Minnesota State Fire Marshal

10/10/2026

Dinner should be memorable because it was delicious—not because the fire department showed up.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in Minnesota. And one of the biggest reasons? Unattended cooking.

So while you’re stirring, simmering or serving, remember:
• Stand by your pan. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the burner.
• Watch what you heat. If you see smoke or grease starts to boil, turn off the burner. Never use water on a grease fire.
• Give the stove some space. Keep towels, oven mitts, paper products, food packaging and other things that can burn away from the stovetop.
• Turn those handles. Point pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so they can't be bumped or pulled down.
• And don't forget the basics: keep working smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside sleeping areas and make sure everyone knows two ways out of every room.

This Fire Prevention Week, let's make fire safety part of the recipe.

A pinch of prevention. A dash of awareness. And a whole lot less fire.

10/08/2026

Look around your home. How many lithium-ion batteries can you find?

Phone. Laptop. Earbuds. Toothbrush. Power tools. Scooter.

There are probably more around you than you think.

That’s why this Fire Prevention Week we want Minnesotans to “Charge into fire safety.”

Lithium-ion batteries pack a lot of energy into a small space. When they’re damaged or charged incorrectly, they can overheat, catch fire or even explode.

So, before you charge, get plugged in for these safety tips:

BUY SMART.
• Use the charger that came with your device or one approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.

CHARGE SMART.
• Use the correct charger.
• Charge on a hard, flat surface.
• Unplug when the device is fully charged.
• Keep charging devices away from exits and anything that can burn.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS.
• If a battery or device is unusually hot, damaged, making strange noises or giving off an unusual smell, stop using it and move away. If there is a fire, get out and call 911.

Fire prevention isn't about being afraid of the technology we use every day. It's about understanding it—and using it safely.

Plug in. Power up. Stay safe.

10/06/2026

What’s your fire safety superpower?

Maybe it’s remembering to unplug your phone when it’s at 100 percent.
Maybe it’s keeping your laptop off the bed while it charges.
Maybe it’s knowing when a battery is telling you something is wrong.

This Fire Prevention Week, we’re asking Minnesotans to "Charge into fire safety.”

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power so much of our everyday lives—phones, tablets, laptops, headphones, toys, power tools, e-bikes and more. But when batteries are damaged, defective or charged improperly, they can overheat and start a fire.

Power up your safety superpowers:
• Use the charger and cord that came with your device or one listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
• Soft surface? Hard pass. Charge on a hard, flat surface—not a bed, couch, pillow or blanket.
• Fully charged? Time to unplug the device and charger.
• For larger devices like e-bikes, scooters and power tools, charge outside when possible and never block an exit.
• If a device becomes unusually hot, damaged, smells strange or makes weird sounds, stop using it.

You don’t need a cape to be a fire safety superhero. Sometimes, all it takes is making a smarter choice when you plug in.

Charge smart. Stay safe. Be the superhero your home needs.

09/27/2026

A name.
A department.
A community.
A legacy.

At the Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial, every name represents someone who answered the call to serve, and whose life continues to matter to the people they left behind.

Since 1881, more than 250 firefighters have died in the line of duty. We remember the sacrifice behind each one and the generations of firefighters who continue to carry that commitment forward.

To Minnesota's fallen firefighters: your service is remembered, your sacrifice is honored and your legacy lives on.

09/24/2026

The March 21, 2026, house fire that took the lives of a mother, her three children and their family dog, was accidental and electrical in nature, according to preliminary findings.

More details were shared in a news release this morning: https://dps.mn.gov/news/sfm/sfm-announces-preliminary-investigation-findings-six-months-after-deadly-white-bear-lake-fire

09/24/2026

Minnesota State Fire Marshal shares preliminary findings from investigation into deadly White Bear Lake house fire. Watch the news conference live at 11 a.m. on our YouTube channel:

Officials from the State Fire Marshal division and White Bear Lake ...

09/15/2026

When the call comes in, firefighters don’t know what they’ll find on the other side of the door.

They just know someone needs help.

It might be a house filled with smoke. A crash on a rural highway. A child who needs to be carried to safety. A neighbor whose worst day has suddenly arrived.

And in that moment, firefighters step forward.

Across Minnesota, thousands of firefighters— career, paid-on-call and volunteer—answer those calls. They leave their families, their jobs and their own lives behind to protect ours. They train when no one is watching, prepare for the unexpected and show up when their communities need them most.

During September’s Firefighter Appreciation Month, we’re proud to say thank you.

Our work is closely connected to theirs. From fire prevention and inspections to investigations, education, training, code assistance and strengthening Minnesota’s fire service, we work alongside communities and firefighters to help make Minnesota safer.

Because fire safety isn’t just about what happens after the alarm sounds. It’s about preventing that alarm from ever sounding—and making sure firefighters have the support, resources and information they need when it does.

To every firefighter who answers the call: Thank you.

09/11/2026

The firefighter community remembers the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks every day. On this 25th commemoration of that tragedy, we're proud to continue stepping up for our neighbors through public service in memory of those who gave all.

09/10/2026

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed in a matter of hours.

On Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders ran toward danger while millions of others were running away. They climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center, entered the Pentagon and responded at a field in Pennsylvania — doing what they had trained to do: help people.

Some never came home.

Almost 3,000 people were killed that day, including 343 firefighters and paramedics with the New York City Fire Department, along with police officers, other first responders and civilians who were simply going about their lives. Some first responders are still dealing with physical and mental after-effects of the attack.

Twenty-five years later, we remember their names. We remember their courage. We remember the families, friends and communities forever changed by their loss.

And we remember the promise at the heart of the fire service: to serve, to protect and to run toward those who need help — no matter the risk.

Today, we honor every life lost on 9/11 and every first responder who answered the call.

We will never forget.

08/28/2026

Sometimes, helping a child through a difficult moment starts with something as simple as a backpack.

Our Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) State Fire Marshal division is partnering with local nonprofit Bit of Grace to bring sensory and communication kits to professionals working with young people involved in fire-related incidents.

Because sometimes the key to a safer and calmer conversation is not asking a different question — it’s finding a different way to connect.

Read how this new partnership is strengthening Minnesota’s Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention program and giving kids another way to be heard in our latest DPS blog: https://dps.mn.gov/news/sfm/different-way-connect-new-partnership-strengthens-mns-youth-firesetting-prevention-efforts