Fire Department

The Village of Gurnee’s Fire Department works hard to prevent fires but, when they do occur, there is an important resource in your neighborhood that your firefighters rely on - fire hydrants.  The Adopt-A-Hydrant program is a community activity that enables residents and businesses to take ownership of a fire hydrant within their neighborhood.  Once residents adopt a hydrant, they will keep it free of trash, weeds, and other debris throughout the year.  Even more critically, they will keep the hydrant free of snow in the winter.  They can also report any damage or leaks to the Public Works Department.

It is the residents' and businesses year-round efforts that help the Gurnee Fire Department in the event of a fire and prevent delays when firefighters need to secure this invaluable water source to put out a fire.

To participate in the program, submit a request online or stop by Fire Station One at 4580 Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee to register and receive an official adoption certificate. 

This is a reminder that in Illinois, all fireworks are illegal unless authorized by local jurisdiction permits for supervised public displays. The term fireworks does not include sparklers, smoke devices, snake and glow worm pellets, trick noisemaker, and most forms of toy cap guns using plastic or paper caps. Even these seemingly harmless devices can be dangerous, misuse of them by children can create dangerous situations.

Sparklers, for example, reach temperatures of up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and remain hot enough to cause serious burns even after they are extinguished. Fireworks are also especially dangerous for children because they entice children to play with matches, something they should never do.

The burns from fireworks can be intense, and they can scar for life. Fireworks can cause injuries other than burns by exploding and affecting the hands, body or eyes.

• One of every three fireworks injuries is to the eyes.
• One of every four fireworks eye injuries means some kind of permanent blindness.

PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU "JUST FOOL AROUND" WITH FIREWORKS.

For the best possible fireworks safety, leave these dangerous devices to professionals. Attend only licensed public fireworks displays. For more safety tips, please visit the Nation Council on Fireworks Safety website.

Holidays provide family and friends with various reasons and ways to celebrate throughout the year.  While each holiday provides joy and celebration with fireworks, candles, lights, extra cooking, etc. it is also important to make sure the proper safety precautions are being followed. Below is some helpful information to to be used as a guide throughout the various holiday seasons.

Driving During Holiday Seasons
Certain holidays tend to be the busiest seasons for traveling especially by car. Here are a few safety tips from the National Safety Council:

• Use a designated driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol, over –the-counter or illegal drugs all cause impairments.
• Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter the driving distance.
• Put the cell phone away. Distractions happen all of the time; however, cell phones are the main culprit.
• Properly maintain the vehicle and keep an emergency kit with you.
• Be prepared for heavy traffic and weather conditions.

When putting up any sort of holiday decorations, it is important to take several safety precautions. These quick checks can be the difference between an enjoyable season and one that ends up in flames. According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. Fire Departments responded to an annual average of 860 home structure fires that began with holiday decorations and an additional 210 home structure fires that began with Christmas trees. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a statistic:

• Keep decorations or any other flammable items at least 3 ft away from an open flam and heat source
• Inspect all decorations to ensure they do not have any frayed or pinched wires and discard any that do.
• Ensure multiple extension cords are never strung together or run under rugs.
• Never leave cooking equipment unattended.
• Never leave a space heater unattended. Always turn it off when leaving a room.
• Water Christmas Trees daily and discard trees when they are dry and begin to drop needles.

Here are a few more resources for holiday safety tips:

• Holiday Safety Tips for your pets by the ASPCA.
• Summer Holiday Safety Tips by the IL Poison Center.
• Turkey Frying Safety Tips by PBS.
• Winter Holiday Safety by the National Fire Protection Association

For more than 20 years, the Gurnee Fire Department has participated in the (local/national) "Keep the Wreath Red" program during the holiday season. As you drive past the fire stations during this time, please take note of the large wreath that will be prominently displayed in front of the buildings.

This wreath will be illuminated with red lights. When a fire is determined to be caused by or related to Christmas decorations, one of the bulbs will be changed to white. The program is designed to remind the public of fire safety during the Christmas season.

Safety tips to remember this holiday season:

• If you want a natural tree, select only a fresh tree (be sure the needles do not readily fall off).
• Avoid overloading circuits or extension cords. Use only manufacturers' maximum number of light strings.
• Keep natural tree away from any heat source that will cause drying.
• Never use lighted candles on or near a tree. Keep candles away from Christmas wrappings.
• Turn off lights when adults are away. A short circuit could start a fire.
• Never leave lighted candles unattended.

The Gurnee Fire Department offers a Knox Box program to aid the residents of Gurnee and the Warren-Waukegan Fire Protection District. The program allows the Fire Department quick access to the home if the homeowner is unable to answer the door. A Knox Box is placed on the home and secured with a key to the home inside.

The Knox Box system is used for residents with medical or physical disabilities that would make it difficult to unsecure the home. These boxes are donated to the homeowner for the duration of time that the fire department deems necessary. In the event that a fire department finds that you do not qualify for a donated Knox Box, and you feel like having on is in your best interest, you may purchase a Knox Box through the Fire Department.

Please fill out the application and acknowledgement of the use of Knox Box requirements, and member of the Gurnee Fire Department will contact you. If you have any questions, or would like to donate to the Knox Box program, please contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 847-599-6783.

Recreational fires are the only non-permitted outdoor fires allowed by code within the Village of Gurnee and Warren-Waukegan Fire Protection District.  The following guidelines shall be followed.   Please contact the Fire Department at 847-599-6600 should you have questions or require clarification.

• Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material (includes wood fencing).  Conditions which cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to a fire being kindled.

• Exception: Fires in approved containers (ie: portable fire places) shall not be conducted within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material (includes wood fencing), or placed on wood decks.

• Recreational fire pits shall be no larger than 3 feet in diameter and no larger than 2 feet in height.

• Only dry, seasoned firewood shall be permitted to be burned.  Green or wet firewood often creates objectionable smoke.  Landscape waste, construction waste, etc. shall not be permitted to be burned.

• Recreational fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.

• A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

• Recreational fires are not permitted on Village of Gurnee property or right of ways.

• Recreational fires that will be offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous shall be prohibited.  When wind speed or direction carries smoke or embers towards complainant, the fire shall be required to be extinguished.

• Permits are required for recognized wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, or a bonfire.  Applications for such permits may be obtained from the Fire Marshal at Gurnee Fire Station 2.

• Dial 911 to report a burning complaint.

The commanding fire officer at the scene is authorized to order the extinguishment of a fire which creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation, or is in violation of the adopted codes.  If the situation warrants, contact the Gurnee Police Dept. or the Lake County Sheriff’s Dept. to assist, based on the authority having jurisdiction.