09/06/2026
From Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety: As we head into Labor Day Weekend, our agency is issuing a fire safety advisory to help reduce preventable fires during the holiday period. Increased outdoor cooking, travel, and recreation create a higher risk for wildfires, structural fires, and burn injuries. Below you’ll find key hazard information, statistics, and practical steps you can share with your community.
🔥 1. Wildland & Brush Fires
Human activities like campfires, grilling, trailing trailer sparks, and fireworks often trigger wildfires during this long weekend.
• The U.S. fire season typically peaks around Labor Day, with Western regions and parts of the Southeast U.S. facing elevated risk due to dry conditions.
• By late August 2025, the U.S. had already recorded approximately 46,122 wildfires year-to-date.
• Agencies warn that every year on this weekend, human-caused ignitions spike, often from unattended cooking, campfires, or sparks from trailers.
2. Grill-Related Fires
Backyard barbecues are a major source of weekend fire risk.
• U.S. fire departments respond to an annual average of 12,100 home fires involving grills—almost evenly split between structural and outdoor fires.
• The grill had not been cleaned in roughly one-fifth (20%) of the fires (NFPA).
• U.S. Fire Administration data (2006–2008) show about 5,700 grill fires per year on residential property, resulting in ~10 deaths, 100 injuries, and $37 million in losses annually.
• 76% of these grill fires involve gas grills; 32% start on patios, terraces, or screened-in porches.
Safety Tips
• For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use in the months ahead.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Never leave your grill unattended when in use.
3. Fireworks
Firework displays—or improper use of consumer fireworks—significantly increase holiday fire risk.
• According to NFPA, in 2024 U.S. hospitals treated about 14,700 patients for fireworks-related injuries; resulting fires caused 59 injuries and approximately $98 million in property damage.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 9,700 fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments in 2023.
