An Overview of the U.S.

Fire Problem
R Marty Ahrens • National Fire Protection Association • 1 Batterymarch Park • Quincy, MA 02169-7471 • www.nfpa.org • osds@nfpa.org

Residential sprinklers decrease the home fire

In 2005, US fire departments responded to an Cooking is the leading cause of Candles were the second leading death rate per 100 fires by 74%. (K. Rohr and
estimated 1,602,000 fires. These fires caused home fires and home fire injuries. cause of home fire injuries. These J. Hall, 2005) However, it will be years before the
3,675 civilian deaths and 17,925 civilian injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading fires tripled from 1990 to 2000 with majority of U.S. homes have this protection.
In the same year, 87 firefighters were fatally factor contributing to these fires. the increase in candle sales. Despite a drop, they
injured while on duty (R. Fahy and P. LeBlanc, 2006) and remain at 2.5 times the 1990 high. Candles used Children under 5 and older adults face
Frying is the leading type of activity associated the highest risk of home fire death, but
80,100 suffered non-fatal injuries. for light in the absence of electrical power caused
with cooking fires. people over 85 and between 18 and 34
1/3 of fatal candle fires. (M. Ahrens, 2006)
The 2005 fire statistics (except for firefighter More than half of all cooking fire injuries face the highest risk of home fire injury.
fatalities) are projections derived from NFPA’s Electrical distribution or lighting equipment (J Hall, 2005)
occurred when people tried to fight the fire
annual fire department survey. This survey themselves. (J. Hall, 2005) was involved in 5% of home fire deaths. A Relative Risk of Home Structure Fire Deaths and Injuries
1999-2002 Annual Averages
collects summary data from a study by the Consumer Product Safety 4
3.5
sample of local fire departments Smoking has been the leading cause Commission (CPSC) found that homes
3
equal to roughly 10% of the total of home fire deaths for decades. with older wiring face an increased Civilian deaths Civilian injuries
2.4
fire departments. (M. Karter, 2006) Eighty percent of the home smoking risk of electrical wiring fire. (D. 2 1.7 1.7
McCoskrie, and L. Smith, 1990) 1.6
material fire fatalities resulted from 1.2 1.3
Home structure fires caused 82% of the civilian 0.9 0.9 0.9
1.1 1.1
0.8 0.9
1.1
0.8
fire deaths, and 74% of the civilian fire injuries. fires originating with upholstered furniture, 1 0.7
0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4
0.6
mattresses or bedding, or clothing. Flammability More than half of the people killed by
Homes include one-and two-family dwellings,
standards and decreases in smoking fires started by children playing were 0
apartments, and manufactured homes. r5 -9 4 7 9 4 9 4 4 4 er
have helped reduce these deaths, but under five. Home fires, deaths and nd
e 5 -1 -1 -1 -3 -4 -6 -7 -8 ov
The U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire U 10 15 18 20 35 50 65 75 an
d

the “fire-safe” cigarette could help injures started by children playing with fire 85
Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) provides the
prevent many more. have decreased sharply since 1994 when the States with the highest fire death rates tend to
details that, together with NFPA’s survey, allow
CPSC required most disposable lighters to be have higher percentages of
us to estimate the size of specific fire problems. Seven percent of home smoking fire fatalities inoperable by children under five. Interestingly, • Black residents,
were using medical oxygen. (J. Hall, M. Ahrens, fires and losses from children playing with • Households living in poverty,
Major Causes of Home Structure Fires
2000-2004 Annual Averages K. Rohr, S. Gamache and J. Comoletti, 2006)
matches also fell during this period. (J. Hall, 2005)
• People living in rural areas,
Cooking equipment fire 7%
32%
Heating equipment was the • Adults who did not finish high school, and
25% Almost all U.S. homes have at • Smokers. (J. Hall, 2006)
16% second leading cause of home least one smoke alarm, but 2/3 of
Heating equipment fire 11%
9% fires and home fire deaths. home fire deaths resulted from
5% Portable and fixed space heaters, Road vehicle fires caused 14% of the
Intentional
7%
11% fires in homes without working smoke alarms.
including wood stoves, were involved in In reported home fires, the risk of death was 51% civilian fire deaths. In 2005, the 500
4%
Candle 7%
12%
three-quarters of the home heating fire deaths. lower in homes with working smoke alarms. deaths caused by car, truck and related
4%
Central heat is much safer. (J. Hall, 2006 ) Working smoke alarms are generally not vehicle fires exceeded the 460 deaths
Smoking materials 24%
9%
associated with a decrease in fire injuries in resulting from apartment fires. (M.
Electrical distribution or lighting 3% Fires
Intentional fires are the third leading Karter, 2006)
equipment
5%
4% Civilian deaths reported fires. (M. Ahrens, 2007)
Civilian injuries
cause of home fire deaths. According to Half of all reported fires were
Playing with heat source
2%
6% FBI statistics, roughly half of the people Nuisance alarms are the leading reason for
7%
disabling smoke alarms. (C.L. Smith, 1993) outside or unclassified types of
arrested for arson in recent years were
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% fires. (M. Karter, 2006)
under 18.