Fire Prevention

It is the mission of the Fire Department to protect Village businesses and residents, but they cannot do it without your cooperation and participation. Below are a few current issues in the area of fire prevention.

Smoke Detectors & Fire Extinguishers

Smoke detectors should be tested at least once each month, and batteries should be replaced each daylight savings time. Fire extinguishers are inexpensive yet valuable devices that can extinguish small fires and keep fires from spreading in your home until the Fire Department arrives. The Fire Prevention Bureau will gladly help you check, install, or replace smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your home.

Home Escape Plans

If there was a fire in your home, how would you get out? Every family should have a plan of how to escape their home if there is a fire. Plan two ways out of every room and set a meeting spot outside of your home for everyone to meet.

Hazardous / Hoarding Homes

Similar to many communities in the Chicagoland area, the Village has an aging population and residents with chronic mental illness. Some of these residents may no longer be able to care for themselves or their homes, which may result in hazardous conditions. These conditions may be dangerous to the community by lowering neighborhood property values and preventing clear escape routes from the home in the case of an emergency. For these reasons, the Village has developed a protocol for dealing with hazardous homes. These homes have been defined as any home that contains any one or more of the following:

• Excessive accumulation of rotting or foul garbage
• Severe pest infestation
• Excessive human or animal waste
• Inoperable or inaccessible bathroom facilities
• Inoperable or inaccessible kitchen facilities
• No water for drinking or sanitary purposes
• No working furnace or heating system
• Existing sewage backup or water damage
• Excessive number of animals

Please contact the Fire Department for more information at 847-673-1545.