General Facts and Figures

• Every 20 seconds a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the United States, according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency).
• The U.S has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world at 13.5 deaths per million population.
• In 2004 Home fires were the largest accidental killer in the United States.
• In 2003, there were 388,500 reported home fires resulting in 3,925 deaths, Representing 81% of civilian fire deaths in residences.
• In 2002, public fire departments responded to 329,500 vehicle fires and 839,000 outside and other fires... there was over $10 billion dollars in property loss as a result from those fires.
• Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
• Nationwide, there was a civilian fire death every 134 minutes a civilian home fire death every 3 hours.
• Nationwide, there was a civilian fire injury every 29 minutes. There were an estimated 18,125 civilian fire injuries, of which 13,650 occurred in homes.

Most Household Common Origin of Fires:

• 30.6% kitchens/cooking area
• 13.1% bedroom
• 7% living room/family room
• 4.8% laundry room

Home Cooking Fires

• 3 in every 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen-more than any other place in the home.
• There were 17,100 reported home structure fires associated with cooking equipment, resulting in 370 deaths, 4,290 injuries and 453 million in direct property damage.
• 2 out of 3 reported home cooking fires start with the range or stove.
• There were an estimated 156,500 kitchen fires in 2002, with 331 fatalities, 4,914 injuries and $ 876 million in property loss.
• Cooking caused nearly 90% of all kitchen fires. The primary factor in the ignition of these fires was unattended equipment, and the leading type of material first ignited was oil, fat, or grease.

Electrical and Heating Fires

• Electrical equipment fires were the third leading cause of home fires and the second leading cause of fire deaths in the US between 1994 and 1998.
• There were 38,300 reported home electrical fires in 1998, resulting in 284 deaths, 1,184 injuries and $ 668.8 million in direct property damage.
• An estimated 54,900 home heating equipment fires were reported to US fire departments, resulting 220 civilian deaths, 1,120 civilian injuries and $ 502 million in property damage.
• 2 of every 3 home heating fires in the US, and 2 of every 3 related deaths, were attributed to portable and fixed space heaters and related equipment.
• There were 14,300 clothes dryer fires in US homes in 1998, that resulted in 19 deaths, 312 injuries, and 67.7 million in direct property damage

Statistics and information from the following sources:
U.S Fire Administration which is a division of Homeland Security, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).