Illinois Fire Inspectors Association Executive Director Emeritus Earns Fire & Life Safety Award

George Michehl, Fire Marshal of the Buffalo Grove, Ill., Fire Department and Executive Director Emeritus of the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association has been named recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award sponsored by the International Code Council and the Fire & Life Safety Section (FLSS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The award honors those who have dedicated themselves to saving lives and property through the development of codes, fire-prevention practices and leadership techniques. The award is presented annually at Fire-Rescue International, scheduled this year for Aug. 23-27 in Atlanta, and the award will be presented from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, in Room B214 in the Georgia World Congress Center.

“George Michehl—through his service on the International Fire Code Council, which is now the Fire Service Membership Council—demonstrated his dedication to the development of fire prevention and building codes that ensure public and firefighter safety,” Code Council Chief Executive Officer Richard P. Weiland said. “He also is to be commended for his efforts that resulted in the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of fire-safe cigarettes legislation and the Greek Housing Fire Sprinkler Retrofit bill.”

Michehl also successfully advocated for regulations in Illinois to require residential fire sprinklers resulting in almost 70 ordinances. He currently is lobbying to ban novelty lighters. In 88 Illinois communities his efforts are credited for zero square foot thresholds for commercial and multi-family fire sprinkler protection, more than any other state, according to Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Executive Director Thomas Lia, who nominated Michehl.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members are the world’s leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe, sustainable and affordable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.