Focus on Jobsite Hazards During Fire Prevention Week
Oct. 8-14 is National Fire Prevention Week, an annual public outreach and awareness campaign by the National Fire Protection Association.
NAHB has resources to help builders keep residential construction sites as fire-resistant as possible, beginning with basic housekeeping, storage, and preparedness practices, especially entering the cold season:
- Keep the worksite clear of extraneous items and clean up spills immediately.
- Be aware of fuel and ignition sources on the jobsite, and ensure proper placement and storage.
- Ensure rooms have proper ventilation before spraying paint and other solvents.
- Ensure temporary heaters are being properly used.
- Keep fire extinguishers within easy reach, and make sure workers are trained to use them.
Serious fires on home building jobsites are rare, but they can be very destructive. And all fires are fairly easy to prevent with diligent planning and maintenance.
Winter is an especially dangerous time as many sites use temporary heaters when working on interiors. These heaters can be knocked over, left on, or simply malfunction, leading to fires that can quickly spread. Proper use of space heaters is essential to keeping workers safe.
Take this week as an opportunity to stop and think about fire safety on your jobsites. Is everyone aware of the escape plan? When was the last time fire extinguishers were checked? Is housekeeping a daily task?
You’re probably already covered. But stop and think about it, and ask the questions to make sure.
For more on home building site fire safety, watch the NAHB Toolbox Talk below or visit the fire prevention toolkit.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Nov 09, 2026
Remodeling Activity Holds Flat in Second Quarter Amid Housing Slowdown
Remodeling activity was flat in the second quarter amid a broader nationwide housing slowdown, according to NAHB's State Projections of Remodeling (SPR). The SPR provides a quarterly, state-by-state analysis of remodeling spending, market share and changes in spending.
Advocacy
Nov 06, 2026
NAHB Monthly Update: What the Midterms Mean for Housing
NAHB’s Monthly Update equips members and HBA staff with timely talking points on the Federation’s top housing priorities. This month’s update covers the post-election outlook for housing, progress on permitting reform and NAHB’s response to the latest WOTUS proposal.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 09, 2026
Residential Building Worker Wage Growth Rebounds, but Real Wages Continue to Decline
Wage growth for residential building workers showed signs of a modest rebound in September 2026 following a sharp slowdown earlier in the year. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nominal wage growth picked up from its June pace, although it remained relatively modest.
Economics
Nov 09, 2026
Remodeling Activity Holds Flat in Second Quarter Amid Housing Slowdown
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has released its State Projections of Remodeling (SPR) for the second quarter of 2026. As a reminder, the SPR provides on a quarterly basis a state-level estimation of the market share and total dollar value of remodeling spending.
Economics
Nov 06, 2026
Hiring Rebounds in October, but Residential Construction Employment Declines
The U.S. labor market rebounded in October, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 165,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declining to 4.1%. However, the improvement in overall employment contrasts with continued weakness in residential construction, where employment fell by 16,400 jobs, the largest monthly decline since March 2021.