Governor Signs Groundbreaking Illinois Fire Sprinkler Incentive Bill

    ORLAND PARK, Ill., Aug. 14 /EMWNews/ -- Effective

immediately, fire protection districts in the state may now offer financial

incentive to encourage and reward homeowners who install automatic fire

sprinkler systems to protect their homes.



    On August 12, 2008, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed HB4687, a bill that

establishes the right for fire protection district trustees to award

monetary grants to the owners of single-family homes when they install a

qualifying fire sprinkler system (installed and maintained in accordance

with national standards and certified locally).



    The bill was introduced in January 2008 by Rep. Donald L. Moffitt

(R-74th). Representatives Mike Boland (D-71st) and Michael K. Smith

(D-91st) sponsored it in the House, and Sen. Michael W. Frerichs (D-52nd)

in the Senate. The bill passed the General Assembly on the first attempt.



    "The fast track of this legislation speaks to its relevance and value

to our state," says Tom Lia, Executive Director of the Northern Illinois

Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB). "We applaud Gov. Blagojevich for

his recognition of that and for his prompt action to get the grants up and

running."



    The Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts (IAFPD) initiated

the idea for the program. It gives the trustees a method to reward

homeowner action that helps their districts reduce fire protection costs.

The trustees will determine the grant amounts in accordance with the direct

impact that sprinkler-protected homes will have on their districts.



    "This is a true departure from classic top-down legislation," Lia adds.

"With this bill, the districts are in the driver's seat, determining what

is best for their constituents. It's an original approach and a strategy

that will pay the districts financial and public safety dividends for

decades to come."



    Despite the fact that 80 percent of fire deaths occur in homes, fire

sprinkler system installation in one- and two-family dwellings lacks far

behind other occupancies, such as apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals

and schools. National fire safety experts widely agree that fire sprinklers

represent the best potential for a dramatic reduction in the thousands of

lives lost to fire each year.



    "The installation of a residential fire sprinkler system significantly

reduces the likelihood of a major fire occurring in a home," says George K.

Michehl, executive director with the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association

(IFIA). "The IAFPD recognized that and, as a result, recommended the grant

program to provide some relief to those who make this life-saving decision.



    Lia credits many members of the fire service for their hard work and

support including Tom Harnsberger, IAFPD and Carol Fire Protection

District, Michael Dillon and Cheri Breneman, IAFPD, Ron Kubicki, Northern

Illinois Alliance of Fire Districts, George Michehl, IFIA and Dan Hermes,

Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.