Will County Gazette

Patrick Sheehan, a state representative of Illinois, said that a new law will help track firefighter causes of death more accurately to enhance prevention and support. The statement was made on X.

"I was proud to sponsor SB1446 to ensure Illinois tracks Firefighter deaths more accurately," said T Sheehan, State Representative from Illinois. "This new bill, which was recently signed into law, gives us the data we need to improve safety, support families, and honor the sacrifice of service. Firefighters face more than the fire. With better tracking, we can push for better prevention, better care, and stronger protections for those who step up when we need them most."

Recent policy in Illinois has prioritized firefighter health and safety, with key legislation passed between 2024 and 2025. According to the Illinois Senate Democrats, a 2025 law now requires the State Fire Marshal to track all firefighter deaths, including those by suicide and cancer, starting in 2026. This follows earlier reforms in 2024 to training standards and post-retirement health coverage under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration’s 2023 state profile, Illinois experienced 2.9 fire-related deaths and 10.1 injuries per 1,000 fires, both above national averages. Residential structure fires had even higher casualty rates, with 6.1 deaths and 27.4 injuries per 1,000 fires. These figures suggest elevated risks faced by Illinois firefighters compared to peers nationwide.

As reported by the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. firefighter deaths dropped from 90 in 2023 to 62 in 2024—a decline of 31%. Over the past decade, programs like NIOSH’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and the now-defunct National Firefighter Registry for Cancer aimed to reduce long-term risks. These trends reflect growing emphasis on occupational safety and prevention.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Sheehan was sworn in as State Representative for the 37th District in January 2025 after being appointed in April 2024. He previously served in law enforcement with the Plainfield Police Department and held local government roles in Lockport. His committee work includes public safety and local government.