In the days leading up to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, iconic buildings, fire stations and homes across the United States will begin turning red in honor of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
The annual Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters tribute, led by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), invites communities in all 50 states to illuminate landmarks, businesses, firehouses, and residences April 26 through May 3 in remembrance of fallen firefighters and in support of their families.
Approximately every three days, flags at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation are lowered to half-staff to honor a firefighter who has died in the line of duty in the U.S.
“Light the Night gives communities a simple way to take part in remembrance,” said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “For the families who have lost a firefighter, these lights mean more than you’d know. When a firehouse, landmark, or front porch turns red, it says their loved one is not forgotten. That their sacrifice still matters. And that we’re all standing with them.”
Light the Night will lead into the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, scheduled for May 2–3, 2026, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
During Memorial Weekend, 204 firefighters who died in the line of duty — 97 lost in 2025 and 107 in prior years — will be formally honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
Public ceremonies include a candlelight service on Saturday evening and the National Memorial service on Sunday morning, attended by Fire Hero Families, fire service members and supporters from across the country.
Paying Tribute Across America
Light the Night allows people to participate in this shared national remembrance wherever they live and work. Individuals can install a red light bulb at home, while municipalities, businesses, and fire departments illuminate buildings or public spaces during the week leading up to Memorial Weekend.
Participation has grown steadily since the tribute launched in , expanding from a small commemorative effort into a widely recognized public observance. Past participants have included:
- One World Trade Center, New York City
- Willis Tower, Chicago
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
- Skydance Bridge, Oklahoma
- Hundreds of municipal buildings, fire stations, and community landmarks nationwide
How to Participate
Individuals, organizations, municipalities and fire departments can register participation (optional) and access resources on the NFFF’s Light the Night website.
Participants are encouraged to share photos of their tributes with the NFFF via email at photos@firehero.org or by using the hashtag #NFFFLightTheNight2026 to help document how communities across the country are taking part.
Other Memorial Weekend Observances
Light the Night is one of several public ways to recognize fallen firefighters during Memorial Weekend. Additional observances include:
- Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters, when firehouses, churches and other institutions ring bells in remembrance on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3.
- Sound the Sirens, inviting fire departments nationwide to sound their sirens simultaneously at noon on Sunday, May 3.
- Joining all federal buildings, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol, in lowering the American flag to half-staff on Sunday, May 3. Issuing a proclamation is also encouraged for municipalities.
