Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance honored four fire safety and prevention advocates at the 84th annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon which was held on October 9th.
The event, which took place in Woodridge, included award presentations to Peter Gripper of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Tom Langdon of the Lansing Fire Department, Huntley Fire Protection District, and the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
Buffalo Grove’s Pete Gripper was presented with a Life Safety Awards because of his creation of the department’s smoke alarm installation program, in which 600+ alarms were installed within a one-week period during the Be Alarmed! Statewide Blitz Campaign in 2024. Over time, he has continued to grow the department’s presence within the village through a wide variety of community-oriented safety events, attracting people of all ages to the different themed activities.
Tom Langdon of Lansing Fire Department also received a Life Safety Award. Over his 30+ year career, he has gone beyond his department role to ensure the well-being of the Lansing residents, including leading reading programs in elementary schools, spearheading their smoke alarm installation program, and promoting programs such as Learn Not to Burn for older residents and fire extinguisher training.
The last of the Life Safety Awards was presented to the Huntley Fire Protection District. The District’s calendar of annual community events continues to grow and attendance continues to rise. From their open house to CPR programs, and live fire demonstrations to collaboration with utility companies raising awareness about natural gas and electrical burns, Huntley Fire Protection District has a program for everyone within their age-diverse community.
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum was the recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Award. Their signature Community Hero Day continues to draw thousands from the Aurora-area and beyond as it highlights live fire demonstrations, auto extrications, provides tours of the nearby fire department, and has dozens of community partners in attendance – all helping promote safety. During the other weeks of the year, the ARFM has interactive and static displays promoting fire safety and burn prevention as they host tens of thousands of attendees, from the general public to school field trips and more.
A special thank you goes out to our Keynote Presenter, Assistant Chief (ret.) Eddie Buchanan of Hanover Fire & EMS (Richmond, VA). He addressed the 300+ in attendance on marketing your fire department to win community support – helping strengthen public trust, increase engagement, and secure vital support.
The generous sponsors of the 2025 Fire Prevention Week Luncheon included Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, National Fire Sprinkler Association – Illinois Chapter, 1-800 BoardUp, Battalion Board-Up, Leopardo Construction, Promos 911, and Reliable Fire & Security.
Photos from the 2025 Fire Prevention Week Luncheon can be found here.
Do you know of an individual, fire department, or business that is deserving of being recognized for their fire safety and prevention efforts? Nominate them for an award! Click here for nomination details.