Friday, Jan 8, 2021  |   View in browser

Evanston Fire Chief Brian Scott

The men and women of the Evanston Fire Department would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to Chief Brian Scott for his years of dedicated service and leadership. The Evanston Fire Department is better today than the day he was hired in large part due to his vision, leadership, and unbelievable work ethic.

His leadership started impacting our department from the moment he was hired. Chief Scott helped shape our operations and training through committee leadership and further molded our department as Local 742’s President and ultimately our Fire Chief.

Brian Scott’s fingerprints are found throughout EFD and the City of Evanston. By working tirelessly as Local 742’s President during the 2010 layoffs, he played an instrumental role in regaining the best services possible for the citizens of Evanston. As the Fire Chief, Brian’s leadership has earned the department an ISO class 1 rating, EFD has implemented an apprenticeship program for future firefighters, and started a community based paramedicine program called (ECHO). Today, the members of the Evanston Fire Department are able to serve the people of Evanston to the best of our abilities because of his vision and leadership.

While it is difficult to see you go, we'd like to thank Chief Scott for leaving EFD better than he found it.   

From the Chief's Desk

Working fire in the 1200 block of Judson

As we start 2021 I would, on behalf of the men and women of the Evanston Fire Department, like to express our sincere appreciation for your support during a very busy 2020. The department eclipsed over 9,000 calls for service last year that covered everything from structure fires and emergency medical requests to complex specialized rescues, all the while facing the extra challenges, precautions and stressors of the global pandemic. As we enter 2021, your fire department will remain steadfastly committed to performing each and every day with the highest levels of dedication and professionalism while being engaged in every part of our great community.

Please remember that winter is our busiest time of the year for structure fires with December, January and February as the peak months for heating fires. Be sure to take the proper precautions to maintain and operate space heathers, fire places and home heating equipment correctly to avoid any fire or carbon monoxide hazards. If you would like a FREE home safety inspection for your home heating equipment or any life safety concern, please contact our Fire Prevention Bureau through 311 (847-448-4311)

Enjoy this month’s Roll Call.  If I can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to contact me at 847-866 5924 or bscott@cityofevanston.org

Stay Safe!

Brian R. Scott

Fire Chief

By the numbers

EMS Calls Evanston Fire Department responded to  489 Incidents In the month of December, 2020

Fire Calls Evanston Fire Department responded to  240 Incidents In the month of December, 2020

Total EMS for 2020: 5,912

Total Fire for 2020: 3,179

Total calls for 2020: 9,091

EFD average response time for December, 2020: 3 minutes and 33 seconds from dispatch to emergency NFPA Average: 4 minutes or less

Emergency Management

COVID-19 Trends and How to Stay Safe

Illinois has approached 950,000 COVID-19 cases for 2020. Provided below are graphics depicting the total number of cases in Illinois last year.

Training

It’s the time of year again in northern Illinois when waterways may start freezing. Surface ice can be a great recreational activity for ice fishing, snowmobiling, and provide much needed outdoor fun. However, ice can be extremely dangerous as well. The included image from Minnesota’s DNR sums it up very well: “Ice is Never 100% Safe!” Although ice may look thick and stable, factors such as shoreline, snow cover, plant growth, and current may provide unstable and unpredictable ice. For those of us that love winter with ice and snow activities, Illinois DNR recommends staying off ice that is less than 4 inches thick of clear ice and wearing a floatation device.

Evanston Fire Department personnel are refreshing their ice rescue knowledge, skills, and abilities over the next few weeks in the event of an ice emergency. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, our ability to train in groups is limited; however, EFD firefighters are finding ways to manage this situation the best they can in order to prepare. Do your part to stay safe by practice extreme ice safety this winter!

For further information, visit:

Illinois DNR Ice Fishing Safety

Minnesota DNR Ice Safety

Fire Prevention Bureau

Heating Fire Safety

Follow these heating tips to help maintain a fire-safe home this winter.

Space Heater

• Keep anything that can burn, such as bedding, clothing and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater.

• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.

• Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.

Fireplace

• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out.

• Do not burn paper in your fireplace.
• Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your home.

Wood Stove

• Make sure your wood stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.
• Do not burn paper in your wood stove.
• Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.

Furnace

• Have your furnace inspected each year.
• Keep anything that can burn away from the furnace.

Kerosene Heater

• Only use kerosene heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Refuel your cooled heater

For more information and free resources, visit

usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach.