Fire Prevention Week Awards to be Hosted in Woodridge Next Week

Release submitted by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.

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Mount Prospect, IL – The nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) is asking Illinois residents to practice fire safety and prevention by “looking up” and checking their smoke alarms during national Fire Prevention Week (FPW) occurring from October 9 – 15.

The theme for 2016 FPW is “Don’t Wait, Check The Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” According to the National Fire Protection Association, which sponsors FPW, only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced. The campaign encourages residents to find the “date of manufacture” on each smoke alarm and make sure they replace each smoke alarm 10 years from its respective date to ensure proper operation in the event of a fire. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by half.

“In addition to replacing any smoke alarms older than 10 years old, it is also important to test the others in the house once a month. Make sure one is installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a home,” says IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski.

A few weeks after FPW, when residents change their clocks to “fall back” an hour at the end of Daylight Saving Time on November 6 serves as a reminder for residents to change smoke alarm batteries. The same should be done when clocks “spring forward” an hour in the spring.

For information about smoke alarms and FPW, the IFSA recommends visiting FirePreventionWeek.org.

Fire Prevention Week Luncheon & Awards

The IFSA will host the 76th annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon on Thursday, October 13, from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Coalition and will be held at Bobak’s Signature Events (6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge, Ill.). More than 500 members of the Illinois fire service are expected to be in attendance.

In addition to the luncheon, the event honors those who have gone above and beyond in fire safety and burn prevention. The IFSA will present the following recognition awards:

• Corporate Responsibility Award: OSF Saint Anthony Foundation
• Life Safety Award: Alan Berkowsky (Fire Chief, Winnetka Fire Department), Chicago Fire Department - Division of Public Education, Dennis Krenz (Captain, Cary Fire Protection District), City of Lockport, Micah Montondo (Firefighter/Paramedic, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District), Joseph Poulson (“Home Fire Preparedness” Lead Volunteer, American Red Cross)
• Wayne Luecht Memorial Award: Representative Donald Moffitt (R-Gilson)

In addition, guest speaker Daniel Madrzykowski, research engineer for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Firefighter Safety Research Institute, will discuss the changes in fire behavior due to construction methods and materials in buildings. The presentation will provide information for both building occupants and firefighters to improve their ability to limit the adverse effects from an unwanted fire.

76th Annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon - Award Recipient Profiles

Corporate Responsibility Award: OSF Saint Anthony Foundation
This award is given to a corporation that has responsibly gone above and beyond the norm by providing fire safety or burn prevention education to the public. The OSF Saint Anthony Foundation has been a continuous supporter of the Rockford Fire Department’s fire prevention and community risk reduction outreach. The foundation has always been the main sponsor of the fire department’s 911 Run, which raises money for those outreach efforts. Thousands of community members have benefited from the fire department’s outreach efforts, having been made possible through the foundation.

Life Safety Award:
This award is given to an organization, department or individual that has achieved a pattern of excellence in bringing life safety into the lives of others.

Alan Berkowsky (Fire Chief, Winnetka Fire Department)
Berkowsky initiated a “fire sprinkler implementation” process to increase life safety through fire sprinkler installations in older buildings in Winnetka’s business district. The rebate program affects older buildings that must retrofit fire sprinklers when there is a change of occupancy use. It allows property owners to be reimbursed for fees related to the fire sprinkler installation, such as plan review, water tap and street and/or right-of-way openings. Also, the installation of a new water service can be deferred for up to five years.

Chicago Fire Department - Division of Public Education
Led by Joe Roccasalva, Coordinator of Fire Awareness & Public Education, the Division of Public Education provides support and services to over 2.7 million Chicagoans and guests. Division members provide invaluable fire and life safety to children and other vulnerable groups, such as those that live alone, outlining fire safety, emergency medical safety tips, and healthy lifestyle recommendations. The Division also obtained grants, allowing it to deliver over 13,000 free smoke alarms to neighborhoods with high numbers of residential fires, 750 for the hearing impaired, as well as tens of thousands of others citywide.

Dennis Krenz (Captain, Cary Fire Protection District)
Krenz has volunteered to teach CPR to every sophomore at Cary Grove High School for almost 30 years, well before it became a requirement by state law in 2014. That’s approximately 14,000 students he has impacted over the years. He also discusses other important safety topic such as seat belts, climbing ladders, and fire safety items and prevention in the home and school.

City of Lockport
The city of Lockport offers a unique grant program to encourage fire sprinkler and smoke alarm installations in its historic downtown district, incentivizing property owners to enhance the protection of their structures and occupants. The grants are funded through the city’s video gaming revenues. In the initial phase, grants of up to $20,000 were provided.

Micah Montondo (Firefighter/Paramedic, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District)
Montondo has developed personalized fire safety programs for students and their caregivers. At the Center for Enriched Living (CEL) for people with developmental disabilities, he provided fire- and life-safety programs to students acquiring life skills and preparing to live partially or completely independent. At CEL, Montondo also created an annual “Firefighter for a Day” event for the students, and worked with the administration to teach area firefighters and paramedics about interaction techniques for people with developmental disabilities.

Joseph Poulson (“Home Fire Preparedness” Lead Volunteer, American Red Cross)
The Homewood resident is a “Home Fire Preparedness” campaign volunteer who promotes fire safety tools and information to residents and installs smoke alarms in homes when requested. His self-motivation has helped the program succeed simply by word-of-mouth referrals, becoming the face of the program in southern Cook County as he promotes the campaign in local town hall and community meetings. In just one year, he has installed over 300 smoke alarms, where none were previously present.

Wayne Luecht Memorial Award: Representative Donald Moffitt (R-Gilson)
This award is granted to an individual who has established a pattern of excellence through a fire safety or burn prevention program that has benefited the public outside of his or her jurisdiction. It must be a person who has excelled in his or her duties while leading the fire service to recognize public education as an important tool, and is judged by peers to possess the qualities and superior work ethic that others strive to emulate. Retiring this year, Moffitt was the primary founder of the Illinois General Assembly’s bipartisan Fire Caucus, working with leaders of the fire service to promote, preserve, foster and protect the pursuits of the state’s fire service. He has progressed public safety in numerous other House leadership positions as well. Moffitt has helped pass laws for improved fire service delivery, increased arson penalties, fire-safe cigarettes, fire sprinklers in college housing and much more.

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Photo courtesy of IFSA.