Fire Prevention Week Luncheon
October 8, 2026
Join hundreds of members from the fire service and beyond at Camp I Am Me’s Fire Prevention Week Luncheon, presented by the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board! This 85th annual even includes gourmet lunch, networking opportunities, Prevention Matters Grant presentations, and a keynote address. The program also highlights and honors those across Illinois who have gone above and beyond in their fire safety and burn prevention efforts, as each year Camp I Am Me receives nominations and presents awards in various categories.
The Fire Prevention Week Luncheon will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026 from 10:00am-1:30pm. The event will be held at Bobak’s Signature Events, located at 6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge, Illinois.
Presentation
Beyond the Call: Why Fire Safety Public Education Must Be a Priority
Fire departments are called to respond after emergencies happen, but the greatest impact often comes from preventing them in the first place. The Luncheon’s presentation will include an engaging panel of chiefs and fire & life safety educators to discuss why educating the public is essential to community risk reduction and why dedicated personnel are critical to delivering life-saving messages year-round. Attendees will hear real-world success stories, practical strategies for building or expanding outreach programs, and ways leadership can support prevention efforts of any size department.
Moderator: Matt Perez – Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal Illinois CRR Coordinator, retired Illinois State Fire Marshal. 36 years in the fire service
Panelist: Ron Echtenacher – Countryside Fire Protection District Deputy Chief of Community Risk Reduction (fulltime department, population served 36,500). 28 years in the fire service.
Panelist: Shawn Sollberger – Peoria Fire Department Chief (fulltime department, population served 113,000). 28 years in the fire service.
Panelist: Marisa Tomich – New Lenox Fire Protection District Fire and Life Safety Educator (fulltime department, population served 55,000). 13 years in the fire service.
The Fire Prevention Week Luncheon is presented by:
Additional sponsors include:
