automatic fire alarm. Crews encountered a burning odor when they entered the building. Several industrial batteries had malfunctioned and may have caused the fire. A single fire sprinkler controlled the fire until it could be extinguished. High levels of Hydrogen Sulfide, a byproduct of burning batteries, delayed extinguishment. After the area was ventilated, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. Estimated damage was $5,000 – $10,000.
Sources: Frankfort Fire Protection District release
September 18th, 2021
NILES, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire caused by an overheated motor inside of the BBJ Linens warehouse. Firefighters walked into a white haze of smoke entering the building and found the sprinkler contained the fire to a small area. They sprayed down additional linens to ensure no errant embers from the blaze would reignite the fire.
“If the sprinkler system wasn’t in place, this could have been on the evening news,” said Niles Deputy Fire Chief Bob Greiner. “It could have been much worse.”
No injuries were reported. The warehouse was able to re-open the following business day.
Source: Journal-Topics.com
September 14, 2021
PEORIA, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire on the second floor of a Peoria furniture store. Crews from the Peoria Fire Department entered the building and found heavy smoke. Fire on the second floor activated the sprinklers, preventing the fire from spreading. No injuries were reported.
Sources: HOIAABC.com and CIProud.com
August 25, 2021
ALSIP, IL – A single fire sprinkler controlled a fire in a second story chemical room of a steel barrel manufacturing plant. The fire was caused when a heating element overheated. The fire sprinkler system was back in service within hours causing no loss of production. No injuries were reported.
Source: Alsip Fire Department
August 10, 2021
HAMPSHIRE, IL – Fire sprinklers contained a fire at Elgiloy Specialty Metals manufacturing facility. The fire started after a motor malfunctioned and spread to two other motors. Four sprinklers activated and kept the fire from spreading. Firefighters from the Hampshire Fire Protection District extinguished the remaining fire upon arrival. An estimated $10 million in property damage was saved and no injuries were reported.
“The sprinkler system did its job, it contained the fire quickly and prevented any injuries. The business was back in operation the next day!” said Fire Chief Trevor Herrmann.
Source: Fire Chief Trevor Herrmann, Hampshire Fire Protection District
July 30, 2021
SKOKIE, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading in a kitchen on the fifth floor of a high-rise building. The fire started after a resident left food unattended while cooking. The fire was contained to the kitchen. Approximately 140 people live in the 10-story building. No injuries were reported.
Sources: CBS Chicago, ABC 7 Chicago
July 14, 2021
ADDISON, IL – Addison Fire Protection District responded to a fire alarm at an auto repair facility. Upon arrival, the crew found a car burning on top of a service rack. One sprinkler activated and held the fire in check until firefighters could lower the rack, remove the burning car and extinguish it. Minor damage and no injuries were reported.
Source: Addison Fire Protection District Facebook post.
July 4, 2021
PARK RIDGE, IL – One fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a single-family home in Park Ridge. According to Fire Marshal Kevin Plach, Park Ridge Fire Department, the crew arrived at the home less than 4 minutes after the call. They found smoke and confirmed that a single fire sprinkler extinguished the fire.
According to Plach, the quick and effective response of the home fire sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading. One resident was transported to the hospital with burns to his extremities. Damage was limited to the area of the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental in nature.
Park Ridge passed an ordinance in 2001 requiring all new homes to be protected with fire sprinklers.
Source: Fire Sprinkler Save Report submitted by. LT. Kevin Plach, Fire Marshal, Park Ridge Fire Department
Twenty-five years ago, the presidents of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Fire Sprinkler Association – NFSA pooled their resources, creating the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition to focus exclusively on home fire sprinkler education. Over the years, HFSC’s board of directors and support have grown.
To start the celebration HFSC President Lorraine Carlie talks about HFSC’s past, present and future and introduces the HFSC 25 Campaign that will run through September. The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) was founded in 1996 to promote the life-saving advantages of residential fire sprinklers.
Roundtable discussion of federal and local fire sprinkler/alarm incentives for both commercial buildings and homes. Featured panelists include Hodgkins Building Inspector Dan Tholotowsky, Lockport Township FPD Deputy Chief Dave Bricker, NIFSAB Exec. Director Erik Hoffer, Plainfield FPD Fire Marshal Mary Kay Ludemann, and Carroll FPD Trustee Tom Harnsberger. This presentation was featured at the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association’s 2021 Virtual Fire & Life Safety Conference.
Orland Park, IL (November 12, 2020) – Today’s early morning Chicago Loop high-rise fire on the 10th floor of the Mallers Building on Jewelers Row could have been prevented if the building was fully protected with fire sprinklers. The fire was a drain on fire department resources with 200 firefighters responding and two being transported to the hospital due to heat exhaustion. It was also the second fire in the building since 2018.
But now new tax incentives included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, could allow buildings such as the Mallers Building to immediately recover costs for retrofitting fire sprinklers in their buildings. Fire sprinkler systems that are installed or upgraded in existing commercial structures from September 27, 2017, to December 31, 2022, can be fully expensed, allowing the property owner to immediately deduct the full cost of the fire sprinkler system.
The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) worked closely with U.S. legislators to pass the tax incentive bill as part of the CARES Act.
“This incentive is vital because fires in commercial properties that are not protected with fire sprinklers have a negative impact on communities,” NFSA President Shane Ray said. “These unsprinklered fires put occupant and firefighter lives at risk and can cause significant economic loss due to business interruption and closure. The results can include lost sales and tax revenues and loss of irreplaceable property. Fire can permanently close a business and may result in the loss of local jobs. Protecting a building with fire sprinklers can generate insurance savings and decrease liability risks,” he added.
“We have to protect our historic buildings from fire to preserve them for later generations,” said Erik Hoffer, executive director, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB). Hoffer notes that all commercial high-rise buildings in Chicago built before the mid-1970s when codes required sprinklers, were required to be retrofitted with fire sprinklers by January 1, 2017. But the Mallers Building was exempt because it is a designated Chicago landmark building. Landmark buildings had to pass the city’s Life Safety Evaluation but did not necessarily have to fully install fire sprinklers.
“Now that there is a federal tax incentive, there is no excuse not to enhance fire safety in commercial buildings of all types,” adds Hoffer.
Business and property owners are encouraged to contact their tax advisors for more information.
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