 And the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is reminding Illinoisans to make sure they are following proper safety practices when using their grills this holiday weekend and throughout the rest of the summer. July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May, and August. The National Fire Protection Association reports around 64% of U.S. households own at least one outdoor barbecue grill or smoker. On average, over 10,000 home fires are started by a grill each year.