November 14, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal: Columbus, Ohio – As the temperatures fall, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) urges Ohioans who use home oxygen therapy systems to take advantage of a life-saving piece of equipment, especially in the event the oxygen tubing ignites by an open flame source. When installed on oxygen tubing, thermal fuses will stop the flow of oxygen once a fire is detected, quickly stopping further spread. Smoking while on oxygen is extremely dangerous since, once oxygen tubing catches fire, that fire can travel quickly down the tubing and ignite everything in its path, including a person’s clothing, furniture, and carpet. 

November 8, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Fire Marshal: Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s (SFM's) Ohio Fire Academy celebrated its most recent graduating class of firefighter students during a ceremony today at SFM’s campus in Reynoldsburg. The Firefighter Class 239 is comprised of 32 individuals representing communities across Ohio. Graduates successfully completed the academically and physically rigorous 10-week, 468-hour program to join the ranks of Ohio’s firefighters. The extensive firefighter training program is the only program in the state where students can earn eight additional certifications in addition to their Firefighter I & II state certifications.

A Wapakoneta man has been charged with aggravated arson for a fire that happened at his home over the weekend. Court documents from Auglaize Municipal Court show that the charge against 77-year-old Gerald Fullenkamp was filed on Tuesday. According to Wapakoneta first responders, they were called to Fullenkamp's home at 906 Aster Drive just after 4 a.m. in the morning on October 5th, 2024. They say that one person was transported to the hospital that morning.

September 19, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal: Swanton, Ohio ­­– Investigators with the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) have determined that a house fire this morning in Swanton (Lucas County) was caused by arson. Investigators with SFM’s Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau (FEIB) are now seeking tips from the public to help identify those responsible. At 2:40 a.m. today, Sept. 19, the Monclova Township Fire Department, along with various other mutual-aid fire departments, responded to 2044 Garden Rd. in Swanton for what was initially reported as a vehicle fire.

September 4, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal: COLUMBUS, Ohio – To help ensure transparency related to its grants programs, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has unveiled a new interactive online dashboard that allows users to easily, quickly and accurately search for grant funds that have been awarded to fire departments throughout the state. Information on the dashboard is available for each of the past five years. The new online resource is available to fire departments, media outlets and the general public, allowing easy access to up-to-date information regarding grant funding that has been awarded in support of MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications), equipment and training initiatives. Additional key features of the dashboard include the ability to sort and filter grants by county and grant type, and also search for grants by individual department.

August 23, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) invites elementary school students across Ohio to participate in its Fire Safety Poster Contest. The contest is held annually to engage young minds, emphasize various issues related to fire safety education, and recognize those who have shown the ability to visually demonstrate that knowledge. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!”

July 24, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce: Findlay, Ohio ­­– The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) will join the Findlay Police Department and Findlay Fire Department tomorrow in presenting checks on behalf of the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee to two Findlay residents for information they provided that helped solve a 2022 arson. The ceremony will take place at 3:45 p.m. on July 25 in the Findlay Municipal Building’s council chambers, located at 318 Dorney Plaza, Findlay, Ohio 45840. Due to the nature of the witness accounts provided, Nicholas Bishop will receive a check for $4,000 and Joseph Cross will receive a check for $1,500. 

June 20, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal: COLUMBUS, Ohio – This Fourth of July, the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) urges Ohioans to put safety first. Since 2022, unless prohibited by local laws, Ohioans have been able to legally discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks in Ohio on certain days throughout the year when the use follows the Ohio Fire Code’s discharge rules. According to SFM’s Fire Prevention Bureau, 128 fireworks-caused fire incidents occurred in Ohio in 2023, with 22 of those incidents resulting in residential building fires totaling nearly $700,000 in damages. So far in 2024, there have been 10 incidents involving fireworks causing almost $10,000 in losses. In addition, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were involved in more than 10,200 treated injuries in 2022, with injuries jumping by 25% between 2006 and 2022. Nearly half of all fireworks injuries are to bystanders, many of them children.