Illinois Fire Inspectors Association - Weekly Blast

IFIA Board Message

With the passing of Rich Ray, of Cybor Fire Protection Co., the IFIA has renamed our scholarship program to the Richard M. Ray Scholarship Fund. As he was a big advocate in training fire inspectors, this will keep his name alive with everyone who takes advantage of our scholarships to our OSFM classes. click here for more...


We want to congratulate Huntley FPD Fire Marshal Joseph Buschbacher on his recent national certification by the Center for Public Safety Excellence on receiving the credentials of Fire Marshal.


We would also like to congratulate the Fire Prevention Division of the Downers Grove Fire Department for their recent fire prevention accreditation by the International Accreditation Service, part of the International Code Council.



Sponsorship

To assist the IFIA in its mission, bronze, silver and gold sponsorships are available. Sponsorships are good for a calendar year. click here...

 

Thank you to our sponsors - Gold level 

Camp I Am Me

Fire Safety CADS, LLC
HUSSO Restoration

Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board



Upcoming Trainings & Events!

Seminars

February 23rd Seminar - Laying the Groundwork: Fundamentals for Site Plan Review

Independent Virtual Mini Seminar - 2025 Did You Know is Available: Chat EOD, fire Sprinkler Recalls, UL 1487, Cooking Oil Tank Sustes, CRR, IL Accessibility and Fire Alarms, Smoke and Fire Dampers, BESS Recent Technology


Classes

Fire Inspector II - April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11 Addison IL

Fire Inspector II - September 3 - Oct 1 Romeoville IL

Fire Life Safety Educator - July 27 - 31 Romeoville IL

 


Other Classes

Free ERCES Training -  Evanston Fire Prevention Bureau on February 3 includes free lunch.


The SFPE is offering a FREE class on Digital Buildings and Fire Service Operations. It will be on February 17th at 9 am central time. Full details and registration can be found at https://www.pathlms.com/sfpe/courses/120199#


For those in the west central part of the State, NFSA is offering three classes in the ST Louis, MO area. The classes are The Mega Warehouse Seminar, The Lithium-Ion Energy Storage Seminar, and the Fire Protection Systems Boot Camp. Details can be found in the attached links.


The 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) Is Here - Are You Ready? Free Educational Seminar This full-day seminar, in Alsip on February 27th, provides clear, practical guidance on what changed in the 2026 NEC, why it changed, and how it affects real-world electrical work, including inspections, plan review, and installations. For more information and to register, see the link above.

 

IFIA Fire Life Safety Conference

Register now for the 2026 Annual Fire and Life Safety Conference. A full REVISED program, (due to a need by a speaker, the presentation days of two speakers have been switched) with class descriptions, speaker bios, etc. is available on our website.

For companies that would like to support education of fire inspectors and public educators, your support is welcomed and appreciated. Various sponsorship and booth opportunities are available on the website, under the conference tab.


March 25 – 27, 2026 at the Par A Dice Hotel in East Peoria. There will also be a “pre-conference” the afternoon of March 24th.


If you want to reserve rooms now, call 309-699-7711 and follow the prompts to reservations. Reference code FIRC26C OR go to https://paradice.boydgaming.com/groups-and-weddings/group-reservation, scroll down and enter code FIRC26C. Guests will need to adjust their check in and check out dates. Guest should be able to click on date even if it says NO availability.

Conference Program

Resources

The IFIA has added additional documents to a Resources” link that you might find useful. In it are several documents that may help you in your job that were supplied by locals fire departments. Click here...


Scholarship

Scholarships are available for upcoming Fire Inspector and Fire and Life Safety Educator classes click for more...


Job Opportunities

Links to current employment opportunities from local area Fire Prevention Bureaus. Click here...

  

Updates

NFPA January Update

IFMA Winter Quarterly

 

IFIA Membership

Our organization strives to maintain high quality training programs to insure continued professionalism of our members. Click here...