Fire and Smoke Damage Statistics

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 355,400 home structure fires per year in 2013-2017. These fires caused an annual average of 2,560 civilian deaths, 13,070 civilian injuries, and $7.0 billion in direct damage.  Other statistics include:

• On average, seven people per day die in U.S. home fires, most often in homes that lack working smoke alarms.
• Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a fire nearly in half, yet one-third (34%) of home fire deaths from 2013 to 2017 were in properties with no working smoke alarms.
• Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries, followed by heating equipment.
• Forty percent (40%) of home structure fires started in the kitchen, making it the room where most home structure fires begin. These fires caused 14% of reported home fire deaths, 17% of home fire injuries, and 36% of direct property damage.
• Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home structure fires and related casualties. Fires that began with a heating equipment were responsible for 15% of reported home fire deaths, 11% of home fire injuries, and 18% of direct property damage.
• The leading cause of fatal home structure fires was smoking materials. These materials include cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and lighters. Fires that began with smoking materials were responsible for 21% of reported home fire deaths, 16% of home fire injuries, and 9% of direct property damage.
• Fires started by intentional acts caused 2% of reported home structure fires, but these fires resulted in 18% of home fire deaths and 8% of home fire injuries.
• Home structure fires peaked between 5 and 8 p.m. On weekdays and between 3 and 11 p.m. on weekends.
• One-quarter (25%) of home structure fires began in the bedroom, resulting in 29% of related civilian deaths and 24% of direct property damage. Mattresses or bedding were involved in 77% of these fires.