Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds residents to test, inspect and replace any broken or expired smoke and CO alarms while they change their clocks this upcoming weekend as daylight saving time comes to an end at 2 AM Sunday, November 1. 

Halloween is a fun, spooky and exciting time for kids and adults as they scour for that perfect costume and people add spooky decorations to their homes. If you don’t keep fire safety in mind, Halloween and fall decoration can add an increased fire danger to your home that could create a real scary situation.  

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the FY2027 Small Equipment Grant Program.  This year, applicants will be eligible for up to $50,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

Application Deadline is November 30, 2026! 

The OSFM has been tasked with surveying all Illinois fire departments to determine the prevalence and use of Class B firefighting foam that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Only personnel authorized by their department should complete this survey.

Please complete this survey by November 15, 2026.

Marta Keane from the Battery Network talks about how fire departments can get involved in battery recycling in their communities. 

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.