Backyard bonfires and grilling are the heart of summer evenings and long weekends. But outdoor flames demand smart habits. Recent data shows how quickly things can go wrong: U.S. fire departments respond to 10,000–11,000+ home fires tied to grills each year, with July the peak month; and an average of…
Children don’t need frightening stories to learn fire safety. In fact, the safest approach is calm, age-appropriate coaching that builds confidence through simple rules and playful practice. Good news helps, too: in the U.S., the relative risk of children (≤14) dying in a fire is now far lower than the…
Winter concentrates heating-related hazards. Nearly half (46%) of all U.S. home heating equipment fires happen between December and February, and heating remains a leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths. In 2023, heating caused about 8.1% of residential building fires, second only to cooking. That same year, U.S.…
Volunteers are the backbone of U.S. fire protection. In thousands of towns, volunteer firefighters leave dinner tables, classrooms, and job sites to respond to emergencies—most of which are medical in nature today. Below is a data-rich, up-to-date guide to what volunteers do, how many there are, what it takes to…