Wilmette Fire Department
Wilmette Fire Department |
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In an Emergency Dial 911 |
The Wilmette Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau is coordinated by the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal's office is responsible for conducting fire prevention and life safety inspections and reviewing construction plans. If you have any questions concerning the Fire Prevention Bureau or would like information regarding fire prevention, please call the Bureau at (847) 853-7693.
The Wilmette Fire Department welcomes opportunities to speak with groups or individuals regarding fire prevention and fire safety. If you are interested in obtaining information regarding the Department's Public Education programs, please call the Fire Marshal at 847-853-7693.
Tragically, children are twice as likely to die in fires as the rest of the population. Most often they die in fires they cause themselves, or in fires involving smoking materials. Education can reduce these tragic numbers with fire safety lessons that children can understand, use and carry with them into adulthood.
It is true that teaching fire safety lessons, even to very young children, can save lives. Each year the Wilmette Fire Department, along with "Sparky the Fire Dog," conducts age specific safety assemblies to all grade schools in Wilmette. These programs are not designated to scare children, but to educate them about how to prevent fires, as well as what to do if a fire should start in their home.
See "Sparky's Corner" for fire safety tips. If you have any questions or comments on this program, please call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 847-853-7693.
During construction, station tours are temporarily being suspended. Please contact the Fire Marshal at 847-853-7693 or a neighboring community.
Recognize that your child's interest and curiosity about fire must be met with information and education. Never try to scare children away from fire. Teach them to respect fire just as you would teach them to respect traffic or power tools.
Teach and practice home fire safety together as a family.
Remove fire hazards and temptations from your home.
Keep matches and lighters in a secure place out of the reach of children.
Never leave your children alone with an open flame.
If you suspect your child is setting fires, get help immediately. The Wilmette Fire Department offers a Juvenile Firesetters Prevention program.
For additional tips and educational material see:
Dancing flames and colorful glowing embers hold great attraction for many people. But for some children, that fascination may turn into intentional and repeated firesetting behaviors. There is growing concern throughout the United States over the number of fires started by young children and adolescents. Fires are the number one cause of death in the home for children under five, of which one-third of these children died in fires they started. It is natural for a child to express interest in fire. Curiosity about fire is part of a child's growth process, especially between the ages of 2 and 9. By understanding what circumstances lead children to start fires, and by following a few basic fire safety practices, you can reduce the chances of your child starting destructive fires intentionally. For example, the majority of fires set by young children are set out of curiosity or experiment. The Wilmette Fire Department's Juvenile Firesetters Program offers families help in dealing with child firesetters. Trained counselors will conduct an interview to determine the severity of the fire setting problem. If the situation involves an accidental fire or a fire set out of curiosity, a Juvenile Firesetters Class is offered to the family at no cost. This class provides information on the proper use of fire as well as fire safety information. When appropriate a referral can be made to a counselor at no cost.
