The State’s new Fire Marshal Michelle Pancow attended the South Central Illinois Fire Chief Association meeting Wednesday night at the Salem Fire Protection District. Topics included the rise in fire deaths across the state, available grant opportunities for fire departments to make improvements, and compatibility issues between fire department computer programs.
After the meeting, Pancow also discussed the impact from cancer causing materials encountered by fire fighters.
“You help the Illinois Fire Service Institute with their research regarding cancer and firefighters,” Pancow said. “In addition to that, with the small equipment grant, if there is equipment that a department is looking for, that’s an avenue currently for that. There isn’t specific funding at this time, but obviously we’re always looking and having conversation about fire safety, long-term effects on firefighters.”
Chief of Operations Jeff Pride of Salem says there were at least 133 fire fatalities in 2025, a new record. But he fears that number will be blown out of the water, with 60 deaths so far this year.
“We’ve seen a drastic increase over the last five-year period,” Pride said. “Fire-related fatalities have been on the rise. The arson division is working towards tracking that information, trying to come up with reasons why the fatalities are increasing, coming up with common denominators and what we can do to try to decrease that number, whether it’s through public education, community services, whatever those options are to try to reduce the number of fatalities that are occurring.”
Pride says the biggest increases in fire deaths are being seen in the elderly and those living in multifamily dwellings with few escape routes.
Pancow says there are now 18 fire/arson investigators in their office, with two more to be added.
Salem Assistant Fire Chief Bill Fulton told the departments in attendance that this meeting was the start of efforts to revitalize the organization.
