Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

State and local fire safety experts gathered at the Washington Fire Department on Wednesday, August 13, to raise awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms in their homes and to highlight a no-cost smoke alarm installation program in place for central Illinois residents.

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.