By Paul Darley

The 16th Annual Illinois Fire Service Home Day was held Thursday, June 3rd at the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Readiness Center in Wheeling, IL.

Nearly 150 attendees turned out for the event including fire chiefs from roughly 50 different Illinois departments, Congressional staffers from 11 offices and staffers from Senator Durbin’s and Senator Duckworth’s offices as well as 45 representatives from 14 FAMA and FEMSA member companies.

The event was a huge success in advancing issues important to the fire service and all attendees were delighted to be in a mask-free post-pandemic environment.

The following FAMA and FEMSA member companies: Air One Equipment, C.E. Niehoff, Darley, Dinges Fire Company, HAAS Alert, Hendrickson, Municipal Emergency Services, Paratech, RealWheels, and Telma Retarder.

Speakers included Chief Rich Mikel, 2nd Vice President of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Vikki Hanson, FEMA Fire Program Specialist, Glenn Ericksen, CEO of MABAS, and James (JP) Moore from the Illinois Fire Service Institute.

Paul Darley, Co-Chairman of the event, served as the emcee. He addressed the congressional staffers, saying, “This day is about you, and we ask that you carry home the following messages: Thank you for your reauthorization of the AFG & SAFER programs. We need your continued support and ask that Congress continue increase. Last, please join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.”

Video messages were featured from Congressman Krishnamoorthi, who recently joined the Congressional Fire Caucus, and Congressman Quigley.

After 90 minutes of formal presentations, staffers had the opportunity to operate rescue tools and other firefighting equipment, as well as tour the 25,000 sq. ft facility that houses specialized fire and rescue equipment.

Plans already are underway for next year’s 17th Annual Illinois Fire Service Home Day on Thursday, June 2, 2022!