Abstract: The invention discloses an illumination system having a first proximate detector with a first zone detector and a first transmitter. The first zone detector can detect the passing of a human body and the transmitter can send a signal upon such detection. The invention may further include a second zone detector and a second transmitter having similar capacities. In addition, the invention may also have a first staircase illuminator and a second staircase illuminator. Detection of a person passing near a zone detector may cause a staircase illuminator to illuminate a staircase area. The process of transmitting, receiving and illuminating may continue for as long as any of the illuminators within the illumination system that has not yet been illuminated.