NIFSAB Is Saddened By The Loss Of NFSA’s Past President John Viniello

John Viniello, Past President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association

ORLAND PARK, IL (February 27, 2019) – NIFSAB is sad to share the news that NFSA’s Past President, John Viniello, passed away, Tuesday, February 26, 2019, two days before his 77th birthday. While John served as NFSA president for 28 years, from 1984-2012, he was a major supporter of NIFSAB’s work.
According to NIFSAB’s Tom Lia, “John always backed us up. Whether it was a high-rise issue, battling anti-sprinkler information or supporting NFPA 13D efforts, he was always there. If we needed hard hitting letters to the editor, or when something needed to be said, John would say it.”

“John was one of the initiators of the industry promotion concept that has provided the resources that resulted in more than 100 communities passing home fire sprinkler ordinances,” Lia added. “The fire sprinkler industry has suffered a major loss with John’s passing.

You can read John’s obituary here. 

John Viniello, past President of NFSA, with Jim Shannon, past President of NFPA, at the 2009 Residential Fire Sprinkler Summit at Medinah Banquets in Addison, Illinois where they both presented.

2019-08-20T01:21:43-05:00February 27th, 2019|0 Comments

NFSA Applauds Plainfield as It Institutes Grant Program for Installation of Fire Sprinkler Systems in Historic District Businesses

Mary Kay Ludemann, Fire Marshal and Jon Stratton, Fire Chief, of the Plainfield Fire Department

PLAINFIELD, IL (February 15, 2019) — The National Fire Sprinkler Association extends its heartiest congratulations to our partners in life safety: Plainfield Fire Chief Jon Stratton, Fire Marshal Mary Kay Ludemann, their Board of Trustees and the Village of Plainfield, Illinois, upon the enactment of the Plainfield Historic Commercial District Fire and Life Safety System Grant Program. The grant program is designed for existing commercial structures that require the installation of a fire sprinkler system in the historic downtown area. The Village the and Fire District will split the cost of the reimbursement grants 50/50. Chief Jon Stratton says: “The primary goal of this program is to enhance the safety of the business environment while lessening the financial burden a business/property owner may incur, but it also encourages the reuse and repurposing of Plainfield’s oldest structures. By incentivizing this safety requirement, the hope is to expedite this change creating an all-around safer business district for all property owners, businesses and patrons.” Fire Marshal Mary Kay Ludemann states that this program is in combination with the new tax reform act, which allows a business owner to expend the total cost of a system, which will remove all financial and political obstacles to retrofitting a building as needed. NFSA commends the Mayor of Plainfield, Michael P. Collins and the Village Trustees, along with the Fire District Board President William Barnes and the District Trustees for supporting the initiative and making the program a reality. “It’s always a pleasure to promote proactive leadership that creates public policy that enhances and preserves the history of our communities,” shares Shane Ray, NFSA President. “We use the tagline it’s not preserved until it’s protected for a reason and it’s great to see Plainfield’s leadership preserving their community in this way.” The nuts and bolts of the program: 20% of the total cost of qualified improvements below and maximum grant reimbursement of $20,000 (or maximum $100,000 total project cost of qualified improvements). The following are the qualified improvements that can be considered reimbursable under this GRANT program: • Fire sprinkler system equipment/installation. • Associated fire alarm systems/installation. • Architect costs directly associated to the fire sprinkler system installation (qualified cost not to exceed 10% of the construction costs). (A similar program in neighboring Lockport utilized video gambling funds and fire district tax breaks.) The National Fire Sprinkler Association would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mayor Steven Strait and the building and city official of Lockport, Illinois for also implementing a fire sprinkler grant program. About the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA): NFSA was founded in 1905 and wants to create a more fire safe world, and works to heighten the awareness of the importance of fire sprinkler systems from homes to high-rise and all occupancies in between. The Association is an inclusive organization made up of dedicated and committed members of a progressive life-saving industry. This industry manufactures, designs, supplies, installs, inspects, and services the world’s most effective system in saving lives and property from uncontrolled structural fires.

For more information about fire sprinklers, how they work and access to additional resources and information, visit www.nfsa.org for the latest material, statistics and a dedicated team of fire safety advocates ready to serve all stakeholders in order to fulfill the vision of a safer world. SOURCE: National Fire Sprinkler Association / via PRNewswire

2019-08-15T12:20:49-05:00February 16th, 2019|0 Comments

Successful Activations (Winter Edition 2019)

FEBRUARY 2019

Apartment Fire Controlled by Sprinklers

ROCKFORD, IL (February 22, 2019) – A fire broke out shortly before 8 p.m. at the Faust Landmark Apartments on the building’s ninth floor. The building’s sprinkler system was activated and contained the fire. One man was sent to the emergency room for smoke inhalation. Two apartments sustained about $20,000 in fire and water damage. The cause is under investigation.
Source: rrstar.com

Fire Sprinkler Controls Apartment Fire Caused by Person Smoking While Using Oxygen

DECATUR, IL (February 21, 2019) – A fire sprinkler prevented a potential deadly fire from spreading to other apartments that was caused by a person smoking while using oxygen. The Decatur Fire Department responded to a call of a fire at the Spring Creek Towers.
The building is s six-story apartment building, which houses seniors and people with disabilities. According to the NFPA, people at risk of dying in a fire are older adults and people with disabilities.
Source: Herald & Review

Sprinkler System Puts Out Fire at Senior Community

WATERLOO, IL (February 20, 2019) – The Waterloo Fire Department responded to a fire at a senior living community. The fire was contained to one room of an assisted living apartment. Fire officials praised an in-house sprinkler system for quickly knocking down the blaze. The cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction in a wall-hearting unit. The unit sustained water and smoke damage. There were no injuries.
Source: Republic-Times

Sprinkler System Credited with Saving Church

BOURBONNAIS, IL (February 20, 2019) – Bradley fire officials are crediting an automatic sprinkler system for saving The Adventure Church. A fire broke out on the second floor of the church, which is currently under renovation. The sprinkler kept the flames under control until firefighters arrived on the scene. There were no injuries. The cause is still under investigation.
Source: wivr1017am

Popular Restaurant Closed from Kitchen Fire

JUSTICE, IL (February 17, 2019) – A popular restaurant closed because of a kitchen fire. However, the damage could’ve been worse without the activation of the restaurant’s fire sprinklers. Firefighters said the fire started in the kitchen and scorched the ceiling before a sprinkler system activated and put out the fire before firefighters arrived. There were no injuries. The Szarotka Restaurant is currently closed.
Source: Chicago Tribune

Fire Sprinklers Control Cafe Fire

QUINCY, IL (February 8, 2019) – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire inside a cafe until fire crews arrived. According to Lt. Andrew Wittler, the fire was caused by a failed electrical conduit.

No injuries were reported.
Source: WGEM.com, by Richard Denson

Fire Sprinkler Prevents Thousands in Damage

ROCKFORD, IL (February 6, 2019) – A fire at Barnes International, a manufacturing facility, prevented thousands of dollars in damage thanks to the fire sprinkler system. According to the Rockford Fire Department, upon arrival crews saw smoke from the building. Most of the flames were extinguished by a sprinkler system. Firefighters put out the remaining blaze with fire extinguishers. The fire was accidental. There were no injuries.
Source: mystateline.com

Kitchen Fire Extinguished by Fire Sprinklers

PALATINE, IL (February, 3, 2019) – The Palatine Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm at a local restaurant. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly confirmed a fire had occurred in the kitchen and was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Source: Palatine Fire Department

Fire Sprinklers Sprinklers Contain Bakery Fire

PEORIA HEIGHTS, IL (February 2, 2019) – Fire sprinklers contained a fire inside a bakery. The fire was caused by combustion from linseed oil wood finish that was discarded in the trash.

According to Chief Greg Walters the sprinkler system helped slow the spread of the fire until firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.
Source: PJStar.com – Journal Star

JANUARY 2019

Sprinklers Save Dry Cleaner From Catastrophic Damage

SCHAUMBURG, IL (January 26, 2019) – Firefighters responded to an after-hours fire at a local dry cleaner. Upon arrival, fire crews discovered four bins of clothing burning and a single sprinkler head activated. The sprinkler controlled the fire until crews extinguished it with one hand pump. Property loss was estimated at $5,000; however, the loss could’ve been worse with the value of the building and its contents estimated at $250,000. The cause is still under investigation. There were no injuries.
Source: Village of Schaumburg- Fire

Third-Floor Apartment Fire Put Out By Sprinklers

NAPERVILLE, IL (January 24, 2019) — Naperville firefighters responded to a 9-1-1 call about a fire in a third-floor apartment. Upon arrival, they discovered smoke from the unit and activation of the sprinkler system. One resident of the unit where the fire was extinguished was treated for injuries and did not require further medical attention. The cause is still under investigation. Three apartment units were deemed uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage.
Source: Village of Naperville

Sprinklers Prevent Fire From Spreading at Local High School

ROCKTON, IL (January 20, 2019)—Hononegah High School’s sprinkler system helped contain a fire in the back of the school’s performing arts center. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they could smell smoke. Eventually, they found prop materials burning in the back of the performing arts center. Fire officials say the school’s sprinklers helped contain the fire before firefighters finally extinguished the flames. The stage area of the arts center suffered minor water damage. There were no injuries. The cause is still under investigation.
Source: WREX

Sprinklers Activate During Bus Depot Fire

WESTMONT, IL (January 3, 2019)— Westmont Firefighters responded a fire at school bus depot after a worker used a torch that accidentally ignited a seat on a school bus. When crews arrived, the sprinkler system was activated. Officials reported everyone was evacuated safely, but one person suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The building and the bus sustained $150,000 in damage.
Source: The Patch

2023-02-14T12:16:48-06:00February 5th, 2019|0 Comments

I Can’t Save You, But I’ll Die Trying – Dr. Burton Clark Book

OpenLine January 23, 2019

Click for Full Interview

Fire remains a leading cause of death in the U.S with more than 3,500 killed and 15,000,000 injuries each year, along with $15,000,000,000 in property loss. But according to retired Fire Officer, and FEMA Executive Fire Officer, Dr. Burton Clark, “fire” continues to remain very low on the list of concerns for most Americans.  Dr. Clark joins Ben Hall to discuss his newest book, I Can’t Save You, But I’ll Die Trying as well as bring awareness to the dangers of Fire.

2019-08-13T11:58:13-05:00February 1st, 2019|0 Comments
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