U.S. Department of Homeland Security • U.S. Fire Administration 

National Fire Data Center • Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 

www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/

Topical Fire reporT SerieS Volume 13, Issue 7 / August 2012

Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings (2008–2010)

These topical reports are designed to 

explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as 

depicted through data collected in the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National 

Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). 

Each topical report briefly addresses the 

nature of the specific fire or fire-related 

topic, highlights important findings from 

the data, and may suggest other resources 

to consider for further information. Also 

included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues 

addressed in the report or that put the 

report topic in context.

Findings

■ An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire 

departments each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in 

property loss.

■ Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, 

peaking in January at 11 percent.

■ Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes 

dryer fires in residential buildings. 

■ Dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent) were, by far, the 

leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.

■ Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of 

origin.

For many households and other establishments, the 

clothes dryer is an indispensable convenience and 

necessity. However, damaging fires can occur if clothes 

dryers are not properly installed and maintained. Eightyfour percent of clothes dryer fires that occurred in buildings took place in residential buildings.1, 2 Because the 

residential building portion of these fires predominates, the 

primary focus of this analysis addresses the characteristics 

of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings reported to the 

National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The focus 

is on fires reported from 2008 to 2010, the most recent data 

available at the time of this analysis. 

From 2008 to 2010, fire departments responded to an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings each 

year across the Nation.3

 These fires resulted in an annual 

average loss of 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in 

property loss. 

For the purpose of this report, the term “clothes dryer 

fires” is synonymous with “clothes dryer fires in residential 

buildings.” “Clothes dryer fires” is used throughout the 

body of this report; the findings, tables, charts, headings, 

and footnotes reflect the full category, “clothes dryer fires 

in residential buildings.”

The Hows and Whys of a Clothes Dryer Fire

A clothes dryer works by forcing hot air through a turning 

drum. Wet clothes placed in the drum are then dried by 

moving hot air. It is possible for a full load of wet clothes 

to contain as much as one and a half gallons of water. Lint, 

consisting mostly of small fibers from the clothes and 

debris in or on the clothes, is created from the clothes as 

the clothes tumble in the drum. While much of the lint is 

trapped by the dryer’s filter, lint is also carried through the 

vent system along with moist air.4

 Lint is a highly combustible material that can accumulate both in the dryer and in 

the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow 

and can pose a potential fire hazard.5

In addition to the accumulation of lint, blockage in dryer 

exhaust vents also can occur from the nests of small birds or 

other animals or from damages to the venting system itself. 

A compromised vent will not exhaust properly to the outside. 

As a result, overheating may occur and a fire may ensue.6

Loss Measures

Table 1 presents losses, averaged over the 3-year period 

from 2008 to 2010, of reported clothes dryer fires in 

residential buildings.7

 The average number of injuries per 

1,000 clothes dryer fires was slightly higher than the same 

loss measure for all other residential building fires. The 

average number of fatalities per 1,000 clothes dryer fires 

and average dollar loss per clothes dryer fire, however, were 

notably less than the same loss measures for all other residential building fires. 
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 2

Table 1. Loss Measures for Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

(3-year average, 2008–2010)

Measure Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Residential Building Fires 

(Excluding Clothes Dryer Fires)

Average Loss:

Fatalities/1,000 fires 1.8 5.5

Injuries/1,000 fires 30.5 28.8

Dollar loss/fire $9,610 $15,940

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1) Average loss for fatalities and injuries is computed per 1,000 fires; average dollar loss is computed per fire and is rounded to the nearest $10. 

 2) When calculating the average dollar loss per fire for 2008–2010, the 2008 and 2009 dollar-loss values were adjusted to their equivalent 2010 dollar-loss values to account for inflation.

Where Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential 

Buildings Occur

One- and two-family residences accounted for 77 percent 

of clothes dryer fires as shown in Table 2. Only 17 percent 

of clothes dryer fires occurred in multifamily dwellings, 

and even fewer occurred in hotels and motels (3 percent). 

The remaining 3 percent of clothes dryer fires occurred in 

other residential buildings including boarding and rooming homes, sororities and fraternities, dormitories, barracks, 

and other residences.8

Table 2. Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings by Property Use (2008–2010)

Property Use Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings (Percent)

One- or two-family dwellings 77.1

Multifamily dwellings 17.4

Hotels and motels 3.0

Other residential buildings 2.5

Total 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0. 

In addition, as expected, clothes dryer fires most often 

started in laundry areas (83 percent) as shown in Table 3. 

The next leading areas of origin for clothes dryer fires were 

substructure areas such as crawl spaces and garages (each at 

3 percent), kitchens (2 percent), and other service or equipment areas (1 percent). 

Table 3. Leading Specific Areas of Fire Origin in Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

(2008–2010)

Areas of Fire Origin Percent 

(Unknowns Apportioned)

Laundry area 82.6

Substructure area or space 2.6

Garage, carport 2.5

Cooking area, kitchen 2.0

Other service or equipment areas 1.4

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

When Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential 

Buildings Occur

As shown in Figure 1, clothes dryer fires increased in 

frequency beginning in the early morning and occurred 

fairly regularly between the hours of 8 a.m. and midnight, 

with a slight peak between 1 and 2 p.m. (7 percent).9

 

Clothes dryer fires then declined reaching the lowest point 

between 3 and 6 a.m., when most people are expected to 

be sleeping. 
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 3

Figure 1. Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings by Time of Alarm (2008–2010)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

11PM-Mid

10PM-11PM

9PM-10PM

1PM-2PM2PM-3PM3PM-4PM4PM-5PM5PM-6PM6PM-7PM7PM-8PM8PM-9PM

12PM-1PM

10AM-11AM

11AM-12PM

9AM-10AM

Mid-1AM

1AM-2AM2AM-3AM3AM-4AM4AM-5AM5AM-6AM6AM-7AM7AM-8AM8AM-9AM

Time of Alarm

Percent of Clothes Dryer Fires 

in Residential Buildings

3.0

2.0

1.4

1.0 1.1 0.9

1.7

2.7

3.8

4.7 4.8

5.7

6.1

5.4 5.6

5.2

4.8

4.0

5.7

6.7

6.1

5.7

6.3

5.5

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note: Total does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

Figure 2 illustrates that clothes dryer fire incidence was 

higher in the fall and winter months, peaking at 11 percent 

in January. The increase in fires in the cooler months may 

be explained by the quantity and type of clothes worn in 

these months. In addition, people are less likely to dry 

clothes outdoors during the cooler months than during the 

warmer months. 

Figure 2. Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings by Month (2008–2010)

Month of Year

Percent of Clothes Dryer Fires 

in Residential Buildings

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

November

December

October

September

August

July

April

May

June

March

February

January

10.6

9.5 9.2

7.9 8.1

7.4

6.9 7.3

6.7

8.1

9.2 9.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note: Total does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 4

Factors Contributing to Ignition in Clothes 

Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings

Table 4 shows the categories of factors contributing to ignition in clothes dryer fires. The leading category was “operational deficiency” (47 percent). The leading specific factor 

contributing to ignition, which is part of the operational 

deficiency category, was failure to clean. This is not surprising as proper clothes dryer maintenance to avoid a fire 

hazard involves removing the lint from the traps, vents, and 

surrounding areas of the dryer. Failure to clean accounted 

for 72 percent of the operational deficiency contributing 

factors category. It also accounted for 34 percent of all

clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. 

The second leading factors contributing to ignition category was “mechanical failure, malfunction” at 29 percent. 

“Electrical failure, malfunction” was the third leading 

category at 16 percent. Reduced airflow resulting from lint 

buildup in the screen or other areas around the dryer can 

cause a clothes dryer to not operate efficiently and possibly 

overheat. Problems can also occur if improper items, such 

as foam-backed rugs or athletic shoes, are placed in dryers, 

or plastic or vinyl exhaust materials are used to vent the 

appliances.10

Table 4. Factors Contributing to Ignition in Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

by Major Category (Where Factors Contributing to Ignition are Specified, 2008–2010)

Factors Contributing to Ignition Category Percent of Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

(Unknowns Apportioned)

Operational deficiency 46.6

Mechanical failure, malfunction 28.6

Electrical failure, malfunction 15.6

Misuse of material or product 9.5

Design, manufacture, installation deficiency 4.0

Other factors contributing to ignition 3.3

Natural condition 0.6

Fire spread or control 0.2

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1) Includes only incidents where factors that contributed to the ignition of the fire were specified.

 2) Multiple factors contributing to fire ignition may be noted for each incident; total will exceed 100 percent. 

What Ignites First in Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Not unexpectedly, dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and 

clothing not on a person (27 percent) were, by far, the 

leading items first ignited as shown in Table 5. Other leading items first ignited included other soft goods, wearing 

apparel or clothing (9 percent), appliance housing or casing 

(8 percent), linen other than bedding (6 percent), and electrical wire, cable insulation (also 6 percent). 

Table 5. Leading Specific Items First Ignited in Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

(2008–2010)

Item First Ignited Percent 

(Unknowns Apportioned)

Dust, fiber, lint 27.6

Clothing not on a person 27.2

Other soft goods, wearing apparel or clothing 8.8

Appliance housing or casing 7.5

Linen other than bedding 6.0

Electrical wire, cable insulation 5.7

Source: NFIRS 5.0.
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 5

Fire Spread in Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires were confined to 

the object of origin (Table 6).11 An additional 32 percent 

were confined to the room of origin. The remaining 14 

percent extended beyond the room of origin. The average 

dollar loss per clothes dryer fire confined to the object of 

origin was less than $2,000. The average loss per all other 

clothes dryer fires was notably greater, and for those that 

extended beyond the floor of origin, the average loss was 

over $40,000.

Table 6. Dollar Loss Per Clothes Dryer Fire in Residential Buildings by Fire Spread 

(3-year average, 2008–2010)

Measure Confined to 

object of origin

Confined to 

room of origin

Confined to 

floor of origin

Confined to 

building of origin

Beyond 

building of origin

Average Loss:

Percent of fires 53.5 32.1 5.1 8.7 0.5

Dollar loss per fire $1,790 $6,790 $37,170 $49,500 $46,090

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1) Total percent of fires does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

 2) Average dollar loss is computed per fire and rounded to the nearest $10.

 3) When calculating the average dollar loss per fire for 2008–2010, the 2008 and 2009 dollar-loss values were adjusted to their equivalent 2010 dollar-loss values to account for inflation.

Suppression/Alerting Systems in Clothes 

Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings

Over the past 30 years, technologies to detect and extinguish fires have been a major contributor in the drop in fire 

fatalities and injuries. Smoke alarms are now present in the 

majority of residential buildings. In addition, the use of 

residential sprinklers is widely supported by the fire service 

and is gaining support within residential communities.

Note that the data presented in Tables 7 to 9 are the 

raw counts from the NFIRS data set and are not scaled 

to national estimates of smoke alarms and sprinklers in 

residential fires. In addition, NFIRS does not allow for the 

determination of the type of smoke alarm (i.e., photoelectric or ionization) or the location of the smoke alarm with 

respect to the area of fire origin.

Smoke Alarms 

Smoke alarms were present in 62 percent of clothes dryer 

fires (Table 7). In 16 percent of clothes dryer fires, there 

were no smoke alarms present. In another 20 percent of 

these fires, firefighters were unable to determine if a smoke 

alarm was present. Additionally, smoke alarm presence 

status was not reported in 2 percent of incidents.12 Thus, 

smoke alarms were potentially missing in between 16 and 

38 percent of these fires with the ability to spread and possibly result in fatalities.

Table 7. Presence of Smoke Alarms in Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings 

(2008–2010)

Presence of Smoke Alarms Percent

Present 62.3

None present 15.7

Undetermined 20.2

Null/blank 1.8

Total 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Only one percent of all clothes dryer fires occurred in residential buildings that are not currently or routinely occupied. These occupancies—buildings under construction, 

undergoing major renovation, vacant, and the like—are 

more unlikely to have alerting and suppression systems 

that are in place and, if in place, that operate.13 As a result, 

the detailed smoke alarm analyses in the next section focus 

only on clothes dryer fires in occupied residential buildings.
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 6

Smoke Alarms in Clothes Dryer Fires in Occupied 

Residential Buildings

Smoke alarms were reported as present in 64 percent of 

clothes dryer fires in occupied residential buildings (Table 

8). In 16 percent of clothes dryer fires in occupied residential buildings, there were no smoke alarms present. In 

another 21 percent of these fires, firefighters were unable to 

determine if a smoke alarm was present.14

When smoke alarms were present (64 percent) and the 

alarm operational status is considered, the percentage of 

smoke alarms reported as present consisted of:

•	 smoke alarms present and operated—42 percent; 

•	 present but did not operate—16 percent (alarm did not 

operate, 8 percent; fire too small, 8 percent); and

•	 present, but operational status unknown—6 percent. 

When the subset of incidents where smoke alarms were 

reported as present are analyzed separately and as a whole, 

smoke alarms were reported to have operated in 66 percent 

of the incidents. Smoke alarms failed to operate in 12 percent of the incidents. In another 13 percent of the subset 

where smoke alarms were reported as present, the fire was 

too small to activate the alarm. The operational status of 

the alarm was undetermined in 9 percent of the incidents.

Table 8. NFIRS Smoke Alarm Data for Clothes Dryer Fires in Occupied Residential Buildings 

(2008–2010)

Presence of 

Smoke Alarms Smoke Alarm Operational Status Smoke Alarm Effectiveness Count Percent

Present

Fire too small to activate smoke alarm 484 8.2

Smoke alarm operated

Smoke alarm alerted occupants, occupants responded 2,036 34.5

Smoke alarm alerted occupants, occupants failed to respond 76 1.3

No occupants 135 2.3

Smoke alarm failed to alert occupants 69 1.2

Undetermined 151 2.6

Smoke alarm failed to operate 451 7.6

Undetermined 352 6.0

None present 939 15.9

Undetermined 1,214 20.6

Total Incidents 5,907 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes 1) The data presented in this table are raw data counts from the NFIRS data set. They do not represent national estimates of smoke alarms in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. They are presented 

for informational purposes. 

 2) Total does not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Automatic Extinguishment Systems in Clothes 

Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings

The analyses presented here do not differentiate between 

occupied and unoccupied housing, as extremely few 

reported fires in unoccupied housing have Automatic 

Extinguishing Systems (AESs) present (occupied housing 

accounted for 99 percent of reported clothes dryer fires with 

AESs). Full or partial AESs were present in only 5 percent 

of clothes dryer fires (Table 9).15 While the use of residential sprinklers is widely supported by the fire service and is 

gaining support within residential communities, the lack of 

AESs is not unexpected as they are not yet widely installed. 

Table 9. NFIRS Automatic Extinguishing System (AES) Data for Clothes Dryer Fires in 

Residential Buildings (2008–2010)

AES Presence Count Percent

AES present 307 5.0

Partial system present 8 0.1

AES not present 5,467 89.6

Unknown 209 3.4

Null/Blank 110 1.8

Total Incidents 6,101 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1) The data presented in this table are raw data counts from the NFIRS data set. They do not represent national estimates of AESs in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. They are presented for informational purposes. 

 2) Total does not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 7

Examples

The following are recent examples of clothes dryer fires 

reported by the media:

•	 March 2012: A family was displaced after a clothes 

dryer fire quickly spread and destroyed their two-story 

Colonial home in Readington, NJ. The blaze, which 

started on the second floor and rapidly spread to the rest 

of the house, kept crews from the local fire companies 

and a tanker task force on the scene for more than two 

and a half hours. No one was injured, and neighboring 

homes were not damaged.16

•	 March 2012: A load of clothes in a dryer ignited a fire 

that displaced residents from their home in Chapel Hill, 

NC. The Chapel Hill Fire Department was dispatched 

to the 63-year-old home and quickly discovered that 

a dryer in the unfinished basement was the source of 

smoke reported by the residents. Firefighters extinguished a load of clothes in the dryer that had caught 

fire and then removed the dryer from the home. No 

injuries were reported.17

•	 February 2012: Investigators believe a clothes dryer 

sparked a fire in a Cornelius, OR home causing approximately $75,000 in damage. The homeowner had put 

clothes in the dryer and was playing with her son in 

another room when she heard two loud noises from the 

laundry room. After discovering smoke coming from 

the dryer, the woman ran upstairs to get her sleeping 

daughter, grabbed her son, and got out of the house. 

She then called 9-1-1. No injuries were reported, but 

the fire caused “serious smoke damage” throughout the 

house and “significant damage” in the laundry room 

and nearby bathroom and playroom.18

Clothes Dryer Venting Systems

In order to prevent possible fire hazards, building codes19

require that clothes dryers be exhausted directly to the 

outdoors. Venting a dryer into attics, soffits, ridge vents, or 

crawl spaces is expressly prohibited. 

The codes require that dryer vents be made of metal with 

smooth interior finishes, sections of vent duct be securely 

supported and firmly sealed together, and the total length 

of the vent duct not exceed 35 feet (shorter if there are 

turns or bends). Flexible transition ducts used to connect 

the dryer to the exhaust duct system are required to be not 

longer than eight feet, not concealed within construction, 

and listed and labeled in accordance with Underwriters 

Laboratories (UL) 2158A.20

New construction trends often situate washers and dryers 

in nontraditional areas of the house, such as upstairs bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and closets. These 

new sites may require longer dryer vent ducts in order to 

reach an outside wall. If a dryer vent is too long or has 

many bends and turns, moisture in the warm air passing 

through it condenses on the vent surfaces, attracting lint. 

Eventually, the lint accumulates and creates resistance.21 

Thus, it is crucial for homeowners to regularly inspect and 

clean out the dryer vent.

All manufacturers now state in their manuals not to use 

plastic, flexible dryer ducts between the vent and the 

clothes dryer. Many homes, however, continue to use plastic, flexible ducts.22 The plastic itself can provide additional 

fuel for a fire. Even flexible foil vents are not a good choice 

for venting clothes dryers. Flexible vents can twist, allowing lint to build up and catch on fire if it comes in contact 

with a sufficient amount of heat. If a fire starts beneath the 

dryer when the motor overheats, then the drafts from the 

dryer can pull the fire up into the duct, allowing a house 

fire to develop.23 Only flexible transition ducts that are 

listed by UL or another approved product safety testing 

agency should be used. 

Serious hazards occur when dryer vents do not exhaust 

directly to the outside. Faulty installations can vent dryer 

exhaust into the attic, crawl space, chimney, or interior 

walls, which can cause indoor air deterioration and mold 

buildup.24 Small birds and animals that nest in dryer vents 

or other debris can obstruct air flow and prevent proper 

venting to the outside.25

By observing a few simple indications of poor system performance, it can be determined whether the dryer components need to be examined for any blockage or excessive 

heat. If heavy clothes such as blue jeans or towels are taking a long time to dry, or clothes feel hotter than usual at 

the end of the cycle, a clogged dryer vent exhaust is likely 

the problem.26
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 8

Proper Dryer Installation and Maintenance

The installation and maintenance of clothes dryers are an 

important part of making sure that a clothes dryer performs 

as designed and does not become a fire hazard. Several 

recommendations for clothes dryer safety include the following:27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32

Clothes Dryer Dos

•	 Have your clothes dryer installed by qualified personnel.

•	 Clean the lint filter before and after each cycle. Do not 

forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build 

up. In addition, clean the lint filter with a nylon brush 

at least every 6 months or more frequently if it becomes 

clogged.

•	 Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it 

is not damaged, crushed, or restricted.

•	 Outside wall dampers should have a covering that will 

keep out rain, snow, and dirt. Do not, however, use wire 

screen or cloth as these can collect lint and clog areas of 

the dryer vent.

•	 Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the 

dryer is operating.

•	 The interior of the dryer and venting system should be 

serviced and cleaned periodically by qualified service 

personnel, especially if it is taking longer than normal 

for clothes to dry. 

•	 Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, 

non-ribbed metal duct.

•	 Have gas-powered dryers inspected by a professional 

annually to ensure that the gas line and connection are 

intact and free of leaks. 

•	 Check periodically to make sure nests of small animals 

and insects are not blocking the outside vent.

•	 Make sure the correct electrical plug and outlet are used 

and that the dryer is connected properly.

•	 Read manufacturers’ instructions and warnings in use 

and care manuals that accompany new dryers.

•	 Keep the area around the clothes dryer free of items that 

can burn. 

•	 If you will be away from home for an extended time, 

unplug or disconnect the dryer.

Clothes Dryer Don’ts

•	 Do not operate a clothes dryer without a lint filter or 

with a lint filter that is loose, damaged, or clogged.

•	 Do not dry anything containing foam, rubber, or plastic 

(i.e., bathroom rugs).

•	 Do not dry any item for which manufacturers’ instructions state “dry away from heat.”

•	 Do not dry glass fiber materials (unless manufacturer’s 

instructions allow).

•	 Do not dry materials that have come into contact with 

anything flammable (e.g., alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, 

etc.). These should be dried outdoors or in a well-ventilated room, away from heat.

•	 Do not leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home 

or when you go to bed.

NFIRS Data Specifications for Clothes 

Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings

Data for this report were extracted from the NFIRS annual 

Public Data Release (PDR) files for 2008, 2009, and 2010. 

Only Version 5.0 data were extracted.

Clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are defined by 

the following criteria:

•	 Aid Types 3 (mutual aid given) and 4 (automatic 

aid given) are excluded to avoid double counting of 

incidents.

•	 Incident Types 111–123 (excluding Incident Type 112): 

Incident 

Type Description

111 Building fire

113 Cooking fire, confined to container

114 Chimney or flue fire, confined to chimney or flue

115 Incinerator overload or malfunction, fire confined

116 Fuel burner/boiler malfunction, fire confined

117 Commercial compactor fire, confined to rubbish

118 Trash or rubbish fire, contained

120 Fire in mobile property used as a fixed structure, other

121 Fire in mobile home used as fixed residence

122 Fire in motor home, camper, recreational vehicle

123 Fire in portable building, fixed location

Notes: 1) Incident Types 113–118 (confined fires) do not specify if the structure is a building.

 2) The analyses in this report include all clothes dryer fires and do not distinguish between 

confined and nonconfined fires. (See the note on “Special Considerations” at the end of 

this section.)
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 9

•	 Property use 400–464 is included to specify residential 

buildings: 

Property Description Use

400 Residential, other

419 One- or two-family dwelling

429 Multifamily dwelling

439 Boarding/Rooming house, residential hotels

449 Hotel/Motel, commercial

459 Residential board and care

460 Dormitory-type residence, other

462 Sorority house, fraternity house

464 Barracks, dormitory

•	 Structure Type:

– For Incident Types 113–118:

▪ 1—Enclosed building;

▪ 2—Fixed portable or mobile structure; and

▪ Structure Type not specified (null entry).

– For Incident Types 111 and 120–123:

▪ 1—Enclosed building and

▪ 2—Fixed portable or mobile structure.

•	 Equipment Involved in Ignition 811:33 

Equipment 

Involved in 

Ignition

Description

811 Clothes Dryer

Special Considerations

Building fires are divided into two classes of severity in 

NFIRS: “Confined fires,” which are those fires confined to 

certain types of equipment or objects, and “nonconfined 

fires,” which are not. Confined building fires are small fire 

incidents that are limited in extent, staying within specific

noncombustible containers such as cooking pots, fireplaces, 

or incinerators. In NFIRS, confined fires are defined by 

Incident Type codes 113 to 118. Confined fires rarely result 

in serious injury or large content losses and are expected 

to have no significant accompanying property losses due 

to flame damage.34 From 2008 to 2010, nonconfined fires 

accounted for 98 percent of clothes dryer fires, while 

confined fires accounted for the remaining 2 percent. It is 

believed, however, that the confined fires were miscoded 

in NFIRS since a clothes dryer is not one of the specific

noncombustible containers listed under the NFIRS confined 

fire incident type codes. In addition, the areas of origin for 

the confined fires were locations where a clothes dryer fire 

would most typically start, such as laundry areas, laundry 

chutes, and ducts. Finally, the items first ignited were items 

most typically involved in clothes dryer fires, such as clothing not on a person, dust, fiber, lint, and linen. Instead of 

these fires being coded as confined in NFIRS, it is believed 

that they should have been coded as nonconfined fires with 

a fire spread that was limited to the object of origin (clothes 

dryer). As a result, the analyses in this report include all 

clothes dryer fires in residential buildings and do not distinguish between confined and nonconfined fires.

The analyses contained in this report reflect the current methodologies used by the U. S. Fire Administration 

(USFA). The USFA is committed to providing the best and 

most current information on the United States fire problem and continually examines its data and methodology to 

fulfill this goal. Because of this commitment, data collection strategies and methodological changes are possible 

and do occur. As a result, analyses and estimates of the fire 

problem may change slightly over time. Previous analyses 

and estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may have 

used different methodologies or data definitions and may 

not be directly comparable to the current ones.

To request additional information or to comment on this 

report, visit http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/feedback/

Notes: 

1 In NFIRS, Version 5.0, a structure is a constructed item of which a building is one type. In previous versions of NFIRS, the 

term “residential structure” commonly referred to buildings where people live. To coincide with this concept, the definition 

of a residential structure fire for NFIRS 5.0 has, therefore, changed to include only those fires where the NFIRS 5.0 Structure 

Type is 1 or 2 (enclosed building and fixed portable or mobile structure) with a residential property use. Such fires are 

referred to as “residential buildings” to distinguish these buildings from other structures on residential properties that may 

include fences, sheds, and other uninhabitable structures. In addition, confined fire incidents that have a residential property 

use, but do not have a structure type specified are presumed to be buildings. Nonconfined fire incidents that have a residential property use without a structure type specified are considered to be invalid incidents (structure type is a required field) 

and are not included.
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 10

2 The term “residential buildings” includes what are commonly referred to as “homes,” whether they are one- or two-family dwellings or multifamily buildings. It also includes manufactured housing, hotels and motels, residential hotels, dormitories, assisted living facilities, and halfway houses—residences for formerly institutionalized individuals (patients with 

mental disabilities, drug addicts, or those formerly incarcerated) that are designed to facilitate their readjustment to private 

life. The term “residential buildings” does not include institutions such as prisons, nursing homes, juvenile care facilities, or 

hospitals, even though people may reside in these facilities for short or long periods of time.

3 National estimates are based on 2008–2010 native Version 5.0 data from NFIRS, residential structure fire-loss estimates 

from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual surveys of fire loss, and the U.S. Fire Administration’s 

(USFA’s) residential building fire-loss estimates. Fires are rounded to the nearest 100, deaths to the nearest 5, injuries to the 

nearest 25, and loss to the nearest million dollars.

4 Al’s Home Improvement Center, “Venting Clothes Dryers,” http://www.alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/dryervent.html.

5 The Laundry Alternative, “Clothes Dryer Fire Prevention,” http://www.laundry-alternative.com/clothes_dryer_fire.htm.

6 Colonial Plumbing & Heating, “Dryer Fire Fact Sheet,” http://www.colonialplumbing.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=113.

7 The average fire death and fire injury loss rates computed from the national estimates do not agree with average fire 

death and fire injury loss rates computed from NFIRS data alone. For example, the fire death rate computed from national 

estimates is (1,000*(5/2,900)) = 1.7 deaths per 1,000 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings, and the fire injury rate is 

(1,000*(100/2,900)) = 34.5 injuries per 1,000 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. 

8 “One- and two-family residential buildings” include detached dwellings, manufactured homes, mobile homes not in 

transit, and duplexes. “Multifamily residential buildings” include apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, condominiums, 

and other tenement properties. “Hotels/Motels” include those for commercial use. “Other residential buildings” include 

boarding/rooming houses, residential board and care facilities, dormitory-type residences, sorority/fraternity houses, and 

barracks.

9 For the purposes of this report, the time of the fire alarm is used as an approximation for the general time the fire started. 

However, in NFIRS, it is the time the fire was reported to the fire department.

10 Underwriters Laboratories, “Product Safety Tips: Clothes Dryers,” http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/

perspectives/consumer/productsafety/dryers/.

11 Included in these fires were those coded as “confined fires” in NFIRS. Confined building fires are small fire incidents that 

are limited in scope, confined to noncombustible containers, rarely result in serious injury or large content losses, and are 

expected to have no significant accompanying property losses due to flame damage. In NFIRS, confined fires are defined by 

Incident Type codes 113–118.

12 All incidents where smoke alarm presence was not reported were confined fires (Incident Type codes 113–118). NFIRS 

allows abbreviated reporting for confined fires, and many reporting details of these fires including smoke alarm presence 

are not required, nor are they reported. 

13 “Residential Building Fires (2008–2010),” USFA, April 2012, Volume 13, Issue 2, http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/

pdf/statistics/v13i2.pdf.

14 Total does not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

15 All incidents where AES presence was not reported were confined fires (Incident Type codes 113–118). NFIRS allows 

abbreviated reporting for confined fires, and many reporting details of these fires including AES presence are not required, 

nor are they reported. 

16 Cristina Rojas, “Readington Family Displaced Monday After Dryer Fire Damages Home,” www.nj.com, March 27, 2012, 

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/03/readington_family_displaced_mo.html (accessed 

April 2, 2012).
TFRS Volume 13, Issue 7/Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Page 11

17 “Chapel Hill Firefighters Put Out Dryer Fire,” www.newsobserver.com, March 6, 2012, http://www.newsobserver.

com/2012/03/06/1909480/chapel-hill-firefighters-put-out.html (accessed April 2, 2012). 

18 Kate Mather, “Fire Investigators Blame Dryer for Blaze in Cornelius Home,” www.oregonlive.com, February 27, 2012, 

http://www.oregonlive.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2012/02/fire_investigators_blame_dryer.html (accessed April 2, 2012). 

19 2012 International Residential Code®, Section M1502, International Code Council, Washington, DC 20001, 2012. 

20 International Code Council. 

21 Don Vandervort’s Home Tips, “Clothes Dryer Venting (Ductwork) Problems,” http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/

dryer-vent.html.

22 Al’s Home Improvement Center.

23 Colonial Plumbing & Heating.

24 Builder’s Best, “Do I Have to Vent My Dryer to the Outside?” http://buildersbest.com/indoor.htm.

25 Colonial Plumbing & Heating.

26 Ibid.

27 Underwriters Laboratories, “Product Safety Tips: Clothes Dryers.”

28 Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, “Clothes Dryer Fact Sheet,” http://www.aham.org/ht/a/

GetDocumentAction/i/859.

29 CPSC Safety Alert: Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, http://www.cpsc.gov/

cpscpub/pubs/5022.pdf.

30 USFA, “Focus on Fire Safety: Appliance Fires,” http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/focus/appliances.shtm.

31 Al’s Home Improvement Center.

32 Colonial Plumbing & Heating.

33 NFIRS has two equipment involved in ignition codes that are applicable to dryers: code 811 (clothes dryer) and 814 

(washer/dryer combination in one frame). This analysis is based on equipment that is exclusively clothes dryers, equipment 

code 811.

34 NFIRS distinguishes between “content” and “property” loss. Content loss includes loss to the contents of a structure due 

to damage by fire, smoke, water, and overhaul. Property loss includes losses to the structure itself or to the property itself. 

Total loss is the sum of the content loss and the property loss. For confined fires, the expectation is that the fire did not 

spread beyond the container (or rubbish for Incident Type 118), and hence, there was no property damage (damage to the 

structure itself) from the flames. There could be, however, property damage as a result of smoke, water, and overhaul.