Organizational Structure

The Senior Policy Advisor is a member of the State Fire Marshal's executive staff and is responsible for researching and formulating policy for the Agency.

The Legal Division counsels and provides technical support to the OSFM and its operational divisions in a variety of ways. The Legal Division is responsible for assisting with regulatory enforcement, administrative hearing litigation, research, contract review, drafting and negotiating intergovernmental agreements, legislative drafting and review, administrative rulemaking drafting and review, labor issues, subpoena requests, FOIA requests, and policy review. The Legal Division also reports to the Office of the Governor’s General Counsel.

Legislative Affairs serves as a liaison between the General Assembly, Governor’s office, and the fire service organizations throughout the state. Legislative Affairs carefully reads and responds to bills introduced into the legislature that would directly affect OSFM, members of the Illinois Fire service, or the safety of the citizens in the state.

The Special Project Division coordinates personnel and human resources and serves as the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. In addition, the Division serves as the Agency Purchasing Officer and manages agency contracts. The Division is also responsible for the Small Firefighting & Ambulance Service Equipment Grant Program, the Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan Programs, and the Fire Station Revolving Loan Program as well as the Fire Safe Cigarette Program.

Fire Service Outreach serves as a point of contact for fire departments and various other fire service organizations. This area is responsible for the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), the Fire Equipment Exchange Program, the Illinois Fire Museum, Smoke Alarm Give-Away Program, Educational Information Distribution Program, and the Annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony. It also coordinates our office's presence at the Du Quoin State Fair and Illinois State Fair.

The mission of the Division of Arson Investigation is to provide fire investigation and law enforcement services to the fire service, and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The Division is responsible for investigating suspicious fires and explosions. Arson Investigators are sworn peace officers authorized to conduct fire and/or explosion origin and cause investigations, interview witnesses and/or suspects, conduct follow-up investigations, execute search warrants, collect evidence, make arrests and testify in court. The Arson Division also consists of 7 canine teams. These canines can detect minute traces of ignitable liquids often used in fires and can lead investigators to a specific location where the fire originated.

The Division of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety regulates the construction, installation, repair, use, and operation of boilers and pressure vessels as mandated by law. The division’s main responsibility is conducting in-service inspections of boilers and pressure vessels to prevent accidents caused by explosions or leakage.

The Division of Elevator Safety is responsible for the design, construction, operation, inspecting, testing, maintenance, and alteration of conveyances in the State in accordance with the Statutes and Rules. It is also responsible for the registration and certification of conveyances as well as the licensing of contractors, mechanics, apprentices, inspectors, inspection companies.

The Division of Fire Prevention conducts inspections of buildings for compliance with the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. While concentrating efforts on Public Schools, state licensed day care, health care, and correctional facilities. OSFM fire prevention inspectors also help ensure safety through the inspection of above ground flammable liquid tanks, LP Gas installations and hotel/motel occupancies. The division also inspects buildings, vendors, and exhibits at the state fairs in both Springfield and Du Quoin. The division is also responsible for enforcing the Fire Equipment Distributor and Employee Regulation Act, Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, Pyrotechnic Operator and Distributor Licensing Act and the Furniture Fire Safety Act. 　

The Division of Personnel Standards & Education (PS&E) is responsible for the standardization of education and training for firefighters in Illinois. It operates under the mandate of the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act, which provides for the promotion of standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

The Division of Petroleum & Chemical Safety (P&CS) is responsible for managing the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program in Illinois. Working from state laws and rules based on a foundation of federal UST regulations, P&CS regulates UST activity, from licensing the contractors who work on them, to issuing permits for everything from initial installation to final removal, and all repairs and upgrades in between. Division field staff inspect all active registered UST facilities on a 2 year cycle, in addition to inspecting permitted UST activities and responding to UST and dispensing emergencies. The mission of P&CS is to protect against threats to human safety and contamination of the environment.