Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

Each year, fireworks cause thousands of injuries and fires across the country, with children and teens among those most often hurt. Illinois Community Risk Reduction encourages residents to celebrate safely by attending licensed public fireworks displays and leaving fireworks to trained professionals. A safe celebration starts with making smart choices and understanding the risks associated with consumer fireworks.

As hot and humid summer weather returns to Illinois, now is the time to prepare for extreme heat. Taking simple steps to stay cool, stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable family members and neighbors can help prevent heat-related illnesses. Visit the link below for Extreme Heat Planning Timeline for tips and resources to help you stay safe all summer long.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of the 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $6 million was awarded to 260 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

Stephen Hrustich from Vision 20/20 presented the newly completed State of Illinois Risk Assessment.

This groundbreaking assessment represents years of collaboration, research, data collection, and strategic planning aimed at identifying the greatest risks facing communities across Illinois. The completed plan marks a major milestone for Community Risk Reduction (CRR) efforts statewide and provides fire departments, emergency services agencies, and community leaders with valuable tools to better understand local risks, prioritize prevention efforts, and improve public safety outcome

The Office of the State Fire Marshal advises everyone to follow proper grilling safety steps to help ensure a safe summer filled with everyone’s favorite grilled foods.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), reports around 64% of U.S. households own at least one outdoor BBQ, grill or smoker. July was the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May and August. Gas grills were involved in an average of 9,287 home fires per year, including 4,682 structure fires and 4,605 outdoor fires annually.

The National Association of State Fire Marshals, in partnership with the OSFM and Illinois Community Risk Reduction, will be hosting a special class in Plainfield on July 7th.

This course will focus on Homelessness and Migrant Response Best Practices, providing valuable insight and tools for responders working in these complex situations.

OSFM’s Fire Prevention Division has compiled important information on lithium-ion batteries into a comprehensive fact sheet. The guide covers how the technology works, the dangers of thermal runaway, current challenges and trends, recent developments, and key firefighting considerations when responding to these incidents.

As lithium-ion batteries become more common in everyday devices, understanding the risks and safety measures is more important than ever. Learn more by clicking the link below. 

The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is currently being rolled out by region across the nation, and Illinois fire departments will be brought onboard beginning in December 2025. This page will help fire chiefs and other personnel prepare for the shift from NFIRS to NERIS.

This page provides information to help Illinois fire departments shift from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS)