ALERT: Illinois Fire Service Predicts Severely Heightened Number of Fire Incidents Through October

ORLAND PARK, Ill., Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials in the Illinois fire service are predicting a dramatic uptick in intentionally set fires in the state of Illinois through October, stating that the fires will be widespread through dozens of communities.

Studies have been able to pinpoint the locations of where the fires will occur and even the dates on which they will occur. Fire officials ask that community members in the following locations (and potentially more locations) stay alert and be on the lookout for any fire activity:

• Oct. 4: Vernon Hills (Countryside Fire Protection District)
• Oct. 5: Bartlett, Clarendon Hills, Crystal Lake, Darien, Dupo, Harwood Heights (Norwood Park Fire Protection District), Highland Park, Palatine, Romeoville
• Oct. 6: Evanston, Long Grove, Machesney Park (North Park Fire Protection District), Momence
• Oct. 7 & 8: Western Springs
• Oct. 9: Downers Grove, Palos Hills (Moraine Valley Community College - Fire Science Program), Urbana (Carroll Fire Protection District)
• Oct. 12: Alsip, Elgin, Ingleside (Fox Lake Fire Protection District), Hinsdale, Rolling Meadows, Tinley Park, Westchester
• Oct. 13: Homewood
• Oct. 14: Crest Hill
• Oct. 18: Stickney Township, Hampshire
• Oct. 19: Round Lake
• Oct. 26: Orland Park

Further research indicates that the Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, Lake County Fire Chiefs Association/Gurnee Fire Department, nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) and numerous fire departments/fire protection districts will be contributing to the ignition of these intentionally set fires. It is rumored that the fires will be started in fire sprinkler demonstration trailers as well as side-by-side demonstration units, which are furnished similarly to homes and compare fires with and without fire sprinklers.

It is suspected that all these fires are tied to national Fire Prevention Week (FPW), which extends from October 6^th through the 12^th, and Fire Prevention Month. Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, this year's FPW theme is "Prevent Kitchen Fires."

"These live fire demonstrations are an essential element in fire safety education for the public, elected officials and firefighters. Three important concepts are displayed: the speed of fire growth, the fast operation of a quick-response fire sprinkler, and the comparison of a fire's timeline to a typical fire department response," says NIFSAB Executive Director Tom Lia. "Prior to these upcoming demonstrations, we've already completed nearly 50 fire sprinkler demonstrations statewide this year."

For additional details about the upcoming fires in these communities and at which addresses and times they will occur, please visit each municipality's or fire department's website or contact NIFSAB at (708) 403- 4468.

About the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB)
NIFSAB is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting progressive legislation, raising public awareness, and educating code officials and governmental policy makers by demonstrating the proven performance of fire sprinklers in saving both lives and property. For more info, visit www.firesprinklerassoc.org.

SOURCE NIFSAB