Illinois Fire Safety Officials To Gather For Summit
Congressman Peter Roskam Among Dignitaries Attending
 

ADDISON, IL – Nearly 300 fire service and building safety officials from throughout the State of Illinois will gather in Addison, Illinois February 3 and 4 for a two day summit hosted by the Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs, the Illinois Fire Inspectors’ Association, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and Fire Team USA. Almost 60 towns and fire districts will be represented with nearly 30 different associations participating. The two day event includes seminars and presentations by Fire Team USA and the Residential Fire Sprinkler Summit.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, in 2003, fire killed an average of 4,000 people annually and injured 18,125. More than 100 firefighters were killed that year and $12.3 billion dollars worth of property was destroyed.

Explaining the importance of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Summit, Addision Fire Chief Leigh Fabbri said, “This seminar provides an additional method for elected officials to learn why the installation of fire sprinklers in single family residential homes is beneficial to their communities.”

The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board reports that a residential automatic fire sprinkler system is the single most effective way to protect a family and home from the threat of fire, likening it to having a personal firefighter 24-hours a day, providing the highest level of life-safety protection available.

Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs Executive Director Bob Buhs said, “The time is now for all fire professionals to be united with one voice in conveying the facts so that every code official, appointed or elected official understands the benefits of a residential sprinkler code. Residential sprinklers do save lives!”

Fire Team USA will lead the conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3, addressing local fire codes, the politics of fire safety and the importance of residential sprinkler systems.
United States Congressman Peter Roskam is tentatively scheduled to address the group at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Roskam is the United States Representative for the Sixth District of Illinois, first elected to Congress in 2006. In 2009, Roskam was appointed to the Ways and Means Committee.

Illinois State Senator Carole Pankau (R-23) is also slated to attend as is State Fire Marshal David Foreman.

George Michehl, Executive Director of the Illinois Fire Inspectors' Association, said, "It's important for fire officials, building officials and elected officials to attend this summit in order to remain current in their knowledge of current trends in building codes and changes that will occur in those codes in the next two to three years."
Michehl, who will introduce Keynote Speakers Jim Shannon, President of the National Fire Protection Association and John Viniello, President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, added, “The committee has assembled some of the top leaders in national code writing organizations who will explain initiatives to move the code forward both locally and nationally with respect to residential fire sprinklers. There will also be discussions on how to cope with the nay sayers who believe that residential sprinklers are not necessary. These officials have to know what is happening around them. This summit will do just that!”

“The key points include providing the highest degree of protection from fire for the citizens and increasing the level of understanding of how residential fire sprinklers are a cost effective method to provide this protection,” Fabbri added.
Summit participants are encouraged to take the life saving messages home to their communities and draft the legislation necessary to call for residential fire sprinklers in new home construction.

“The Association of Illinois Fire Chiefs commends every association and fire safety professional for their dedication and commitment in seeing this summit to fruition,” Buhs said. “However, our mission will not be completed until the results of the summit are drafted into action plans and supported by all,” Buhs added, noting, “Our work has just begun.”

Further information is available by calling the Illinois Fire Inspectors’ Association at 847-756-4750 or the Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs at 847-966-0786