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Arson Awareness Week: Stay
Vigilant and Report Suspicious Activity
[May 06, 2025]
Springfield, Ill- The Office of
the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is raising awareness about
the seriousness of the crime of arson during the 30th annual Arson
Awareness Week (May 4-10). This year’s theme is "Preventing Arson in
the Wildfire Environment – A Community Approach."
According to the United State Fire Administration (USFA), arson robs
communities of its valuable assets, lives and property. It destroys
more than buildings; arson can devastate a community resulting in
decline through increased insurance premiums, loss of business
revenue and a decrease in property values. The fire service can help
communities reduce the occurrence of arson and reduce its
devastating effect by making residents aware of measures to
safeguard their homes, buildings and property.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports municipal
fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated
annual average of 52,260 intentionally set structure fires in the
five-year period from 2014 to 2018. These fires caused an estimated
400 civilian deaths, 950 civilian injuries, and $815 million in
direct property damage each year. Three in five intentional
structure fires occurred in residential properties and most of these
fires involved homes. The incidence of these fires typically peaks
in March and April and again in July.
"Arson is not only a crime—it’s a
dangerous act that puts lives, property, and entire communities at
risk. We have seen the devastating effects intentionally set fires
can have on not only communities but families,” said Illinois State
Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “During Arson Awareness Week, I
encourage everyone to stay vigilant, report suspicious activity, and
help us prevent these devastating fires before they start. Fire
prevention is a shared responsibility, and together, we can help
make our communities safer and free from intentionally set fires."
OSFM’s Division of Arson currently is comprised of a Division
Director, two Area Commanders, and 16 Special Agents in the field.
The office staff also includes two Administrative Assistants. The
OSFM has seven Accelerant Detection Canines who work with Special
Agents across the state. In 2024, OSFM Special Agents responded to
1210 investigations and closed 59 cases related to arson with an
arrest. In 2024, there were 282 fires that were ruled as incendiary
or intentionally set. So far in 2025, OSFM Special Agents have
responded to 374 fires and have made 12 arrests.
A statewide Arson Hotline, (800) 252-2947, has been established so
that citizens may anonymously provide information about a suspicious
fire that has occurred or may occur.
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Arson fires are preventable
through education and awareness such as the Youth Fire Setting
Intervention Program. To request help from this program you can
call 1-844-689-7882 or visit the OSFM website at
www.sfm.illinois.gov.
These tips listed below can help reduce the risk of arson:
Keep leaves, firewood, overgrown brush, and shrubbery and other
combustibles away from buildings.
Keep doors and windows locked when a building is unoccupied.
Board up abandoned buildings. Do not use double cylinder
deadbolt locks without keeping a key nearby, bars without quick
release mechanisms, or other security provisions that could trap
a person in a building with a deadly fire.
Store all flammable liquids such as paints, gasoline, and mowers
in an approved storage location: locked cabinets, locked storage
units, and locked garages (prevent access to kids). Also, keep
away from heat sources such as furnaces and any type of heaters.
Report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings to the
local police and support Neighborhood Watch programs.
If you suspect a child is setting fires, notify the proper
authorities. Keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of
sight of young children.
If you know or suspect that an arson crime has been committed,
contact your local fire or police department.
For more information about arson prevention and the OSFM Arson
Division, visit
www.sfm.illinois.gov.
[Office of the Illinois State Fire
Marshal]
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