U.S. Fire Administration

TOPICAL FIRE RESEARCH SERIES

Volume 1, Issue 13

February 2001 (Rev. December 2001)

Winter Residential Fires

FINDINGS

S Each year, more than a half million winter fires cause $3 billion in property loss, 1,900 deaths, and nearly 8,000 injuries.

S Heating is the leading cause of winter fires, whereas cooking is the

leading cause over the entire year.

S January is the peak month for residential fire deaths and injuries.

S Winter months put extraordinary strains on firefighter abilities—more

hazardous getting to the fire, frozen water supplies, increased risk of

injury and dehydration.

Thirty percent of all fires (543,600 averaged over 1996–98) occur during the winter

months from November through February. These winter fires average 8,775 injuries,

1,910 deaths, and $3 billion in property loss each year.

In residences, however, more fires occur in the winter (37%) than in the other twothirds of the year.

1 As shown in Figure 1, these residential fires are more damaging and

deadly than that of all residential fires. This report examines the causes and characteristics of winter fires.

Figure 1. Loss Measures for Winter Residential Fires

(3-year average, NFIRS data 1996–98, all reported fires)

WINTER

MEASURE ALL FIRES RESIDENTIAL FIRES

Dollar Loss/Fire

Injuries/1,000 Fires

Fatalities/1,000 Fires

$11,271

48.0

7.7

$19,469

49.1

9.8
The two leading causes of residential fires in the winter are heating and cooking

(Figure 2). This contrasts with the all-year causes where cooking is the the leading cause

following by heating.2 The increase in residential heating fires in the winter is not surprising.

Incendiary/Suspicious

Children Playing

Smoking

Heating

Cooking

Electrical Distribution

Appliances

Open Flame

Other Heat

Other Equipment

Natural

Exposure

Winter Residential Fires

All Residential Fires

Figure 2. Leading Causes of Residential Fires

(3-year average, NFIRS data 1996–98)

Adjusted Percent
Nearly 40% of residential fire-related injuries (6,900) and 50% of residential fatalities (1,700) occur between the beginning of November and end of February. Figure 3 illustrates the numbers of deaths and injuries over the year; January is the peak month for

both measures.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

Figure 3. Fire-Related Casualties

(3-year average, NFIRS data 1996–98)

Jan

FebMar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

INJURIES

DEATHS

With the exception of the difference in cause of residential fire, winter fires are not

particularly different from those fires that occur throughout the year. There are slight

variations, however, in the area of fire origin. As would be expected by the increase in

heating fires, chimney fires, for example, increase during the winter months.

FIREFIGHTING IN THE WINTER

Extinguishing cold weather fires presents unique challenges to firefighters. Snow

and ice can impede the response to the fire. Slippery roads and hazardous conditions affect emergency apparatus in the same manner as any other vehicle. Additionally, since

establishing an effective water supply is crucial to extinguishing a fire, firefighters might

need to search for a hydrant that is not frozen. Once a water supply has been established,

hose lines can become brittle and even break in extreme temperatures.

Firefighting is a physically demanding profession, which is exacerbated by cold

weather. Firefighters are at increased risk of injury and dehydration during winter operations.
EXAMPLES

S Two fires ignited by space heaters killed five people in November 2000. Two

children were killed when the space heater ignited nearby bedding. In the other

instance, a state trooper, his wife, and his mother-in-law died when a space heater

ignited nearby materials.

3

S Firefighter efforts in an early-morning residential fire were complicated by temperatures in the single digits. Several nearby hydrants were frozen and spray from

fire hoses turned to ice. A woman was killed while she slept.4

S In January 2001, a man burned paper in a coffee can to keep warm. The table on

which the can was resting tipped over and ignited a small fire. The man died in his

bed from carbon monoxide poisoning.5

NOTES

1. National estimates are based on National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data (1996–1998)

and the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual survey, Fire Loss in the United States.

2. Fire in the United States, 1987–1996, U.S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management

Agency, 1999.

3. “Two Boys Killed in Mattapan House Fire; Blaze is Blamed on Space Heater,” The Boston Globe,

November 26, 2000.

4. “Fall River Blaze Kills One, As Hydrants Freeze,” The Boston Globe, December 28, 2000.

5. “Fatal Fire Set on Purpose,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 21, 2000.

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CLICK TO SEE ALL THE REPORTS IN THIS TOPICAL FIRE RESEARCH SERIES