New Tax Incentive in CARES Act Can Prevent Commercial High-Rise Fires Like Today’s Jewelers Row Fire

Orland Park, IL (November 12, 2020) – Today’s early morning Chicago Loop high-rise fire on the 10^th 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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Lisa2021-02-08T14:17:30-06:00November 13th, 2020|Comments Off

Fire Sprinkler Saves (Fall Edition 2020)

December 2020

Fire Sprinklers Control Fire in River North Spa

CHICAGO, IL (December 31, 2020) – Fire sprinklers prevented a fire from spreading in a sauna area in a business in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. According to Chicago Fire Media, the Chicago Fire Department responded to a working fire on the first floor of the five-story building. Fire sprinklers held the fire until the crew arrived to extinguish it. No injuries were reported.

Source: Chicago Fire Media, Twitter, @CFD Media

Fire Sprinklers Extinguish Rubbish Fire At Chicago Courthouse

CHICAGO, IL (December 20, 2020) – Fire sprinklers extinguished a rubbish fire on the 5^th floor of the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The courthouse is known as one of the busiest in the country. There were no injuries or substantial damage reported.

Source: US News

Home Fire Sprinkler Controls Dryer Fire In Single-Family Home

CHARLES, IL / FOX RIVER & COUNTRYSIDE FIRE RESCUE DISTRICT (December 18, 2020) – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in the laundry area of a single-family home. According to Chief John Nixon, Fox River & Countryside Fire Rescue District, when crews arrived there was smoke showing from the home. After entering, crews found a sprinkler was controlling a dryer fire on the first floor. The smoke alarm alerted the residents while the sprinklers controlled the fire allowing occupants to escape. No injuries were reported.

Source: https://www.frcfr.org/news/129/Residential-Fire-Sprinklers-save

November 2020

Second Time in Four Years Fire Sprinkler Extinguished Kitchen Fire in High-Rise Extended Care Facility

EVANSTON, IL (November 19, 2020) – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire on the fifth floor of an 11-story high-rise building in Evanston. On November 19, the Evanston Fire Department responded to an alarm at The Mather, 450 Davis Street, a multi-unit extended care facility. Firefighters confirmed that the sprinkler fully extinguished a fire that originated on a stovetop. No one was injured.

This was the second time a fire sprinkler extinguished a kitchen fire in the building. The first sprinkler save occurred December 20, 2016, when a single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire after a stovetop burner was left on and ignited nearby boxes of food. According to fire officials, no one was injured and over $150,000 in damages was prevented thanks to the quick action of the fire sprinkler.

“The combination of audible alarms, a sprinkler system and a quick response by the EFD really made the difference. I would hate to think of the outcome of this fire without these important fire protection systems. They worked exactly as designed, saving both lives and property,” said Fire Chief Brian Scott.

All newly constructed multi-unit residences are required by City ordinance to have an audible alarm and sprinkler protection system installed.

Source: Evanston Round Table

October 2020

Fire Sprinklers Control Couch Fire In Second Floor Hotel Room

DES PLAINES, IL (October 26, 2020) – Two fire sprinklers prevented a couch fire from spreading at the Extended Stay America hotel in Des Plaines. According to Des Plaines Fire Chief Dan Anderson, crews were dispatched to the three-story hotel at approximately1:19 p.m. October 26. Upon arrival, the hotel was being evacuated and staff reported a fire on the second floor. Firefighters entered the room and found two fire sprinklers keeping the fire in check. They used their lines to extinguish the remaining fire.

Most crews were able to leave the scene by 3 p.m. There were no injuries.

Source: Journal & Topics

Fire Sprinklers Extinguish Senior High-Rise Apartment Fire

FRANKLIN PARK, IL (October 26, 2020) – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in a ninth-floor unit before the fire department arrived at Franklin Towers, an affordable housing high-rise building for senior residents.

According to Chief William Brehm, Franklin Park Fire Department, grocery items left on an electric stove ignited. Residents were evacuated and evaluated. There were no injuries. Damage was limited to the kitchen and cleaned up the same day.

Source: Franklin Park Herald-Journal

Fire Sprinklers Contain a Machine Fire at Alsip Industrial Packaging Plant

ALSIP, IL (October 25, 2020) – Fire sprinklers stopped a machine fire from spreading at Greif, an industrial packaging plant in Alsip. Upon arrival, firefighters reported no signs of fire, but the fire alarm panel inside the building indicated that the sprinkler system activated. After searching the building, they discovered smoke coming from a large overhead door. Firefighters forced entry and found sprinklers controlling a machine fire. No one was in the building at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Source: Alsip Fire Department

Fire At Chicago Home Depot Controlled by Fire Sprinklers

CHICAGO, IL (October 23, 2020) – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire at a Home Depot store located at 200 87^th Street, October 23^rd. According to Chicago Fire Department Media, the fire broke out at 11 p.m. damaging some stock. The fire was extinguished by 11:30 p.m. Firefighters provided mobile ventilation to clear the smoke.

There were no injuries.

Source: Chicago Fire Department Twitter: @CFDMedia

Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Fairview Heights Apartment Fire

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL (OCTOBER 17, 2020) – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a dryer vent fire at Long Acre Ponds Apartments, in Fairview Heights Illinois. When the fire department responded, the fire was extinguished.

Boyer Fire Protection, the company that conducts the inspection, testing and maintenance for the complex, was called to replace the sidewall fire sprinkler and place the fire sprinkler system back in service.

There were no injuries.

Source: Richard Boyer, President, Boyer Fire Protection

Lisa2023-06-05T16:09:54-05:00October 27th, 2020|Comments Off

WJOL-AM Talks to Plainfield Fire Marshal About Home Fire Sprinkler Week

Listeners of WJOL-AM 1340 Radio learned something they may not have realized when host Kevin Kollins invited Plainfield Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Mary Kay Ludemann on his show during Home Fire Sprinkler Week.

“Are homes being built now with fire sprinklers in them?” asked Kollins. His question was a nice tee up for Fire Marshal Ludemann, who explained they are indeed. She noted there are different code requirements for residential sprinklers in different regions in Illinois and discussed the fire dangers when new homes are built with lightweight construction material, which can fail faster than legacy wood construction material. This danger has been the driving force behind codes requiring sprinklers in new homes, she said.

The bottom line? Home fire sprinklers “keep a fire from reaching flashover, which gives everybody an opportunity to safely escape,” the Fire Marshal said. “It also saves the lives of first responders because they aren’t going into a situation with a flashover or a potential floor collapse or anything of that nature.”

“You’re talking about saving lives,” Kollins added, closing out the interview.

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Lisa2020-06-03T08:03:19-05:00June 2nd, 2020|Comments Off

HFSC Increases Stipend Offer. Now 60 U.S. Fire Departments Will Receive $500 For Local Home Fire Sprinkler Education

Stipends can be used to build or refurbish a side-by-side burn demonstration.

Sign up Today!

The deadline to apply is March 6, 2020.

February 17, 2020, Frankfort, IL – The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) has increased the number of $500 stipends offered to U.S. fire departments thanks to additional donations from HFSC founding members American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA). The original program offered 20 stipends through grant funding from State Farm. HFSC’s founding members stepped up their contributions to further support the fire service. The stipends will be awarded to qualifying fire departments to support local community outreach.

The stipends are being rolled out ahead of Home Fire Sprinkler Week, which will take place across North America May 17-23, 2020. 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 demonstrations. The funds can be used to build a portable, full-scale home fire sprinkler riser display, build or refurbish a side-by-side home fire sprinkler and flashover unit or produce an educational banner. HFSC has comprehensive online guidelines that describe materials, construction and outreach strategies to create these powerful and reusable teaching resources.

“With fire service activities concentrated on these important points during a single week each year, we are able to significantly boost interest and awareness among the public, the media and local officials,” says HFSC President Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy for NFPA. “This is essential because eight of 10 fire deaths in the U.S. occur in home fires.”

Although the number of reported fires has decreased over the past 40 years, you are more likely to die in a fire today than you were in 1980. “Today’s home fires burn hotter and faster yet loss can be significantly reduced with sprinklers,” Carli adds. “We could practically eliminate fire deaths in future years if every home had sprinklers.”

To qualify, applicants must be current members of the free Built for Life Fire Department Program (BFLFD), developed by HFSC in the 1990s to help the fire service improve local home fire sprinkler education. They will also be required to describe their plan to use and evaluate their awards. Join the BFLFD Program and apply for a stipend. The deadline to apply is March 6, 2020.

A similar stipend program is under way in Canada, with underwriting from HFSC’s Canadian partner The Co-Operators.

Now in its third year, Home Fire Sprinkler Week has become popular with fire departments in the US and Canada and HFSC anticipates widespread participation again in 2020. “The public education work the fire departments will do with these valuable stipends is essential and it will help make Home Fire Sprinkler Week 2020 an educational and motivational success,” Carli says. “We are appreciative of the strong support of the fire service, the HFSC Board of Directors, and our partners State Farm and The Co-Operators.”

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

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Lisa2023-06-22T14:41:59-05:00February 17th, 2020|Comments Off