FAQs
Q: Can we burn in the City of Pekin?
A: As per City of Pekin Ordinances it is illegal to burn leaves in the city. Per the Environmental Protection Agency it is illegal to burn construction material in the State of Illinois. Citizens can have small outside cooking or small camp fires if they comply with the following guidelines: the fire must be at minimum fifty (50) feet from any structure, the citizen must have a charged hose line present at all time, the fire must be kept small in size, the citizen must be present with the fire as long as the area is hot and even if all of the above are complied with, if someone calls and complains the Fire Department is still obligated to respond and extinguish the fire.
Q: What Fire Code is currently adopted for the City of Pekin
A: The City Council on 06/12/2018 Adopted the 2015 Version of the International Fire Code.
There are exemptions regarding sprinklers for 1 and 2 family dwellings.
Q: Can citizens have and utilize fireworks in the City of Pekin?
A: As long as the fireworks are less than .25mg content of fireworks, it can be in the possession of citizens of the City of Pekin.
Q: What services does the Pekin Fire Department offer?
A: Pekin Fire Fighters are trained in several professional areas. Pekin Fire Fighters must be trained as a minimum of the Fire Fighter II certification, all fire fighters hired after 2000 must be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate, all fire fighters are certified Hazardous Materials Operations level, and we have over half of the department trained to the level of HAZMAT Technician B-Level. Pekin Fire Fighters are extremely active in the MABAS 42 Technical Rescue Team. Fire Fighters also perform Company Inspections each day of the week, along with performing pre-plans of the commercial, industrial and educational facilities. These are a few of the several areas of service that the Pekin Fire Department offers to the community.
Q: Does the Fire Department recommend any specific smoke detector for best protection?
A: No, the department does not recommend any brand or type of detector over another. We do recommend, however, that you make sure the detector you are buying has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories, the "UL" logo will appear on packaging of detectors approved in this manner. In addition, there is now a push to utilize the 10 year smoke detector that has an internal 10 year non-replaceable battery. These can now be purchased at your local retailer, and saves from having to change out batteries.
Q: What rooms should my smoke detectors be placed in?
A: State law requires smoke detectors to be installed within each sleeping area, in addition to every room in the path of means of egress from the sleeping area to the door leading from the sleeping unit. In each story within the sleeping unit including basements. (Please check with the FIre Department for new construction as codes may differ with new construction).
Q: Smoke detectors are not recommended for use in kitchens, bathrooms, or garages where cooking fumes, steam or exhaust can set off the alarm when there is no fire.
What type of Carbonm Monoxide detector is recommended?
A: The Fire Department does not recommend a specific brand or type of detector. We do, however, recommend residents purchase detectors that are Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) tested.
Q: Where should a Carbon Monoxide detector be mounted in the home?
A: Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, and distributes evenly throughout a room. A CO alarm will be effective if it is on the ceiling, near the baseboard, or anywhere in between. The department recommends placing the detectors near sleeping areas so the alarm can be heard during night-time hours should carbon monoxide be present. We do not recommend mounting detectors extremely close to attached garages (exhaust from vehicles will activate the detectors) or adjacent to natural gas appliances.