Meeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
Darien-Woodridge
Fire Protection District
7550 Lyman Avenue
Darien, Illinois 60561
(630) 910-2200
(630) 910-2203 - FAX
Fire Chief / Administrator
Wayne R. Messenger
Robert Morris, Director
Lt. John Tabisz, Public Education/Inspector
Lt. Jim Karasek, Inspector
7550 Lyman Avenue Darien, Illinois 60561
The goal of Darien-Woodridge Fire Prevention is to prevent fires and accidents from happening, or if they should occur, to allow for the occupants to safely escape. There are approximately 1,000 inspectable occupancies within our district. This ranges from multi-family buildings to shopping centers to industrial and office buildings.
There are some key areas within fire prevention. The first is code enforcement. Fire inspectors make routine annual inspections of all public buildings to see that they are safe for the general public and the employees. The Fire Prevention Bureau also review the plans of any new public building, or building undergoing renovation, to make certain it will be constructed according to the fire codes. The codes currently used within the District are the 1999 editions of the BOCA Building and Fire Codes, and the 1997 Edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code.
Second is public education. This is where the public is taught various fire and life safety topics. Our public education officer makes presentations in all of our schools, covering topics from calling 9-1-1 to cooking safety to first aid and CPR. Presentations are done on a request basis to other adult and children’s groups in the community. In the summer months an on-duty fire engine and ambulance are sent to local block parties where the residents can get an up close look at our equipment, and have an opportunity to ask any questions about our organization.
Finally, we have pre-fire planning. This entails using a computer to draw floor plans of the major buildings we respond to, so they can be distributed binders carried on all of our vehicles. This is done so firefighters can "see" the inside of the building before they arrive. This allows firefighters to anticipate what actions they might have to take in an actual fire. This is an ongoing project as buildings are always being remodeled, and new buildings are being constructed.
If you have any questions about the Fire Prevention Bureau, or would like to schedule a public education event for your group, contact our office at 630-910-2207.