SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging state residents to review fire escape plans and safety practices amid the recent deadly home fires.

Since Feb. 14, there have been eight deadly fires, claiming the lives of 10 people across the state. So far in 2025, Illinois has had 16 fatal fires, resulting in 19 fire related deaths.

“During the winter months we see an increase in home fires caused by heating deceives or malfunctioning heating equipment,” Illinois State Fire Marshal James Rivera said. “This is why it is so important for people to test and inspect all smoke alarms monthly, review and practice their fire escape plans, and follow manufactures instructions on all home heating devices.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment is one of the leading causes of fire deaths in homes. Additionally, fire departments responded to an estimated average of 44,210 fires involving heating equipment per year from 2016-2020, accounting for 13% of all reported home fires during this time, and these fires resulted in 480 annual deaths.

Space heaters were the type of heating equipment responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, but nearly nine out of 10 deaths and four out of five of the injuries in home fires were caused by heating equipment. Approximately 50% of home heating fire deaths were caused by having heating equipment too close to things that can burn, including upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses and bedding.

Nearly half of all home heating fires happened during December, January and February. OSFM also provided the additional tips to stay safe when heating homes during the winter:

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional and change furnace filters consistently.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturers’ instructions.
• Keep interior and exterior air vents clear of obstructions or blockage.
• Keep anything that is flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment like furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves or portable space heaters.
• Purchase units with an automatic shutoff in case the unit tips over or you forget to shut it off.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before being placed into a metal container. Keep the container at a safe distance away from your home.
• Create a three-foot “kid-free-zone” around space heaters and open fires.
• Test CO and smoke alarms at least once a month and be familiar with all of the sounds they make.
• Never use a range or oven to heat your home.
• Remember to turn off space or portable heaters when leaving the room and when going to bed.
• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on each floor of your home and within 15 feet of every sleeping area.
• CO detectors have a limited life span, so make sure you check the manufacturer’s instructions for information on replacement.