Latest news with #JamesRivera
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tips to stay vigilant during arson awareness week
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — The Illinois State Fire Marshal is reminding residents across the state about how to reduce the risk of Arson. May 4 to 10 is the 30th annual Arson Awareness Week, and this year's theme is 'Preventing Arson in the Wildfire Environment – A Community Approach.' According to the United States Fire Administration, arsons harm communities by decreasing property values and increasing insurance premiums. An average of 52,260 fires were intentionally set annually from 2014 to 2018, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Arsons cause an estimated 400 civilian deaths, 950 civilian injuries and about $815 million in property damages.] '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 that intentionally set fires can have on not only communities but families,' said Illinois State Fire Marshal James 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.' Some tips to help reduce the risk of arson include: 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. Anyone who would like to anonymously provide information about a suspicious fire can call the statewide Arson Hotline at (800) 252-2947. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Be Alarmed!' program bringing awareness to testing smoke, CO alarms in IL
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is reminding state residents to keep up with their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors through a program. Through the 'Be Alarmed!' program, the OSFM is urging Illinois residents to test, inspect and replace broken or expired smoke and CO alarms in their homes. As Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. on March 9, the OSFM wants people to install new 10-year sealed battery alarms while they change their clocks. Current Illinois state flag wins overwhelmingly in redesign contest The time change serves as a bi-annual reminder for all Illinois residents to test all smoke and CO alarms in their houses. When people find alarms that aren't working, they should replace them immediately. Reviewing fire escape plans with family and holding a drill to practice them can be essential to safety as well. 'Early warnings from smoke alarms are crucial, as on average, a person has less than three minutes to escape a home fire today,' Illinois State Fire Marshal James Rivera said. 'Taking just a few minutes each month to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired alarms is simple, but working smoke alarms save lives. It's also important to review and practice your fire escape plan, identify two ways out of every room, and designate a meeting place outside the home.' Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reporting that nearly three out of every five home fire deaths across the country resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke detectors. Over one-third (38%) of all home fire deaths came from fires where no smoke alarms were present. According to NFPA, when working smoke alarms are present in homes, the risk of dying in a house fire is cut by 60%. DOGE announces closures of 6 Central IL buildings According to statistics from the 'Be Alarmed!' program, 74% of smoke alarms were not working in homes before residents received their new 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms (14,034 of 19,036 pre-existing smoke detectors). 'We are excited to report our first direct save from our Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program in Greenville on February 16,' said Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of 'Camp I Am Me' by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. 'This success highlights the hard work and dedication of the 320 departments across 61 Illinois counties, which continue to make a significant impact on fire safety. I encourage other departments to join us in our efforts to help save lives throughout the state.' In 2024, the program brought new smoke alarms to over 2,800 homes and 5,252 residents across the state. These people were also educated about the importance of having a fire safety plan. More than 40,000 smoke alarms, worth almost $1 million, have been distributed to Illinois fire departments since 2018 when the Be Alarmed! program started. This fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program is administered between Camp I Am Me and the OSFM. Be Alarmed! is aimed at creating fire-safe communities. For more information on the program, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
