Three Fire Departments Recognized for Smoke Alarm Installations

Mount Prospect - The nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) recently recognized the Broadview Fire Department, Elk Grove Village Fire Department, and Skokie Fire Department for the agencies’ outstanding contributions to fire safety education and installation of smoke alarms within their communities last year.

At the beginning of 2018 the IFSA and OSFM launched the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation program, a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between the two organizations. The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year concealed battery smoke alarms to participating fire departments in the state of Illinois. Departments then deliver the education and install smoke alarms in at-risk homes within their communities. Both the educational materials and smoke alarms are provided to the fire departments at no cost as a result of funding from both the IFSA and OSFM.

“We want to make sure residents have functional smoke alarms in their homes, as well as the information to develop their own fire escape plans. These are tools proven to save lives, because even one fire death is one too many,” says State Fire Marshal Matt Perez.

The alarms through the Be Alarmed! program are free to community residents, but must be installed by trained fire department personnel.

“We are excited to be able to partner with the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and State Fire Marshal’s Office in providing these 10-year battery smoke alarms to our residents,” said Chief Tracy Kenny of the Broadview Fire Department. “Fire can spread through a home in a matter of minutes and smoke alarms can give residents the warning needed to get out safely.”

“Each of these fire departments did a tremendous job educating their residents on fire safety in 2018. Between the three departments, 606 10-year battery smoke alarms were installed in 175 homes as a result of their participation in the Be Alarmed! program,” added Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Executive Director, Philip Zaleski.

Northern Piatt Fire Protection District and Moline Fire Department will be recognized later this month. To learn more about the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program, visit www.IFSA.org/programs/alarms.

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ABOUT THE ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been bringing together persons and groups with common interest in fire safety, burn prevention, and public education, and to promote programs and disseminate information related to fire safety and burn prevention. The IFSA also hosts burn survivor support programs including the Young Adult Summit and Camp “I Am Me,” a unique week-long camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. Additional information on the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance can be found at www.IFSA.org.

Broadview FD Photo (L to R): Inspector Mike Nykaza, Chief Tracy Kenny, Inspector Anthony Monks, Mayor Katrina Thompson, IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski, OSFM Fire Service Outreach Coordinator Greg Hay, and Deputy Chief Steve Murczek.

Elk Grove FD Photo (L to R): Lieutenant James Denna Jr., Deputy Chief Lance Harris, Chief Richard Mikel, OSFM Fire Service Outreach Coordinator Greg Hay, Lieutenant David Hoppe, IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski

Skokie FD Photo (L to R): Fire Prevention Bureau Captain Thomas Doran, Clerk John Quinn, Fire Prevention Bureau Secretary Christine Blankenheim, Fire Prevention Bureau Specialist Thomas Reinhardt, Mayor George Van Dusen, Interim-Chief Jeff Hoeflich, Deputy Fire Chief Kathleen Furgala, OSFM Fire Service Outreach Coordinator Greg Hay, IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski, Village Manager John Lockerby

Contact: Philip Zaleski, Executive Director
Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
(847) 390-0911 | pzaleski@ifsa.org