FAQs

Yes. As part of our focus on public fire safety education, we are happy to participate in your school or community event. We are proud of our profession, our tools and apparatus. Our main focus is fire prevention and safety and we offer programs suited for all ages. Please contact the North Chicago Fire Public Information Office at 847-596-8782 to schedule a visit from the firefighters.

Yes. North Chicago firefighters will install free smoke detectors and batteries for North Chicago residents.

Having a working smoke detector in each level of your home will alert you of the dangers from fire and help to keep you safe and sound. North Chicago Fire & Emergency Services wants to help protect you from fire by providing FREE home fire safety analyses and FREE installed smoke alarms.

If you or a loved one live in North Chicago and need assistance with home fire safety, please contact our administrative office at 847-596-8782 for an appointment.

When a 911 call comes in, our dispatchers often do not get precise or complete information. As such, our dispatch is based on a worst-case scenario. To ensure the highest level of care, we sometimes send the closest piece of apparatus being the fire engine and then an ambulance for transport.  All personnel on the North Chicago Fire Department are trained to the paramedic level.  So even if they arrive in the Fire Engine they still have the skill set to assess and treat the patient.

• Preparation. When a firefighter arrives at the station for a shift, his first priority is to check his truck and personal protective equipment and get ready for the next call. Although we do not fix major mechanical problems with the fire engines, we often do minor repairs.
• Planning and training. The Shift Commander coordinates activities for the day and ensure the best possible response coverage given our limited resources. We also catch up on recent changes or significant events and go over the day’s planning and training (each station company must complete at least 2 hours of specific training each shift).
• Housework. The morning is when we also address “house work.” North Chicago Fire Fighters live at the station for 24 hours; it is their second home. We have to sweep, mop, throw out the trash, dust, wash linens and windows, and clean the fire truck. We also take care of maintenance issues such as painting and landscaping.
• Public outreach. We often run station tours for the public or speak at special events. These talks cover everything from cooking safety, exit drills in the home, to using a fire extinguisher.
• Physical training. Our firefighters have the opportunity work out each day while on shift. We undergo a battery of exams and fitness assessments, agility testing, and blood work to help ensure that we are in peak condition to protect the community.
• Inspections. Station companies routinely inspect every business in the city to enforce the fire code and address any life hazards. We also periodically inspect and test fire hydrants to ensure that they operate properly during a fire event. Likewise, we test all our fire hoses each year.
• Reporting. We must document each event we respond to, no matter how big or small. Most reports take 15–30 minutes to complete. A Fire Fighter can spend between 2–6 hours a day on documentation.

We are always in “ready response” mode, so our day is by no means over after 4pm. In fact, crews may not get to bed on busy nights.

After the crew returns to the station, the engine needs to be restocked and reports need to be completed. Crewmembers may also call home, work out, catch up on maintenance, study for tests (medical, fire, hazardous materials).  In addition, we conduct periodic “night drills” to keep ourselves adjusted to all conditions.

This is called “venting the roof.” There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. Unlike in the movie versions of fires, firefighters cannot see in such an environment. Once the roof “vented,” the smoke and gases can escape because heat and smoke rise, making it much easier for the firefighters to see. It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft and flashover.

Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed. Fires spread through attics especially quickly. Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof, cut holes to access the attic, and stop the fire from spreading.

It depends on the materials that are burning. Now, more than ever, our modern conveniences are made of synthetics instead of raw materials. When plastics or other petroleum-based products burn, temperatures can reach 1,200°F.

Fireworks are not legal for use in the State of Illinois.

Play it safe, and let professionals handle the fireworks. Professional fireworks make a better display, which you and your family can watch in safety.

A painful and sometimes deadly lesson

Decades of tragic experience teach this lesson: Fireworks are dangerous.

Based on the information available to US Fireworks at the time this data was compiled, the following legal requirements are in effect for the State of Illinois.

Young people suffer the great majority of fireworks injuries, most frequently injuries to the eyes, head, or hands. Losing your sight or losing a finger is a tragic price to pay for a few minutes of fun with fireworks.

Even seemingly harmless sparklers cause many injuries. For children under age five, sparklers account for three-quarters of all fireworks injuries. Fascinated by the bright sparks, little children may wrap their hands around a stick of fire that can be as hot as 1800 degrees F.

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

"In 2005, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 10,800 people for fireworks related injuries.  48% of 2005 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the head and 44% were to the extremities.

Injuries are only part of the problem. Local fire departments are called to thousands of fires started by fireworks. Those fires have caused property damage totaling millions.

"In 2004, fireworks caused an estimated 1,500 total structure fires and 600 vehicle fires reported to fire departments. These fires resulted in 20 civilian injuries and $21 million in direct property damage. There were no reported civilian deaths." (Source: National Fire Protection Association)

Residential fire deaths have decreased steadily as the number of homes with smoke detectors has increased. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association on residential fire deaths show that people have nearly a 50 percent better chance of surviving a fire if their home has the recommended number of smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and should be replaced. A smoke detector monitors the air 24 hours a day. At the end of 10 years, it has gone through over 3.5 million monitoring cycles. After this much use, components may become less reliable. This means that as the detector gets older, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases. Replacing them after 10 years reduces this possibility.

The average-sized home or apartment needs more than one smoke detector. The exact number depends on the number of levels in the home and the number of bedrooms. National fire safety standards recommend a minimum of one detector on each level of the home, one detector outside the bedroom area, and one in each bedroom. The detector that is placed outside of the bedroom area should be installed in a place where it can be heard at night through a closed bedroom door.

There are two types of smoke detectors for homes. One type is called an ionization detector because it monitors "ions," or electrically charged particles. Smoke particles entering the sensing chamber change the electrical balance of the air. The detector's horn will sound when the change in electrical balance reaches a preset level. The other type of detector is called photoelectric because its sensing chamber uses a beam of light and a light sensor. Smoke particles entering the chamber change the amount of light that reaches the light sensor. The detector sounds when the smoke density reaches a preset level.

The ionization detector responds faster to small smoke particles, while the photoelectric responds faster to large smoke particles. As a rule of thumb, fast-flaming fires produce more small smoke particles and smoldering fires produce more large particles. Thus, the response time of the two type of detectors will vary, depending on the mix of small and large smoke particles in the fire. But test results show that the differences in response time are small enough that both types provide enough time to escape.

The number of detectors is more important than the type. Installing several smoke detectors of each type will provide better coverage in the extreme cases of long-term smoldering or fast-flaming fires. But since both types respond in time for you to escape, the most important thing is to install enough detectors in the proper locations. Detectors are available with both types of sensors in the same unit, but they are more expensive than models with a single sensor. If the choice is between having only one of each type or having more of the same type, more detectors is the better choice.

Smoke detectors are designed to be very sensitive so they will alert occupants to a fire in time for them to escape. If a detector regularly responds to smoke from cooking, there are several options for handling this problem. One way is to replace the detector with one that has a button that silences it for a few minutes. Another way is to move the detector farther away, giving the smoke a chance to dissipate. Moving a ceiling-mounted detector to a wall can also reduce nuisance alarms. However, this will also make it a little slower to respond to a real fire. If the detector is the ionization type, another option is to replace it with a photoelectric. This detector is less sensitive to smaller smoke particles and thus is less affected by cooking smoke.

Every smoke detector comes with a test button. We recommend that people test their detectors regularly, at least once a month.

This is not recommended because the burning objects used to create the smoke might cause a fire. Some stores sell pressurized cans of simulated smoke for this purpose. When using this product, follow the operating instructions and do not get the can too close to the detector. This prevents the smoke from coating the detector's sensing chamber, which can make the detector inoperable.

Cleaning is easy. Just vacuum the detector at least once a year. This will keep the openings to the sensing chamber free of dust, residue from cooking vapors and insects.

Smoke detector batteries should last at least one year under normal conditions. The biggest reason that smoke detectors don't work is because people remove the batteries, (e.g., to stop the low battery signal or a nuisance alarm) and forget to replace them. When a battery reaches the end of its service life, the detector will give a short beep every minute or so. It is easy to remove the battery and then forget to replace it. The best way to prevent this is to replace batteries at the same time each year before the low battery signal begins. Source- International Association of Fire Chiefs

Each year in America, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims more than 200 lives and sends another 10,000 people to hospital emergency rooms. The North Chicago Fire Department would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

CO gas can come from several sources: gas or oil-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not. What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.

If no one is feeling ill:

1. Silence the alarm.
2. Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
3. Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
4. Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:

1. Evacuate all occupants immediately.
2. Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
3. Call 911 and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
4. Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
5. Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO leak.  

• Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories)-listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
• Have a qualified professional check all fuel-burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home, and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooling systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.