As an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

the mission of the United States Fire Administration is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. 

We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other 

Federal agencies and in partnership with fire protection and 

emergency service communities. With a 

commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology, and data initiatives.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the 

new department is to lead the effort to prepare the Nation for 

all hazards and effectively manage Federal 

response and recovery efforts following any national 

incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, 

trains first responders, and manages the Citizen Corps, the 

National Flood Insurance Program, and the U.S. Fire 

Administration.

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION 

MISSION STATEMENT

Periodically, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) publishes a statistical 

portrait of the fire problem in the United States. This brochure 

summarizes the Thirteenth Edition of Fire in the United States, 1992–

2001. The analysis addresses the national fire problem and subsets of 

this problem, such as residential and non-residential fires. It presents 

trends over the 10-year period, but focuses on 2001 statistics relating to 

causes, property types, smoke alarm performance, and casualty 

characteristics. Firefighter casualties are also presented.

The primary source of data is the National Fire Incident Reporting 

System (NFIRS). Its data are based on inputs from nearly 13,000 fire 

departments as of 2001. Other data sources include the National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA), National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS), U.S. Census Bureau, the Consumer Price Index, and state fire 

marshals’ offices.

Copies of the full report are available from the U.S. Fire Administration, 

Publications Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, 

Maryland 21727. The report may also be ordered on line at

http://www.usfa.fema.gov. USFA publications are free. 
A Profile of

FIRE IN THE UNITED STATES

1992-2001

Each year, fire departments respond to nearly 2 million fires that result 

in thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and billions of 

dollars in property loss. There are huge indirect costs of fire as well—

temporary lodging, lost business, medical expenses, psychological 

damage, pets killed, and others. These indirect costs may be as much 

as 8 to 10 times higher than the direct costs of fires.

Compared to other industrialized nations, the U.S. fire problem is 

severe. In fact, combined losses from all natural disasters—hurricanes, 

tornadoes, floods, earthquakes—represent just a fraction of the losses 

from fires.

Over the past two decades, the number of fires and fire casualties and 

the economic losses have decreased steadily. Nevertheless, on an 

average day in 2001, fire departments responded to more than 4,750 

fires, 10 people died, and 56 citizens were injured. An average of 113 

firefighters were injured each day responding to or fighting these fires. 

This report serves to inform and remind the populace, media, and 

public officials of the magnitude and seriousness of the fire problem to 

individuals and their families, to communities, and to the nation.

10-YEAR TRENDS

Fire and fire casualty trends over the 1992 to 2001 period continued to 

decline. The 10-year trends shown on the following page (rounded to 

the nearest percent) were computed using a best-fit trend line, which 

smooths the fluctuations in year-to-year data. Data used to calculate 

trends are from NFPA annual surveys; dollar losses are adjusted to 

2001 dollars based on the Consumer Price Index. The trends shown in 

the chart are based on absolute numbers. Another useful measure of 

trends is to view them as a per capita rate. Over 10 years, fires per million population declined 24%, deaths per million declined 30%, injuries 

per million population declined 38%, and dollar loss per capita declined 

6%. These per capita improvements are due to the combination of a 

growing population and decreasing fires and fire losses.

These declines reflect very positive results stemming from such efforts 

as local fire department education programs, the greater use of smoke 

alarms and sprinkler systems, the use of more fire-resistant materials 

in new buildings, stricter building codes, and the manufacture of fireretardant clothing (especially for young children).
Over the years, there has been little change in the proportion of fires, 

deaths, injuries, and dollar loss by the type of property involved. 

NFIRS groups properties by general property type, including residential, non-residential, vehicle, outside, and other properties. In 2001, 

the largest number of fires continues to be outside (fields, vacant lots, 

trash) fires (41%). Many of these fires are intentionally set, but they do 

not cause many casualties or result in large dollar losses. Residential 

fires result in 77% of fire deaths, 73% of fire injuries, and 54% of dollar loss. One out of every five fires to which fire departments respond 

involves a vehicle. Non-residential properties account for only 8% of all 

fires, but 28% of total dollar loss.

Residential properties include one- and two-family dwellings 

(including mobile homes used as fixed residences), apartments, and 

properties where people may live temporarily such as hotels/motels, 

dormitories, and other transitory housing facilities. Residential properties are where most civilians and firefighters are injured or die from 

fires. Over 10 years, an average of nearly 420,000 property fires have 

resulted in a yearly average loss of 3,500 deaths and 18,700 injuries, 

PROPERTY TYPES

Residential Properties
at a cost of more than $5 billion. In 2001, there were 7 deaths and 36 

injuries reported for every thousand residential fires and a dollar loss of 

$13,200 per fire.

An estimated 73% of the U.S. population lives in a one- or twofamily dwelling, which is mirrored in the 2001 residential statistics—

73% of fires, 78% of deaths, 

67% of injuries, and 76% 

of dollar loss. Cooking is 

the leading cause of fires 

and injuries in these structures, followed by heating 

for fires and open flame for 

injuries. Heating plays a 

much less prominent role in 

other dwelling fires, perhaps 

because fireplaces are not 

available and because 

homeowners are not as 

attentive as apartment 

management in maintaining their heating systems. 

Smoking is the leading 

cause of deaths, followed 

closely by arson. Arson is 

the leading cause of property loss. These leading 

causes remain unchanged 

from previous 1996 and 

1998 reports. Children playing fires and deaths have 

sharply declined since the 

1980s due in large part to 

public education efforts 

targeted specifically at this problem. 

Apartments represented 23% of residential property fires, 18% of 

deaths, 29% of injuries, and 20% of dollar loss. Interestingly, the risk 

of injury per apartment occupant is higher than in one- and two-family 

dwellings. The reason for this may be that the total space and number 

of exits in apartment units are considerably less than in one- and twofamily homes.

The kitchen is the area of the home where more fires start than any 

other location. This is consistent with cooking as the major cause of 

fires. The incidence of kitchen fires is higher in apartments than in 
one- and two-family dwellings. In both structures, fires that start in either 

the bedroom or the living/family room are responsible for the highest 

number of deaths. This finding is consistent with smoking as the cause, 

perhaps because people fall asleep smoking in bed or on upholstered 

furniture.

Fires do not occur uniformly throughout the day. They peak from 5 to 7 

p.m. during dinner preparation. Fire incidents drop when people sleep, 

but deaths are at their highest late at night and in the early morning 

hours—more than half of all deaths in residences occur between 10 

p.m and 6 a.m. A large portion of fires that result in death is attributed 

to arson or smoking. Fires and deaths are highest in the winter months, 

probably because heating fires are added to other causes and because 

seasonal factors such as the presence of dry Christmas trees and the 

use of holiday candles contribute to the residential fire problem.
Non-Residential Structures

Non-residential properties include structures such as industrial and 

commercial establishments, institutions, and educational facilities; 

mobile properties; and outside properties. Each type has a different profile. In 2001, 1 death and 15 injuries were reported for every thousand 

non-residential fires and a dollar loss of $20,600 per fire.

Much of the effort in fire prevention, both public and private, has focused on protecting non-residential structures. The results have been 

highly effective, especially relative to the residential fire problem. As 

reported by NFPA, non-residential structures accounted for only 7%–

8% of fires, 2%–6% of deaths, and 8%–13% of injuries over the past 

10 years. These properties, however, account for a large annual dollar 

loss, 25%–37%, primarily because non-residential structures generally 

have higher structural and content value than residential structures.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 

resulted in 2,451 civilian and 344 firefighter deaths 

and caused an estimated $33 billion in property loss. 

These non-residential property losses are omitted 

from the statistics in this report because inclusion 

of such extreme, one-of-a-kind losses would 

distort the historical picture over a period of time.

As in all previous years in which data have been collected, arson was 

the leading cause of all non-residential structure fires and dollar loss in 

2001. In fact, dollar loss in arson fires was twice that of the next cause 

category (open flame), and represents 30% of all dollar losses. As 

might be expected, cooking was the leading cause of fires at eating/

drinking establishments and at institutions where kitchens were used to 

prepare meals.

Mobile Properties

Mobile properties include highway vehicles (cars, trucks); rail, water, 

and air transport; and heavy equipment and other vehicles. Cars and 

trucks dominate this category with 82% of all mobile property fires and 

78% of all mobile property deaths. The fire service responds to more 

vehicle fires than to residential fires. They also respond to tens of thousands of calls to vehicle accidents in which there was no fire and that 

are not reported to NFIRS. 

Highway fires, deaths, and injuries have decreased substantially over 

10 years: 19%, 26%, and 44%, respectively. Dollar loss increased 17% 

over this period due to the higher cost of newer vehicles and of their 

repair. 

Mechanical or design problems (broken fuel lines, faulty catalytic converters, blown tires, overheating) were the cause of 55% of automobile 

fires. Fire following collision accounted for 47% of deaths. The cause 

of fatalities associated with a mobile property accident is often difficult 

to determine (e.g., was it the result of the mechanical forces or the fire 

that ensued?).
More than a quarter of vehicle fires are attributed to arson, and 30% of 

deaths. Many vehicle fires are not investigated for arson by the fire service, so these percentages may be understated. Insurance companies 

do investigate the most obvious arson fires before paying claims, but 

their findings are not necessarily reflected in the NFIRS database.

Human acts (carelessness) include distractions while driving (cell phone 

use, dropped cigarettes, eating/drinking) and misuse of flammable 

liquids while servicing the vehicle.

Outside/Other

Outside properties include fires where the type of situation found is 

outside of the structure, either where the burning material has a value 

or where the fire is confined to trees, brush, grass, or refuse. A subset 

of outside fires is wildland fires. Grouped in the “other” category are 

fires whose situation found is not classified, flammable liquid spills out 

of doors with ensuing fires, and explosions.

Outside fires represent a substantial portion of the yearly activity by

the fire service. Over the past 10 years, outside fires have averaged 

nearly 776,000 each year, but the trend has decreased 13%. In 2001, 

41% of all fires were outside fires. Arson was the cause of 30% of 2001 

outside fires with value. Arson is reported as the leading cause of 

outside fires, although determining the cause of such fires is usually 

difficult. Many outside arson fires are believed to be caused by children.
Setting a dollar value to most outside fires is difficult and varies widely 

from year to year. Outside fires may have considerable indirect costs, 

such as the financial impact on agricultural communities where a fire 

destroys crops.

CAUSES

The cause of a fire, death, or injury cannot always be determined with 

certainty. The cause categories used in NFIRS were designed to 

reflect the causes of structure fires where the majority of fatal fires 

occur. These categories have usefulness for other fires as well, but 

there are limitations. Our present best estimate of fire causes is based 

on the distribution of fires with known cause across 12 major cause 

categories. The percentages shown in the following chart reflect these 

proportional distributions.

The leading three causes of fire in 2001 for all property types were 

incendiary/suspicious (arson) (25%), cooking (15%), and open flame 

(11%). Arson and smoking combined resulted in 45% of deaths. 

Cooking (23%), open flame (14%), and arson (13%) were the leading 

three causes of injuries. Cooking fires are often the result of the ignition 

of loose clothing or other nearby flammable materials and from unattended cooking where grease or oil ignites. One-quarter of all dollar 

losses were due to arson incidents.
ETHNIC, GENDER, AND AGE CHARACTERISTICS

Fire losses affect all groups and races, rich and poor, North and South, 

urban and rural. But the problem is higher for some groups than for 

others. African Americans and American Indians have much higher 

death rates per capita than the national average. African Americans 

comprise a large and disproportionate share of total fire deaths, 

accounting for 25% of fire deaths—twice as high as their share of the 

overall population.

Over the past 10 years, nearly twice as many men have died in fires as 

women, although the proportion has narrowed slightly in recent years. 

The reasons for the disparity of fire injuries between men and women 

may include the greater likelihood of men being intoxicated, the more 

dangerous occupations of men (most industrial fire fatalities are males), 

the greater use of flammable liquids by men, and the fact that risk 

taking is predominately a male attribute. After age 60, more females 

died in 2001 than did males, but this is because the female-to-male 

ratio increases (i.e., women live longer than men). Male fire deaths, by 

contrast, are very much higher in the mid-life years (20–49).
People with limited physical and cognitive abilities, especially the very 

young and very old, are at a higher risk of death and injury from fire 

than other groups. In 2001 alone, USFA estimates that 2,900 children 

under the age of 15 and 2,200 older adults (65 and older) were injured. 

Fire deaths for children under the age of 15, as reported from death 

certificates, numbered 599; an additional 1,250 deaths were reported 

for older adults. These two age groups accounted for 46% of 2001 

reported fire deaths and 25% of estimated fire injuries. 

Children under age 5 are 40% more likely to die in a fire than the 

general population. As the age of the child increases, the likelihood 

of dying in a fire decreases. African American and American Indian 

children are nearly twice as likely to die in a fire than white or Asian 

children.
The fire problem varies from region to region and state to state because 

of variations in climate, socioeconomic status, education, demographics, and other factors. Four states (Alaska, Arkansas, 

Delaware, and Mississippi) have fire death rates that exceed 25 deaths 

per million population; this rate is one of the worst among the world’s 

nations. Eleven states, mostly situated in the Southeast, have death 

rates per million population between 17 and 25. 

The foldout at the end of this brochure presents the fire death rate 

for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia and compares 

this rate with the national rate of 13.1 per million population. Twentythree states have fire death rates below the national rate. There has 

been great progress by states in lowering both the absolute number 

of deaths and the deaths per capita. As recently as 1996, 12 states 

(including the District of Columbia) had 25 or more deaths per million 

population; in 2001, only 4 states had 25 or more.

Ten states in 2001, mostly large population states, account for 45% of 

the national total U.S. fire deaths as reported by state fire marshal 

offices. Unless their fire problems are significantly reduced, the national 

total will be difficult to lower.

The progress in reducing fatalities throughout the country is due in part 

to the fire prevention programs, outreach programs, and other firerelated initiatives instituted at local, county, and state levels. These programs include the distribution of free smoke alarms, development of fire 

education information on children’s Web pages, provision of 

instructional materials for educators on juvenile firesetting, and many 

REGIONAL PROFILES
others. Most state fire marshal offices have Web sites that are very 

informative and include current programs.

DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHMENT SYSTEMS

Structures equipped with smoke alarms or automatic extinguishing 

systems (AESs)—most often sprinkler systems—are thought to account 

for a large portion of the decrease in reported fires and deaths over the 

past two decades.

Over 90% of U.S. households now have at least one smoke alarm. 

Households with no installed alarms have a greater incidence of 

reported fires than those with functioning smoke alarms. Either people 

with alarms are more safety conscious or the alarms allow early 

detection and extinguishment so that fires are not reported. Anecdotal 

information suggests that reported fires are more prevalent in older, less 

well cared for homes, and these are less likely to be equipped with a 

smoke alarm. Only 67% of households that had fires were reported to 

be equipped with a smoke alarm, slightly below the national average. 

Only 60% of households where a fire death occurred were equipped 

with smoke alarms; of those, 39% did not operate. These results clearly 

indicate that smoke alarms do contribute to saving lives.
One- and two-family homes in which fires occur have, proportionally, 

fewer alarms installed than in apartments that experience fires. This 

may be because apartment smoke alarms are often provided by 

landlords and are more often required by law than one- and two-family 

dwellings.

The fact that a large portion of fatalities occurred in apartments in which 

a smoke alarm was working is troublesome. Explanations include the 

possibility that hallway or apartment alarms operated after the victims 

were overcome or that there were fewer ways to escape, especially on 

higher floors. This situation suggests the need to provide sprinklers in 

apartments and to emphasize fire prevention to occupants. Additionally, 

multiple false alarms may occur in apartments due to smoke from burning food or pots. Because of these repetitive incidents, tenants may be 

more inclined to ignore the fire alarm.

Another surprising fact is that in residences where a death occurred, a

higher percentage of smoke alarms did not operate in apartments than 

in one- and two-family homes. This result is unexpected as apartment 

alarms are more likely to be hardwired into the electrical system and 

professionally maintained than alarms in dwellings.

Residential sprinklers were found in fewer than 3% of homes that had 

reported fires in 2001. The actual number of sprinklers installed in 

residences may be underestimated since an operating sprinkler could 

have extinguished a fire and no call was made to the fire department. 

A higher percentage of apartments were equipped with sprinklers than 

one- or two-family dwellings (8% vs. 1%). Use of sprinklers in 

apartments appears to be growing.

Sprinklers and other AESs are more prevalent in non-residential 

structures (15%). This is not unexpected since commercial properties 

and public assembly sites tend to occupy large structures that have 

been built to strict construction codes. Also, owners and proprietors of 

such sites have a great need to protect their property.
FIREFIGHTER CASUALTIES

The U.S. Fire Administration currently reports that a total of 449 

firefighters perished in 2001, 344 of whom were victims of the World 

Trade Center (WTC) attacks. Excluding the WTC deaths, 66 of the 102

firefighters who died were engaged in emergency services, and 38 

of these occurred directly during fireground operations. The fatalities 

included 27 career firefighters and 75 volunteers; 5 were women. 

Unlike the previous four editions of this document in which the firefighter 

fatality trend decreased, the 10-year trend from 1992 to 2001 increased 

30%. Although this 

jump appears acute, 

the total deaths are 

small enough that a 

change of even a few 

deaths in a year may 

dramatically impact 

the 10-year trend line.

As in all previous 

years, the most frequent cause of deaths 

was stress or overexertion. Of the 102 

firefighter deaths in 

2001, 44 died from 

heart attacks or 

strokes. Of these, 33 

were over the age of 

40, and 24 were over 

the age of 50. In fact, 

from 1996 through 

2001, 256 firefighters 

have died as a result 

of heart attacks and 

strokes. Recognizing 

this danger, the USFA has outlined programs, procedures, and activities 

that encourage firefighters to improve their health regimen.

More firefighters died (14) in 2001 during training exercises than in any 

of the previous 10 years; 9 were from heart attacks.

In 2001, 82,250 firefighters were injured on duty, half of which were at 

the fireground. When compared to the 20,300 civilian injuries during this 

period, firefighters are at considerable risk. Sixty-nine percent of these 

injuries occurred in residential dwelling fires and 19% in non-residential 

structures. The total number of firefighter injuries in 2001, however, 

dipped to their lowest point in 10 years, and the overall 10-year injury 
trend declined 17%. Twenty-one firefighters were injured for every 

1,000 structure fires in 2001.

The percentages of injuries by firefighter age have not changed much 

over the past 10 years. More than one-third of injuries occurred to 

firefighters aged 30–39. The leading cause of injury among younger 

firefighters relates to smoke inhalation, and among older firefighters 

strains and sprains are more common injuries. These results relate to 

physical fitness variations with age, to the effect of age on assignments, and perhaps to the bravado of younger firefighters. Nearly all 

(96%) of the injuries occurred at the fire scene, and 78% were injured 

extinguishing the fire, neutralizing the incident, or providing suppression 

support.

CONCLUSIONS

This report clearly shows that the fire problem in the United States is 

improving.Ten-year trends are down. Deaths and injuries to civilians 

and firefighters are down. Per capita rates are down. Several factors 

have likely contributed to these trends:

 Firefighter equipment and training, which have improved.

 Fire codes, which have been strengthened.
 Smoke alarms, whose usage has become nearly universal over 

the past two decades.

 Sprinklers, which quickly combat incipient fires, especially in nonresidential structures and recently in apartments. Public education 

programs could better inform homeowners of their value in residences.

 Construction techniques and materials, which have been specifically targeted to fire prevention.

 Public education at the community, county, state, and federal levels, which seems to be increasing.

Areas of continuing concern include:

 The very young and very old continue to be at high risk.

 Certain ethnic groups are at enormous risk to fire injuries and 

death.

 Contiguous states often have similar fire profiles. A study to

 determine reasons for this could uncover severe problem areas or, 

conversely, reveal best practices.

 A large number of fatalities occurred in residential fires where a 

smoke alarm was installed and operated. Further study is recommended to understand the reasons for this occurrence.

 Arson is an enormous problem in the United States, especially 

to outside and non-residential structure properties. Economically, 

arson accounts for 25% of property loss from all fires, double that 

of the next leading cause.

 The true effectiveness of automatic extinguishment systems needs 

to be examined.

 Heating is the second leading cause of fire in one- and two-family 

dwellings. Public awareness programs alerting residents to potential dangers from heating sources should prove effective.

 Aggressive policies need to continue in order to lessen the high 

proportion of firefighter deaths due to heart attacks.

 Twenty-one firefighters are injured per 1,000 structure fires. 

 Programs to reduce this rate should be developed.

 A review of international fire prevention programs that have proved 

effective could lead to similar improvements in the United States.

If we could understand the relative importance of these factors to 

lessening the fire problem, resources could be better targeted to have 

the most impact. 

* * * The USFA’s National Fire Data Center has published hundreds of 

analytical and statistical reports that address a wide range of subjects relating to fire and fire prevention in the United States. These 

reports are free to the public and may be ordered or, in most cases, 

downloaded at http://usfa.fema.gov/usfapubs.
As an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

the mission of the United States Fire Administration is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. 

We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other 

Federal agencies and in partnership with fire protection and 

emergency service communities. With a 

commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology, and data initiatives.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the 

new department is to lead the effort to prepare the Nation for 

all hazards and effectively manage Federal 

response and recovery efforts following any national 

incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, 

trains first responders, and manages the Citizen Corps, the 

National Flood Insurance Program, and the U.S. Fire 

Administration.

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION 

MISSION STATEMENT

Periodically, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) publishes a statistical 

portrait of the fire problem in the United States. This brochure 

summarizes the Thirteenth Edition of Fire in the United States, 1992–

2001. The analysis addresses the national fire problem and subsets of 

this problem, such as residential and non-residential fires. It presents 

trends over the 10-year period, but focuses on 2001 statistics relating to 

causes, property types, smoke alarm performance, and casualty 

characteristics. Firefighter casualties are also presented.

The primary source of data is the National Fire Incident Reporting 

System (NFIRS). Its data are based on inputs from nearly 13,000 fire 

departments as of 2001. Other data sources include the National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA), National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS), U.S. Census Bureau, the Consumer Price Index, and state fire 

marshals’ offices.

Copies of the full report are available from the U.S. Fire Administration, 

Publications Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, 

Maryland 21727. The report may also be ordered on line at

http://www.usfa.fema.gov. USFA publications are free. NOTE: This chart does not include state deaths incurred during the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Wo

Source: State fire marshal offices or equivalents and the U.S. Fire Administration; fire death data for Arkans

FIRE DEATH RATE IN 

(per million