Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

Every year during the first full week of August, communities across the nation observe Stop On Red Week — this year from August 3 to August 9 — to raise awareness about the critical importance of obeying red traffic lights and preventing the tragedies caused by red light running.

While following basic traffic rules may seem simple, the statistics tell a sobering story. According to global road safety data, at least 50 million people are injured or disabled annually due to road traffic crashes. Many of these incidents are the direct result of drivers ignoring traffic signals.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is excited to announce the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awards totaling $5 million to 16 grantees across the state. This funding will allow fire departments or fire protection districts to repair, upgrade, or construct new fire stations. 

The 5th Annual State of Illinois Community Risk Reduction Conference is being held in Joliet on September 16th.

Registration is now OPEN! A great lineup of speakers is set and will will feature experts from NFPA, Vision 20/20, IFSI, Tesla, 100 Club of Illinois and more. Come learn about how your department, no matter the size, can start a community risk reduction program. 

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)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), reports around 64% of U.S. households own at least one outdoor BBQ, grill or smoker. Gas grills contribute to a higher number of fires than charcoal grills. The NFPA reports 61% of households own a gas grill. On average, 10,200 home fires are started by a grill each year. In 2017-2021, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 11,421 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbecues per year, including an average of 5,763 structure fires and 5,659 outside or unclassified fires. During the same time, an average of 22,155 patients per year went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills. Nearly half (10,342 or 47%) of the injuries were thermal burns, including both burns from fire and from contact with hot objects.

Pools are a popular summer destination for people to beat the heat, but they can pose some hidden dangers. The number of residential pools has increased over recent years raising the risk for accidental drownings meaning homeowners and parents need be extra vigilant to protect kids who have access to the water.