Nominated for its innovative and extensive efforts in fire safety throughout 2023, the O’Fallon Fire Department has been honored with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Fire Prevention and Life Safety Award.
Fire Chief Brad White said the award recognizes the department’s “exceptional dedication to fire prevention and education.” Thirty departments were considered for the award, he said.
“We highlighted what we do as a volunteer department, which I thought was quite remarkable,” White said.
Mayor Herb Roach said it’s the first time the award has been presented to a fire department south of Springfield.
“It’s quite an honor. I know you’re very proud of your department’s hard work and efforts,” he said to White at the council meeting Monday.
White cited the department’s digital outreach on social media platforms, disseminating fire safety and disaster information, and the its fire safety presentations to local organizations and other groups.
The department organized fire drills at all 15 school campuses in O’Fallon. At eight elementary schools, it conducted fire safety assemblies for kindergarten through third-grade students.
The nomination pointed out the department’s commitment to community engagement, participating in 64 events, and hosting a three-day Open House during Fire Prevention Week.
Collaborating with the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, the department installed 187 smoke detectors and replaced 160 detector batteries for residents in need. White said his department averages 150 to 200 installations per year. New is helping visually and hearing impaired with special detectors.
Its latest initiative, “One Home, One Extinguisher,” which launched in December 2023 and aims to install fire extinguishers in all homes that don’t already have one.
“It’s great to be alerted to fires, but if people can put out a small fire themselves, that could be the difference in losing a home,” he said.
White also noted that the initiatives were carried out by volunteers, showing a level of dedication by his team.
White said the addition of Fire Educator Sara Stockstrom has been helpful in its commitment to providing information at public events.
The award was presented by state officials on June 27 in O’Fallon. Those in attendance included Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera, OSFM Deputy Director Allen Reyne, Illinois State Senators Christopher Belt and Erica Harriss, and Illinois State Representative Kevin Schmidt.
Stormwater Assistance Program
Private property owners can now be assisted with drainage projects for a 50/50 reimbursement for up to $15,000, if approved to participate in the program that was adopted by the city council July 1.
The funding will be established during the FY26 Budget approval.
With any residential storm water issue, the difference between the responsibility of a private landowner and a problem large enough for the city to become involved in is not always clear.
Therefore, the city’s stormwater policy will have multiple priority levels. This program is approved for residential properties within the city limits, and not agricultural, industrial, commercial, mobile home parks, and apartment complexes.
This program is designed to aid property owners experiencing creek bank erosion or similar storm water related concerns as a means of reducing soil erosion and its effects on water quality and the storm system throughout the city.
This program also benefits the public by improving water quality and by preventing smaller problems from growing into larger concerns, which could affect adjacent properties or others throughout the watershed. These projects are more private in nature,
City staff will assist property owners with the application process through construction.
Upcoming
A Town Hall meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 17, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Herb Roach said they will discuss the studies on Pierce Boulevard, the new rates under electric aggregation, and the Community Development Department will present the final report on the Forward 50 plans on U.S. 50.
The O’Fallon Police Department plans stepped-up traffic enforcement through July 8, to keep impaired drivers off the road and ticketing unbuckled motorists. The O’Fallon Police Department is collaborating with the Illinois State Police and over 200 local police and sheriffs’ departments in this unified effort to enhance statewide enforcement during this period.
The O’Fallon Public Works Department will be closing Central Park Drive to thru traffic between Hartman Lane and Marcus Theatres beginning on Monday, July 8. The road will be closed to perform storm sewer and intersection improvements along Central Park Drive and Hartman Lane. A marked local detour route will be in place along Hartman Lane to Park Plaza Drive to Central Park Drive. This work is expected to be completed by November 27, weather permitting.
Most Popular
Comments / 0