Three fire departments honored:

Three Northwest suburban fire departments were recently presented with a Life Safety Achievement Award for fire prevention accomplishments in 2013 by the National Association of State Fire Marshals Fire Research and Education Foundation in partnership with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. Countryside Fire Protection District in Vernon Hills, Gurnee Fire Rescue and Wheeling Fire Department were among 142 fire departments in 33 states to receive the award this year for fire prevention accomplishments in 2013. For more than 20 years, this award has recognized fire departments for actively promoting fire prevention in the pursuit of saving lives. To qualify, fire departments recorded zero fire deaths in residential structures or a 10 percent reduction of fire deaths from the prior year. Recipients also documented active and effective fire prevention programs and a commitment to reducing the number of house fires in the community.