Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment, with four times the average number occurring. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on Thanksgiving Day alone, an estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2021, reflecting a 297 percent increase over the daily average. Cooking causes half (53%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (38%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (18%). Ranges and cook-tops account for almost three out of every five home fires reported involving cooking, with ovens accounting for 13% of those fires.

​Frying your Thanksgiving Turkey has become more popular over the years. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. Here are some tips to keep in mind before dropping your bird into the bubbling oil.

Illinoisans will be turning up their thermostats to stay warm during the winter season, which brings an increased risk for home fires and carbon monoxide incidents. Unlike smoke, carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas only detectable by special devices and CO alarms. The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) encourages residents to have their furnaces checked, change furnace filters, and make sure carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors are functioning properly.

The Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Grant program provides grants up to $350,000 for the construction or rehabilitation of fire stations.

Application coming December 2024

Rules for the program are now finalized and you can view them by clicking here. 

In order to be eligible to receive these grants you MUST have an active registration with SAM.gov and also be registered with the state’s Grantee Portal. Failure to achieve these registrations will make you ineligible to receive a grant so get started as soon as possible as SAM.gov registration can take time.