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Q: Is the NLFPD part of the Village of New Lenox?
A: No, NLFPD is a separate taxing district similar to a library or school district. The Fire department board is separate from the Village board. The Fire District has a board of Five Trustees that oversee the Fire District. These are elected positons and serve 6 year terms.
Q: What are the boundaries of the NLFPD and what Villages are covered by the district?
A: The NLFPD covers an area of 36 square miles. It includes the Village of New Lenox and part of Village of Mokena and Homer Glen. We also serve most of the unincorporated parts of New Lenox Township.
Q: How many fire stations does NLFPD have?
A: Currently, the New Lenox Fire Protection District has four stations which are located at:
- Station 1: 261 E. Maple Street
- Station 2: 1205 N. Cedar Road
- Station 3: 930 N. Country Creek Drive
- Station 4: 19819 Schoolhouse Road
Every day, each station has four firefighters/paramedics on duty. Two are staffed on the engine and two are staffed on the ambulance. Each day there are a total of 16 firefighters and a Battalion Chief that are on shift.
Q: Why do I see firefighters shopping on duty?
A: Every day our firefighters put their own money into their grocery fund for the day. They are at the fire house for 24 hours at a time, so they need to purchase their own food for that time period. The firefighters will then go to a local store to get what they need for that day. They will bring their ambulance, engine or fire truck to the store with them so they can leave if they have an emergency call. By spending their own money on food in the district, the firefighters add approximately $60,000 into the local economy each year.
Q: Does the NLFPD buy firefighters groceries/food?
A: No. The firefighters will use their own money to buy the food they will need for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Q: What Fire Codes does the NLFPD use?
A: NFPA 101
International Fire Code 2018 with amendments
Q: What size fire extinguisher do I need in my business/home?
A; Business: 4A60BC – Can be purchased from area Fire Suppression companies.
Home – Residential size and kitchen extinguishers are available from local home improvement stores
Q: Why do so many fire vehicles show up on an ambulance call?
A: All of our apparatus are equipped with Advanced Life Support equipment and Paramedics capable of providing the same level of care as our ambulances. We will send our closest unit to the emergency. An engine or truck may respond with an ambulance in order to provide additional care or support during a medical emergency.
In 2015, the NLFPD implemented a new CPR protocol known as C.A.M.P (Cardiac Arrest Management Program) The CAMP program takes all the current elements of high quality CPR and advanced life skills, and adds to it additional manpower, and a fluid system of accountability for each person responding to the scene. This uniformity allows for the greatest implementation of high quality resuscitation efforts, and leads to a higher ratio of saved lives. Since the implementation of the CAMP program in early 2015, the NLFPD has seen an increase in lives saved. Prior to starting the program, the district's save rate for cardiac events where someone's heart stopped was 3%. In the last two years, this save rate has increased to 25%! The new program has been a great success and has accounted for many lives saved.
Q: Why do you need so many fire departments to respond to a New Lenox structure fire?
A: Normal structure fire takes up to 15 personnel, however depending on weather conditions and the size of the building more equipment and personnel may be needed. The NLFPD is part of the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Through this agreement, we can call in additional personnel and equipment needed to battle a fire and man our stations in case other calls come in at the same time we are on another call. We can also call in other area MABAS partners for numerous specialized equipment or teams (such those for hazardous materials, water rescue, high angle and below grade rescue and disasters.)
Q: What is the New Lenox Fire Foundation?
A: The New Lenox Fire Foundation is a non-profit organization that is composed of volunteers who strive to provide the New Lenox Fire District with the most elite and up to date equipment that is needed to benefit the community. All of the items purchased exceed the budget of the New Lenox Fire District, and have been purchased with money raised from the Foundation.
Q: Does the fire department ever conduct fundraisers or phone solicitation?
A: No, we will never solicit by phone, the New Lenox Fire Foundation has several fundraisers in the community throughout the year.
Q: Does the NLPFD send ambulance bills to residents of the District?
- NLFPD only bills the insurance companies for fire district residents, any additional fees not covered by the insurance company are waived. If you feel you have recived a bill in error please contact our District office at (815)463-4500.
Q: What is the call volume?
A: In nearly 30 years, the population of New Lenox has doubled from 16, 574 to 42,172 per the U.S. Census Bureau, and the amount of commercial and industrial buildings has grown exponentially as well, causing an increased demand on the fire district. In 1990, the NLFPD had 890 calls, in 2017 the NLFPD had over 4,250 calls; a 378% increase in workload.
- Number of calls per year:
- 2010 - 2,802
- 2011 - 2,924
- 2012 - 3,398
- 2013 - 3,395
- 2014 - 3,691
- 2015 - 3,676
- 2016 - 3,870
- 2017 - 4,201
- 2018 - 4,096
- 2019 - 4,119
- 2020 - 4,736
- 2021 - 5,094
- 2022 - 5,163
- 2023 - 5,185
- 2024 - 5,611
Q: How can I help the NLFPD?
- Pull to the right when you see lights and hear sirens
- Shovel 3 feet around your fire hydrant and up to your door
- Take CPR/AED/First Aid classes
- Test your smoke alarms and CO Detectors monthly, replace batteries 2 times per year
- Have a working fire extinguisher
- Call 9-1-1 if you see fire, smell smoke, someone is hurt, sick or in an accident
- Practice EDITH (Emergency Drills in the Home) and have a meeting place outside
- Know your location
- Keep items that can burn three feet away from any heat source, including stoves, space heaters, fire places, fire pits, grills, etc.
- Have a “Kid and Pet Free Zone” keep them at least three feet away from any heat source or hot surface.
- Know two ways out of each room in case of fire
- Never go back inside a burning building
- Never use a frayed cord
- Have chimneys and heating equipment inspected by a professional annually
- Keep your dryer vent clean
- Keep lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up and out of the reach of children
- Do not throw cigarette butts or matches into dry leaves, grass, or other flammable material
- Soak cigarette butts and matches in water before tossing into a trash can
- Never Smoke where medical oxygen is used
- Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn
- Closely supervise outdoor fires at all times. Do not leave them unattended until it is completely out.
- Never throw water on a grease fire
- Only use an extinguisher on a small fire, call 9-1-1 for help
- Before trying to fight a fire, be sure that:
- You know how to use the fire extinguisher and it is the correct type.
- Everyone else has left the home and someone is calling the fire department.
- The fire is small, confined, and not spreading.
- You have a clear escape route.
- If the fire does not go out after using one extinguisher, back out of the room and get outside.
- When in doubt, call 9-1-1
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