THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND STATE FIRE MARSHALL’S OFFICE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE HAUNTED HOUSES ARE SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC. 

ALL HAUNTED HOUSES MUST BE INSPECTED PRIOR TO OPENING. THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HAS A SCARY…BUT SAFE TIME WHEN THEY VISIT SAYS FIRE MARSHAL SPOKESPERSON J-C FULTZ.

THERE’S ALSO A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF DEAD-END PATHS A HOUSE CAN HAVE…AND RESTRICTIONS ON OPEN FLAMES AND PYROTECHNIC SPECIAL EFFECTS. EXITS AND PATHWAYS MUST BE WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOUNT FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE ATTRACTION.

FULTZ SAYS A COUPLE OF TRAGIC HAUNTED HOUSE FIRES IN THE 70’S AND 80’S LED TO THE RESTRICTIONS. MOST HAUNTED HOUSES ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS AND AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS.