National Award Earned By Downers Grove For Fire Safety Video

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Village of Downers Grove recently earned a national award for its "Learn Not to Burn" safety video. At the recent Savvy Awards, which honor outstanding achievements in government communication, the village won the Silver Circle Award for the video.

Made in partnership with the Downers Grove Fire Department (DGFD), the "Learn Not to Burn" video features tips from firefighters and demonstrations of how to safely evacuate a home during a fire. It also includes a personal story from a firefighter whose own home once caught fire.

The video drew inspiration from DGFD's ongoing "Learn Not to Burn" initiative, which brings fire safety education to local third graders.

Village video producer Chris Derylo said in a statement, "I applaud the different perspectives in this video – most notably the firefighter and his family who discovered a fire in their home."

State Rep. Anna Stava-Murray recently shared her congratulations for the Silver Circle Award win. She said in a statement, “Fire safety, particularly for kids, is one of the most important safety topics to learn—house fires are one of the most dangerous hazards families face, and also among the easiest to prevent with simple safety measures. Excellence in teaching fire safety to kids is commendable and promises to save lives and prevent tragedies.”