Village-Wide Smoke Alarm Canvass Completed
The fire department has completed the village-wide canvass to ensure that each home has at least one operating smoke alarm. In less than 3 weeks, on-duty firefighters have visited over 7000 homes in the village and distributed over 400 smoke alarms and over 300 batteries. We would like to thank all residents for their cooperation and continued support. Remember to test your smoke alarm at least once a month and change your batteries twice a year when the clocks are changed.
Evergreen Park Fire Department Receives 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant
The Evergreen Park Fire Department has received a $95,561.00 grant from the Department of Homeland Security through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. This grant will be used to install mobile data terminals in each fire apparatus and incident command computer software in our shift commander’s vehicle.
Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act
Effective January 1, 2007, every dwelling unit will be required to have at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes. Alarms can be battery powered, plug-in with battery back-up or wired into the AC power line with a secondary battery back-up. The alarm can be combined with smoke detecting devices if the combined unit complies with specific standards and the alarm differentiates the hazard.
The Law:
The Illinois General Assembly has passed and the Governor has signed the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act (Public Act 094-0741). This new law, effective January 1, 2007, requires homeowners and landlords to install carbon monoxide detectors in all buildings containing bedrooms and sleeping facilities.
The primary features of the law are:
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Every “dwelling unit” must be equipped with at least one operable carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes.
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The alarm may be combined with smoke detecting devices provided the unit complies with respective standards and the alarm differentiates the hazard.
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A “dwelling unit” means a room or suite of rooms used for human habitation, and includes single family residences, multiple family residences, and mixed use buildings.
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If a structure contains more than one “dwelling unit,” an alarm must be installed within 15 feet of every sleeping room in each “dwelling unit.”
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The owner must supply and install all required alarms. A landlord must ensure that the alarms are operable on the date of initiation of a lease. The tenant is responsible for testing and maintaining the alarm after the lease commences.
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A landlord is required to furnish one tenant per dwelling unit with written information regarding alarm testing and maintenance.
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Willful failure to install or maintain in operating condition any alarm is a Class B criminal misdemeanor.
The Act does exempt certain residential units from the requirement. Those residential units in a building that (i) does not rely on combustion of fossil fuel for heat, ventilation or hot water; (ii) is not connected to a garage; and (iii) is not sufficiently close to any ventilated source of carbon monoxide to receive carbon monoxide from that source OR a residential unit that is not sufficiently close to any source of carbon monoxide so as to be at risk of receiving carbon monoxide from that source, as determined by the local building commissioner shall NOT require carbon monoxide detectors.
The Illinois I.C.E. Program
The Evergreen Park Fire Department, in conjunction with the Governors office and emergency agencies throughout the state is encouraging residents to participate in the I.C.E. program.
If you should ever become incapacitated in case of an emergency, emergency workers need a quick way to find out who they should contact. Paramedics, police and firefighters often waste valuable time trying to figure out which name in a cell phone to call when disaster strikes. They need to talk immediately to a family member or close friend so you can get the medical attention you need as soon as possible. Governor Blagojevich launched Illinois' I.C.E. program as a free and easy way to help emergency workers help you.
All you have to do is put the name of your emergency contact in your cell phone book with the word "ICE" in front of it. "ICE" stands for "In Case of Emergency". For example, if your emergency contact is Sheila, you should put "ICE -- Sheila" in your phone book. That way, emergency workers treating you can quickly contact Sheila to get the information about you that they need. You can also have more than one emergency contact -- you just list them as ICE1, ICE2, and so on. Take a look at the pictures on the right to see two examples of cell phones with ICE contact information.
Illinois is the first state to implement this program on such a large scale. Now that police officers, firefighters and paramedics are on the lookout for ICE numbers, putting your emergency contact in your phone could help save your life one day in case of emergency. By working together, we can make Illinois a safer place for everybody. Please take a moment to put your emergency contact information in your cell phone today. For further information visit
www.ice.illinois.gov.
Self-Cleaning Oven Safety
The Evergreen Park Fire Department would like to remind residents to use extreme caution when operating self-cleaning ovens in their homes. The fire department has recently responded to several calls regarding fires caused by the use of self-cleaning ovens. The following safety tips should be followed:
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Always follow the manufacturers operating instructions
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Remove excess grease and residue from oven prior to use
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Check to be sure no cooking utensils are left in the oven or broiler
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Do not place anything on top of stove when in use
Remember that the self-cleaning mode operates at extremely high temperatures and that the oven door will remain in the “locked” position until the temperature decreases to a safe level.
For further information on cooking safety and other fire prevention programs contact the public education division at 708/422-2148.