News & Information

Keep the Wreath Red: Help us Prevent Holiday Fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), holiday decorations (excluding trees) cause about 790 home fires annually in the United States, resulting in 1 civilian fire death, 26 civilian injuries, and $13 million in direct property damages. As you decorate in the coming weeks, keep fire prevention uppermost in your mind.

With the arrival of Thanksgiving and the season for family feasts, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is advising Illinoisans to take precautions to protect everyone from foodborne illnesses, as well as those unwelcome guests, namely seasonal viruses. Hosts can protect their guests by following basic food safety steps, including keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and properly thawing frozen turkeys before roasting them.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to ensure that your holiday is filled with flavor and safety, especially if you plan to deep-fry your turkey. Follow these guidelines for a secure and scrumptious Thanksgiving:

Celebrate Child Safety Protection Month this November. These resources empower parents and caregivers with essential knowledge on keeping kids safe around stoves, ensuring bath time safety, and eff...

Illinois Emergency Management provides tips for residents during winter weather preparedness week, As many residents in the State have already experienced an early snowfall this year, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security offers readiness tips during winter weather preparedness week, as part of winter weather preparedness month this November.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds residents to test, inspect and replace any broken or expired smoke and CO alarms while they change their clocks this upcoming weekend as daylight saving time comes to an end. Smoke alarms only have a life span of 10 years before they need to be replaced. If your alarm was manufactured before October of 2013, it’s time to replace that alarm with a 10-year sealed battery device.

Please welcome Firefighter Paramedic Reilly Curran to the Westchester Fire Department. Reilly is twenty four years old and a graduate from the Loyola Paramedic Program. He has previously worked as a single role paramedic in Bellwood and in the south suburbs. Reilly will soon be attending the NIPSTA Fire Academy for the next nine weeks. Welcome to the Westchester!

Firefighter Wandtke attended Command and Control of Incident Operations at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Please welcome Firefighter Paramedic Carlos Ward Jr to the Westchester Fire Department. Carlos is twenty six years old, a graduate from the Romeoville Fire Academy and Loyola Paramedic Program. He has previously worked for the Hanover Park Fire Department with four years of fire service experience. Welcome to the Westchester!

Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisherRemember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone number.Yell "Fire!" several times and go outside right away. ...If...