May 30, 2024 (PEORIA, IL) Sterling Towers will soon be the home of 180 SmartBurner systems, the Peoria Fire Department and Peoria Housing Authority announced at a media event at the apartment building on Thursday.
The Peoria Fire Department began installing and testing the SmartBurners in every unit at 2601 W Reservoir Boulevard on Thursday and will be done with the project on Friday at no cost to the residents. The project derived from the Peoria Fire Department’s renewed efforts at Community Risk Reduction and draws on training from October 2023.
“While fire prevention is a major component of Community Risk Reduction (CRR), CRR encompasses any method that focuses on fostering a safer, healthier and more resilient community,” Peoria Fire Division Chief of Prevention Nathaniel Rice said.
SmartBurners have a built-in thermostat that prevents stovetops from reaching dangerous temperatures and reduces the opportunity for cooking fires. They have a maximum set temperature of 662 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the maximum of 1,650 degrees of normal electric coils. SmartBurners require little maintenance, use less energy, and are expected to last at least seven years.
Sterling Towers was selected for the program because the Peoria Fire Department determined it was the leading location of cooking fire calls in the city from 2018-2022. The project was funded from Capital Fund grants awarded to the Peoria Housing Authority.
"SmartBurners are worthwhile investments, as the Peoria Housing Authority seeks to improve resident safety at Sterling Towers,” Peoria Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer Armeca Crawford said. “We are both grateful and pleased to collaborate with Chief Rice on this Community Risk Reduction pilot.”