IL Fire Marshal focuses on places of worship for Arson Awareness Week

Simmy Wood
·3 min read

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — May 5 through 11 marks Arson Awareness Week. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is warning against committing this serious crime, focusing this year on the theme of “Protecting Houses of Worship Against Arson.”

From 2020-2022, the United States Fire Administration said an average of 1,300 fires a year were reported at places of worship. These resulted in an annual average of $74.6 million in property loss. 33% of the fires were due to cooking, while 15% were a result of intentional actions.

Municipal fire departments across the country responded to more than 52,000 intentionally set structure fires from 2014-2018, the National Fire Protection Association reported. These fires led to a yearly average of 400 deaths, 950 injuries and $815 million in property damage. A heavy amount of these incidents involved homes, and more than half were ignited by a lighter or match.

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The OSFM’s Arson Division closed 44 cases last year that were related to arson with an arrest.

“I encourage all congregations in houses of worship to host a fire safety day. Groups can go over fire extinguisher use, candle use in services and candle alternatives, such as flameless candles,” State Fire Marshal James Rivera said. “Work with your local fire department to help design a fire escape plan and inspection of your building to ensure everyone will be safe in the event of an emergency. Host a cleanup day with tasks that include trimming trees and shrubbery, cleaning windows, and removing all possible items that can start a fire, like flammable liquids, things that can burn and trash. Contact your local police department to help identify any security weaknesses, which can help prevent break-ins or intentionally set fires.”

A statewide Arson Hotline is available to anonymously report suspicious fires. Simply call 800-252-2947.

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To help prevent arson, the OSFM provided some tips below:

  • 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.

The OSFM also offers the Youth Firesetter Intervention Program to help raise awareness and education about arson. To request this program, call 1-844-689-7882.

Visit the OSFM website at www.sfm.illinois.gov for more information on the program, arson prevention and the OSFM Arson Division.

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