SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Office of the State Fire

                     Marshal (OSFM) has issued notice of the official ban

                     of sky lanterns, also known as aerial luminaries or

                     floating lanterns, in Illinois. Sky lanterns present

                     a potential risk for injuries and fires.  The paper

                     made lanterns contain a small candle or fuel cell

                     that when lit, heats the air into the lantern making

                     it rise into the air. Sky lanterns travel a long

                     distance without any control of their final

                     destination.

                     “The use of sky lanterns during any celebration can

                     turn into tragedy if they land on someone’s house,

                     over any flammable materials or people,” said Larry

                     Matkaitis, State Fire Marshal. “We must protect the

                     lives and property of the citizens we serve, and

                     there is no question that these devices represent a

                     threat to public safety and aviation.”

                     Sky lanterns are defined as “fireworks” under the

                     Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois, (425 ILCS 30/2

                     (a) which states in part that “fireworks mean and

                     include the type of balloon which requires fire

                     underneath to propel.” Sky lanterns have been known

                     to cause residential and forest fires, as well as

                     other losses.  In addition, they represent a hazard

                     to aviation and a distraction to vehicular traffic.

                     The OSFM joins various states in banning the use,

                     distribution and retail sale of sky lanterns

                     including New Hampshire, California, Minnesota, South

                     Carolina, Hawaii, Utah, Tennessee, and Virginia.

                     Other states including Kansas and Missouri and the

                     New York Division of Fire Prevention and Control are

                     also looking into adopting changes to fire codes to

                     regulate the use of sky lanterns. The Federal

                     Aviation Association has raised concerns over the use

                     of floating lanterns as they can be sucked into the

                     engines of airborne aircrafts.

                     On May 14, 2013, the Office of the State Fire

                     Marshal’s Consumer Fireworks Review Committee voted

                     to put the sky lanterns under the Prohibited Consumer

                     Fireworks list. The OSFM then sent a notice to all

                     fire chiefs, fire departments, municipalities and

                     retailers statewide alerting them about the possible

                     increase in usage of sky lanterns during summer time

                     and special celebrations.

                     For more information on Illinois fireworks laws,

                     visit the OSFM’s website at

                     www.sfm.illinois.gov/commercial/pyrotechnicsfireworks/index.aspx.

Posted June 3, 2013

Sullivan fire receives grant, purchases grain bin rescue tube

by Jake Dilley

NP associate writer

Local grain engulfment rescue has been made possible thanks to grant money from the ADM Foundation to the Sullivan Fire Protection District.

Called the RES-Q Tube, the piece of equipment is designed to assist in the rescue of grain engulfment victims. The tube is a light-weight, five foot tall aluminum shield that fits around the victim and stops the flow of grain towards them, as well as any additional pressure created from emergency response teams.

Carle Center for Rural Health and Farm Safety surveyed departments throughout Central Illinois to find out who had equipment readily available for grain engulfment rescue. Among those surveyed were Sullivan, Lovington, Bethany, Dora Fire Protection District, Windsor, and Arthur. Sullivan, Lovington, and Bethany reported back not having any such equipment.

After researching possible grants, Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper found that the ADM Foundation had a grant that the grain tube could be categorized in.

After receiving the grant from the ADM foundation, the RES-Q Tube was purchased at cost from Brush Enterprises in Bethany, which in turn saved the department over 50 percent of the cost of the tube. The total amount of grant money attained was $2380.80, which covered the full cost of the Tube. Chief Piper has not had to deal with a grain engulfment rescue before but said, “It’s a situation where you have a matter of minutes to take care of the problem and if we had to travel a distance to get a grain tube from somewhere else, it would most likely end up being a recovery rather than a rescue. This allows us to provide a better service.”

The fire department has not yet received training on the tube, but Piper is scheduling it for the near future. “We’re just trying to prepare for all types of situations that we are able to handle ourselves,” said Piper. “There’s a lot of help outside our area that we call for, but that all takes time for them to get here; sometimes that’s just too late. Whatever we can take care of ahead of time, that’s what we’re trying to prepare for.”

Chief Piper will make the RES-Q Tube readily available for other departments in the surrounding area to use as well.  Piper extends his thanks to Will Grohler and ADM of Sullivan for their help.  The number of grain engulfment scenarios is rising each year; the fact that there is a department in this area that has the chance to answer such a call is crucial.

Posted June 3, 2013

IL FIRE OFFICIALS & MEDICAL EXPERTS DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR SPRINKLERS in STATE CODE

 

 

Alsip – Leaders from Illinois’ fire safety community joined medical staff from Loyola’s Burn Unit  to demonstrate their support for State Fire Marshal’s Larry Matkaitis’ proposed upgrade to the State’s Life Safety Code and onlookers were able to see first- hand how in less than 2 minutes your living room can turn into a fiery inferno.

             

   A side by side comparison of two mock living rooms was set-up outside of the Alsip Fire Department, the difference between them being a single sprinkler head.   Small fires were started in both units and while the sprinklered unit was immediately extinguished at its source in less than 15 seconds the other unit was completely engulfed in flames (also known as “flashover”) in less than 2 minutes. .

 

91 communities in Illinois already require fire sprinklers in newly constructed homes. The State Fire Marshal’s proposal would expand this requirement statewide making it consistent with national model building codes.   Some communities such as Long Grove have had the requirement in place as far back as 1988 and as a result have a 25 year proven track record of these homes not only being marketable, but more importantly have experienced no deaths or series injuries resulting from fires. Alsip is one of these communities”, explained Bartlett Assist Chief Mike Figolah with the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.  

 

“I am proud that Alsip adopted the residential ordinance back in 2006   All the sprinklered homes in my town have been sold,” explained Alsip Mayor Kitching.  “The decision to not put sprinklers in a home can not only end up costing the lives of your loved ones, but the lives of future generations who occupy the dwelling.”

 

  “Most people don’t understand that modern homes burn much quicker and are more toxic because the appliances and contents are made of synthetic material such as petroleum compared to the belongs you would find in a home a generation ago, which would consist of more natural based products which burn slower. It used to be that the fire department would have time to get to a fire before flashover occurs.  Now it is occurring before we even have a chance to get on our gear and pull out of the station,” explained Alsip Fire Chief Tom Styczynski.

             “The other danger we have putting out fires in new homes built without sprinklers is that the floor collapses in as little as 6 minutes.  This is due to the newly engineered  beams and construction materials used in new homes, which  may be stronger when it comes to holding snow but can’t hold up to fire and burns quickly,” Chief Styczynski added.

Don’t think you don’t need sprinklers in your home because you can just run from a fire. The majority of fire deaths occur from smoke inhalation.  A recent study shows the oxygen levels can be as low as 5% inside a dwelling as fire is beginning to spread and it absorbs oxygen in order to grow.  

Research performed at Underwriters Laboratory in Northbrook, further can further explain how modern homes and their contents make it more difficult to survive a fire. www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/buildingmaterials/fire/fireservice/ventilation/

         

Medical staff from Loyola’s Burn Center also gave their perspective on how sprinklers facilitate the prevention efforts of reducing the devastating effects of smoke inhalation and burn injuries for patients across the age continuum.

            If you do survive a fire, you may still have to live with the aftermath the rest of your life. Twin brothers Jordan and Justin Rodriquez were just four years old when a fire broke out in their home and Jordan who had escaped injury free rushed back inside to save his brother. Though thanks to his heroic move, Justin survived the fire, they both suffered significant burn injuries which have impacted them through adulthood.   “To have the technology to prevent deaths and suffering and not use it is wrong,” said Jordan Rodriquez.

Kim Prusa with Nova Fire Protection was on hand to explain and answer questions on  how installation of fire sprinklers in new single family homes comes out to about 1- 1.5%  percent of the overall construction costs for or the  Chicagoarea about $2-3 per square foot. “It is not always accurate to base it on square feet alone because it depends on different variables starting with the number and size of rooms.  For example, the same house can be described as having different square footage depending on if it is given from a realtor’s perspective, which just includes finished rooms, compared to a construction perspective, which would include the entire house (basement and unfinished areas),” said Prusa.

“High rise retrofit which is a totally separate scope of work,” said Fire Protection Engineer Rich Ray of Cybor Fire Protection. He explained how existing vertical piping systems in high rise units called stand pipes, which were designed to hook up to a fire hose, make retrofitting a high rise a fairly simple process that can be installed in a short amount of time in an individual unit without displacement of residents.   “The vertical water supply is already in pipes up top of the high rise building but people are perishing in units just 20 feet away because they are not hooked up to fire sprinkler.” explained Fire Protection Engineer Rich Ray. “High rise installation just involves expanding these pipes vertically into the hallways and units.”

“To retrofit a high rise, average industry cost is $4-8 per square foot for the actual sprinkler work alone.  An additional $2-6 per square foot could be added on to this base price, depending on the fire alarm tie- in and desired extent of aesthetic carpentry work.” Prusa added further

            Joining the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in support of the Illinois State Marshal’s efforts were the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, the IL Firefighters Association, the Associated Firefighters of Illinois and the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts.

 

               

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Pictured left are burn survivors Justin and Jordan Rodriquez, IL Fire Safety Alliance Government Affairs Director Margaret Vaughn, IL Fire inspector President Robert Morris, Alsip Mayor Patrick Kitching and Alip Fire Chief Tom Styczynski.

ABOUT THE IL FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE: Formed in 1982, the purpose of the Alliance is to bring together persons or groups with a common interest in fire safety, burn prevention, and public education, and to promote programs and disseminate information related to fire safety and burn prevention. Ever year they host “Camp I am Me”, a week long unique camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries.

Posted Aug 5, 2013