Fire Prevention in Construction: Don’t Wait for the Alarm
On any job site, risk is part of the trade but few hazards are as fast-moving and destructive as fire. In construction, fire is an often-overlooked threat hiding in plain sight: gas-powered tools, temporary heaters, electrical setups, flammable adhesives, and welding work all bring potential for ignition. And yet, many crews don’t think about fire safety until it’s too late.
At Kelly Safety, we’ve walked countless jobsites after a fire has done its damage. The aftermath is always the same charred tools, halted timelines, devastated workers. And what do we hear most? “We didn’t think it could happen here.”
It can. And it does.
The Most Common Fire Hazards on Construction Sites
Understanding what causes fires is the first step to prevention. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the top causes of construction site fires include:
Hot Work (welding, cutting, grinding)
Temporary Heating equipment
Electrical faults from temporary wiring
Improper storage of flammable or combustible materials
Smoking in unauthorized areas
Many of these hazards result from shortcuts or lack of communication. For example, someone might skip a hot work permit because “it's a quick job,” or a heater gets placed too close to drywall just to warm the crew.
Each of those choices can turn into a life-altering mistake.
Real-World Example: A 10-Minute Job, a 6-Month Setback
One of our clients was remodeling a warehouse, and a welder was brought in to make a quick repair on a support bracket. No hot work permit was issued. No fire watch was assigned. Just ten minutes into the weld, sparks ignited insulation in the wall. By the time someone saw the smoke, it was too late.
No one was hurt, thankfully, but the fire caused $250,000 in damages and delayed the project by six months. The irony? The repair could’ve waited until the next day, with the right precautions in place.
Prevention Starts with Daily Habits
The good news? Most jobsite fires are 100% preventable. Fire safety doesn’t have to slow your crew down—it just has to be part of your workflow.
Here are actionable steps every contractor should take:
Designate fire watch personnel during any hot work—before, during, and for at least 30 minutes after.
Inspect fire extinguishers weekly. Make sure they’re accessible, charged, and the right type for the work.
Train workers on extinguisher use using the PASS method: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
Label and store flammables in approved containers at least 20 feet from ignition sources.
Keep work areas clean. Clutter is fuel. Make daily housekeeping part of your crew's wrap-up.
Have an emergency plan. Know evacuation routes, who calls 911, and who accounts for workers.
Don’t Assume: Ask and Act
One of the most dangerous assumptions on a construction site is: “Someone else is handling it.” When it comes to fire protection, everyone is responsible. Foremen, laborers, welders, and subcontractors alike need to be trained and alert to hazards.
Fire doesn’t give warnings. It doesn’t care if you're on a deadline or if your crew is short-handed. It moves fast and leaves devastation behind.
Final Thought: Train Like It’s Real
At Kelly Safety, we always tell our clients the same thing: train like the fire is already burning. That means more than just knowing where the extinguisher is or going through the motions during orientation. It means getting your team to truly visualize what they’d do in a real emergency. Can they spot the nearest exit? Do they know who calls 911? Who grabs the extinguisher and do they know how to use it under pressure?
Fire doesn’t wait for a convenient time. It doesn’t care how close you are to the weekend, or how far behind the schedule is. When it hits, your crew needs to react instinctively. The only way to build that instinct is through consistent training and repetition. Hold unannounced fire drills. Talk through different scenarios. Walk the jobsite together and ask “what if” questions.
Because when smoke starts to rise or a heater tips over, there’s no time to pull out a manual or Google what to do. In those moments, it all comes down to what you’ve already prepared for.