A new law taking effect at the start of the new year aims to improve transparency when it comes to firefighter deaths, both in the line of duty and for other reasons. Starting Jan. 1, a law spearheaded by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) will require the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to begin tracking death records of all firefighters in Illinois including those who died by suicide and from fire service-related cancers.
This, Castro said, will improve firefighter safety, foster transparency for loved ones, and ultimately help prevent further deaths and injuries.
โWe owe nothing less than our full gratitude and appreciation to those who put their lives on the line for our communities,โ Castro said in a news release. โThe dangers that they face go beyond fighting physical fires that are in front of them as we are continuing to learn firefighters suffer silently from illnesses related to their job.โ
