Fire Departments Teach about Fire Prevention by Setting Fires

ORLAND PARK, Ill., Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) is assisting local fire departments in conducting live burn demonstrations to educate the public about how quickly fires can become deadly, as well as the important life- and property-saving benefits of fire sprinklers.

The demonstrations provide a side-by-side comparison with two similarly furnished rooms -- only one with a fire sprinkler installed in the room. Audiences will be able to feel the extreme heat and view the quick growth of fire in the unprotected room and compare it with the quick response and cooling action of the fire sprinkler in the other room. The demonstrations also allow fire departments to talk to attendees about pre-fire planning, smoke alarms, and escape plans.

"Today's fires can become deadly in as little as two minutes because of the contents we have in our homes," said Fire Safety Advocate and NIFSAB Executive Director Tom Lia. "These demonstrations allow people to see how quickly everything in the room can burst into flames. It also allows fire departments to show how fire sprinklers truly work, how heat from the fire causes the sprinkler to activate and control or extinguish fires."

By the end of the year, NIFSAB will have assisted with 42 side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations, along with 51 fire sprinkler trailer demonstrations. That would bring NIFSAB's total of side-by-side demonstrations in the last decade to 750.

More than 100 Illinois communities now require fire sprinklers in new construction homes -- and many more require them in new multi-family and commercial buildings -- because sprinklers not only protect occupants and property, but they also protect the lives of first responders.

Below is a list of upcoming fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations:

Wednesday, Oct. 3:
Warrenville Fire Protection District

Saturday, Oct. 6:
Stone Park Fire Department
South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District
Niles Fire Department at Home Depot
Palatine Fire Department
Merrionette Park Fire Department
Tinley Park Fire Department
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District with Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District
Norwood Park Fire Protection District (Trailer demonstration)
Alsip Fire Department
Clarendon Hills Fire Department
Hazel Crest Fire Department
LaGrange Fire Department (Trailer demonstration)
Addison Fire Protection District

Sunday, Oct. 7:
Grant Park Fire District
Cherry Valley Fire Protection District
Lake Zurich Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department

Monday, Oct. 8:
Western Springs Fire Department
Quincy Fire Department

Tuesday, Oct. 9:
Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.

Wednesday, Oct. 10:
Downers Grove Fire Department

Thursday, Oct. 11:
SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane Co.

Saturday, Oct. 13:
Elgin Fire Department
Hoffman Estates Fire Department
Rolling Meadows Fire Department
Harlem Roscoe Fire Protection District
Lemont Fire Protection District
Park Forest Fire Department
St. Charles Fire Department
Wauconda Fire District
Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department (Trailer demonstration)
Streamwood Fire Department
Evergreen Park Fire Department
Westmont Fire Department
Berwyn Fire Department (Trailer demonstration)
Phoenix Fire Department
Prospect Heights Fire Department
Elk Grove Village Fire Department

Monday, Oct. 15:
Elk Grove Fire Department

Saturday, October 20:
La Grange Park Fire Department

Wednesday, Oct. 24:
Chicago Ridge Fire Department

Sunday, Oct. 28:
Central Stickney Fire Protection District

Tuesday, Nov. 6:
Palatine Fire Department (Trailer demonstration)

About the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB)
NIFSAB is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting progressive legislation, raising public awareness, and educating code officials and governmental policy makers by demonstrating the proven performance of fire sprinklers in saving both lives and property. For more info, visit www.firesprinklerassoc.org.

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SOURCE Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board