Illinois Agencies Expand Firefighter Safety Training With New On-Demand Course

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health and the Illinois Fire Service Institute are continuing their partnership to provide on-demand training for firefighters statewide. A new course focuses on The Ridge Incident, reviewing the 2021 line-of-duty death of Sterling Firefighter Lt. Garrett Ramos and offering practical strategies to reduce risk at structure fires. Designed for all firefighter levels, the course emphasizes operational safety, situational awareness, and command decision-making under high-risk conditions. The training is available through IFSI’s virtual platform and builds on previous offerings, including the “Defenses for Firefighters” course launched in July 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen safety and preparedness in the Illinois fire service.