Village Board Recognizes Fire Department for Receiving Top Honor

The  recently was honored for its courageous work in fire prevention and life-saving efforts last year.

The Fire Department was presented in early November with the 2009 Life Safety Achievement Award by the Residential Fire Safety Institute, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and the National Association of State Fire Marshals Fire Research and Education Foundation.

"We'd like to congratulate them," Evergreen Park Mayor James Sexton said at the last Village Board meeting Monday, Nov. 15, when it was announced the Fire Department received the honor.

The award was originally presented as a distinction for not having any fatalities due to fire. The honor now takes into account fire prevention programming, which local officials say is one of the Evergreen Park Fire Department's strengths.

"I attribute it all to the fire prevention programs that we offer in the community," Fire Chief Ronald Kleinhaus said. "Everything that we do fire prevention-wise is a year-round thing, not just during Fire Prevention Week in October."

According to Kleinhaus, the department has a comprehensive fire prevention program, which includes sending firemen out to teach fire safety to Scout troops and hosting an open house and children's health fair every year.

"We have kids come to the station for station tours and they go through fire safety training," Kleinhaus said.

The Evergreen Park Fire Department also participates in the annual initiative, in which the firehouse displays a wreath with all red lights during the holiday season. If a holiday-related fire happens, a red bulb will be replaced with a white one. Last year, all of the bulbs remained red.

After a fire department applies for the award, the Residential Fire Safety Institute and its partners verify the records with the state's fire marshal's office. If everything checks out, the award is mailed to the fire department. The application period for the 2010 award will open in January 2011.

Local government officials say they are proud to have such a team representing the village of Evergreen Park.

"Our Fire Department is probably the most conscientious, hardworking group of people I've ever come in contact with," village public information officer Mary Keane said. "They are very thorough, they're very professional and they're very up-to-date on all of their services."