MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Chief James Saletta, Huntley Fire Department

From the January 2009 newsletter...
Since the last newsletter, the Fire Safety Alliance has had some executive board changes. After several years as the board’s president, Mike Figolah has stepped down from the president’s position. During the tenure of his leadership and through the work of the executive board and staff members, the IFSA continued to grow providing additional programs in line with our mission of fire prevention and safety. Included in those programs were the “Get Fired Up About Fire Safety” (GFUAFS) school education program, the distribution of “Bath Buddy” thermometers (child burn prevention), the development of the Health World interactive traveling kiosks and the consolidation of the juvenile fire setter interventionist programs. Legislatively, Chief Figolah was instrumental in amending the 2002 Pyrotechnic Operator Licensing Act that mandates training and licensing of pyrotechnicians. Mike has made a tremendous contribution to the organization and will remain on the executive board as the immediate past president. He will also continue to be an active staff member at Camp “I Am Me”.

The Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (JFSIP), when developed, will provide a statewide referral service pairing identified juvenile fire setters with a state certified interventionist. Included in the program will be training and certification programs for interventionists, and follow up services for juvenile fire setters. The IFSA is partnering with several fire service agencies to provide guidance to program development. The goal for the JFSIP implementation is Spring 2009.

The IFSA now has two traveling kiosks available for use by fire departments and grade schools. “In a Flash” and “Test Your Knowledge” are interactive educational programs that target children 8 years and older. “In a Flash” features the stories of burn survivors and their families and the “Test Your Knowledge” kiosk features a game show type of format to make learning fire safety fun. The kiosks can be reserved through Health World, the developers of the program, by calling 847-842-9100. You can go to the IFSA website at www.IFSA.org to view the kiosks. The set up and transport costs are funded by the IFSA so there is no cost to those requesting them.

In 2009, the IFSA will combine efforts with the Illinois Fire Inspector’s Association to promote legislation restricting (banning) the sale of novelty lighters. It is our contention that these lighters resemble toys that peak the curiosity of young children. Novelty lighters do not meet the standards of good product safety and can easily be used by young children. Other states have been successful in banning or limiting their sales and we hope to be successful in our endeavors to prevent fires and burn injuries.

Mark your calendars for the following dates in 2009:

June 17th -- Visitor’s Day at Camp “I Am Me”
October 8th -- Fire Prevention Luncheon

Hope to see you at these events.