Backyards fill, grills heat up and fireworks light the sky on the Fourth of July. And, as Americans mark the nation’s 250th birthday, we’re set to see some of the biggest celebrations yet.
It’s also one of the busiest nights of the year, though, for fire activity and alarm response, which can both ruin the party.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 12,000 grilling-related home fires between 2020 and 2024, with July the peak month. The group also reported that fireworks were responsible for more than 32,000 fires in 2023, including thousands of structure fires.
At ADT, July 4 is one of the company’s busiest alarm days of the year. Noise and vibrations from fireworks can trigger alarm activity, says Ryan Mihalik, Monitoring Unit Manager at ADT. And those extra alarm alerts, coupled with noise and celebrations, can make it hard for homeowners to tell whether an alert is errant or a real issue, he said.
Because of this, Mihalik encourages customers to check and verify their alerts, as real risks from fire exist amid Fourth festivities.
How monitoring agents handle the busy day
For ADT’s monitoring professionals, each alarm is handled the same way, even on the busiest of days.
Mihalik said ADT prepares for high-activity days like the Fourth of July. Leaders review historical patterns and adjust staffing in anticipation of increased alert volumes as celebrations move across time zones and into late-night hours.
“From a safety perspective, we have your back 24/7, no matter the holiday. ADT isn’t taking the day off, we’re still here, helping to protect your home,” he said.
Letitia Oliver, an ADT Monitoring Manager, said one of the most common challenges on nights like the Fourth of July is customers assuming alarms are false alarms, due to grill smoke or fireworks — and choosing not to respond when a monitoring agent reaches out.
When homeowners don’t answer calls or respond to alerts, the monitoring team continues to escalate the issue. That can ultimately result in fire departments being dispatched to check on the property — even in cases where the situation may turn out to be non-critical.
“We’re not going to assume it’s just a false alarm,” she said. “Every emergency signal is treated as real, and we respond that way to help protect our customers and their property.”
ADT experts' tips for staying safe on the Fourth
Oliver emphasized that a bit of prevention can go a long way on the Fourth. She advises people to keep grills a safe distance from homes because flames can flare up and ignite nearby siding, decks, fences or overhangs.
Steven Headley, an ADT HOA Account Manager, notes that gatherings often lead to open windows and doors, creating a direct path for smoke from grills or fireworks to enter the home and increase the likelihood of smoke detector activations.
“Shut the windows so you don't set off a fire alarm while grilling because then you have fire departments running all over the place for false alarms instead of being available for true emergencies,” he said.
Make sure, too, that your security system is working as expected and batteries are charged ahead of the holiday.
These small adjustments — and knowing ADT’s team of professional monitoring agents will be keeping watch in the background — give you a chance to enjoy America’s 250th birthday the way it’s meant to be celebrated: Loud, bright and worry-free.