Topical Fire Report Series

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

National Fire Data Center • Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 

www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/

Volume 14, Issue 6 / July 2013

Multiple-fatality Fires 

in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

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 National Fire 

Incident Reporting System. 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

— Each year, an estimated 200 fires in residential buildings reported to United States fire 

departments resulted in multiple fatalities. These fires annually caused an estimated 740 

deaths, 175 injuries and $34 million in property loss.

— Multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings tended to be larger, caused more damage, and had 

higher injury rates than both single-fatality fires and nonfatal fires in residential buildings. 

— One- and two-family dwellings accounted for 81 percent of multiple-fatality fires in 

residential buildings.

— The leading areas of fire origin in multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings were bedrooms 

(23 percent) and common areas such as living and family rooms (23 percent). 

— “Other unintentional, careless” action was the leading cause of multiple-fatality fires in 

residential buildings (16 percent). 

— The leading human factor contributing to the ignition of multiple-fatality fires in residential 

buildings was being “asleep” (53 percent).

— Multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings were more prevalent in the cooler months, spiking 

in January at 17 percent. 

— Multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings occurred most frequently from 1 to 5 a.m. This 

four-hour time period accounted for 38 percent of the multiple-fatality residential building fires. 

— In 91 percent of multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings, the fire extended beyond the 

room of origin. 

— When smoke alarms were reported to be present in multiple-fatality fires in residential 

buildings, they operated in 33 percent of the incidents and failed to operate in 23 percent.

Historically, the fire death rate in the U.S. has been 

higher than most of the industrialized world. While 

the U.S. still has one of the highest fire death rates (9.6 

deaths per million population) in the industrialized world 

today, its standing has greatly improved.1,2 Falling from 

among the top three nations in terms of the fire death rate 

two decades ago, the U.S. now has the 13th highest fire 

death rate per million people.3

 Nevertheless, civilian fire 

fatalities are still high. From 2009 to 2011, an estimated 

3,045 civilian fire deaths were reported to fire departments 

across the country each year.4

Fires in residential buildings that resulted in two or more 

civilian fire deaths were rare occurrences. In fact, less than 

0.1 percent of all fires in residential buildings involved multiple fatalities. However, these multiple fatalities accounted 

for 30 percent of all fatalities that resulted from residential 

building fires. In addition, and most importantly, these 

events are inherently tragic.

An estimated 200 multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings occurred annually in recent years (2009 to 2011).5,6 

These fires resulted in an annual average of approximately 

740 deaths, 175 injuries and $34 million in property loss.

This report is one of a continuing series of topical reports 

issued by the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Data 

Center, and it addresses the characteristics of multiplefatality fires in residential buildings reported to the National 

Fire Incident Reporting System from 2009 to 2011, the 

most recent data available at the time of the analysis. The 

information in this report about multiple-fatality fires in 

residential buildings can be used not only to assess progress 

but also to understand the nature of the fatal fire problem 

and its implications for targeting of prevention programs. 

Additional information on the fatal fire problem can be 

found in USFA’s topical report, “Fatal Fires in Residential 

Buildings (2009-2011)” (Volume 14, Issue 3). 
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 2

For the purpose of this report, the terms “residential fires” 

and “residential multiple-fatality fires” or “multiple-fatality 

fires” are synonymous with “residential building fires” and 

“multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings,” respectively. 

“Residential multiple-fatality fires” or “multiple-fatality 

fires” is used throughout the body of this report; the findings, tables, charts, headings and endnotes reflect the full 

category, “multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings.”

Loss Measures

Although residential multiple-fatality fires accounted for less 

than one-tenth of a percent of the overall residential fire 

profile and only 13 percent of all fatal fires in residential 

buildings, they had tremendous and devastating outcomes. 

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

for residential multiple-fatality, single-fatality and nonfatal 

fires.7

 In addition to resulting in multiple fatalities, residential multiple-fatality fires reported to NFIRS had over twice 

as many deaths per fire than that of single-fatality residential building fires. Residential multiple-fatality fires also 

had 19 times as many injuries per fire and more than seven 

times the dollar loss per fire than that of nonfatal residential 

building fires. These statistics reflect the destructive nature 

of residential multiple-fatality fires.

Table 1. Loss Measures for Multiple-fatality, Single-fatality and Nonfatal Fires 

in Residential Buildings (three-year average, 2009-2011)

Measure Multiple-fatality Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Single-fatality Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Nonfatal Fires in 

Residential Buildings

Average Loss:

Fatalities per fire 2.47 1.0 0.0

Injuries per fire 0.57 0.27 0.03

Dollar loss per fire $115,300 $87,770 $15,080

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1. Average loss is computed per fire; average dollar loss is rounded to the nearest $10.

2. When calculating the average dollar loss per fire for 2009-2011, the 2009 and 2010 dollar-loss values were adjusted to their equivalent 2011 dollar-loss values to account for inflation.

As Table 2 shows, 89 percent of residential multiple-fatality 

fires involved two or three fatalities (72 percent involved 

two fatalities while 17 percent involved three fatalities). 

Residential multiple-fatality fires that resulted in five or 

more fatalities were rare and represented 5 percent of all 

multiple-fatality fires.

Table 2. Fatalities per Fire in Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

Fatalities per Fire Percent of Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings

2 71.7

3 17.4

4 5.6

5 or more 5.2

Total 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

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

When Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential 

Buildings Occur

As shown in Figure 1, residential multiple-fatality fires 

occurred most frequently in the early morning hours.8

From 2009 to 2011, residential multiple-fatality fires were 

highest from 1 to 5 a.m., peaking from 1 to 2 a.m. (11 percent). Over one-third (38 percent) of multiple-fatality fires 

occurred during these four hours. Multiple-fatality fires 

then declined throughout the day, reaching the lowest point 

during the late afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. 
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 3

Figure 1. Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings by Time of Alarm (2009-2011)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

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 Multiple-fatality Fires

in Residential Buildings

6.0

11.2

7.9

8.9

6.8 6.8

3.1 3.1

1.6 1.4

2.3 1.9 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.7

1.0

2.7

1.9

4.7

5.6

3.1

9.9

3.7

Source: NFIRS 5.0. 

The time of alarm profile for residential multiple-fatality 

fires was in contrast to the alarm time profile for nonfatal 

residential building fires as shown in Figure 2. Nonfatal 

fires had the reverse daily cycle, with fires, predominantly 

caused by cooking, occurring during the late afternoon 

and evening.9

 There are several possible reasons for this. 

First, many people are sleeping and less on guard in the 

middle of the night. If smoke alarms are not present, these 

individuals may die before waking up to a fire. Second, 

cigarette and other smoldering fires started by careless 

actions before people retire for the night may go unnoticed 

and grow to rapidly progressing fires while they are sleeping. While residential multiple-fatality fires had a similar 

time profile to single-fatality residential fires by occurring 

more often in the late night and early morning hours, the 

multiple-fatality fire profile was much more pronounced. 

Figure 2. Time of Alarm for Multiple-fatality, Single-fatality and Nonfatal Fires

in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

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 Residential 

Buildings Fires

Multiple-fatality Residential Building Fires

Single-fatality Residential Building Fires

Nonfatal Residential Building Fires

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

There was a higher incidence of residential multiple-fatality 

fires in the cooler months, perhaps as a result of increased 

activities indoors. In fact, almost half (47 percent) of multiple-fatality fires occurred in the four months of December 

through March. Residential multiple-fatality fires spiked in 

January at 17 percent (Figure 3). Multiple-fatality fire incidence was lowest in June and September (both at 5 percent). 
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 4

Figure 3. Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings by Month (2009-2011)

Month of Year

Percent of Multiple-fatality Fires 

in Residential Buildings

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

November

December

October

September

August

July

April

May

June

March

February

January

16.5

10.7 10.1

6.8

5.2

7.2 7.8

5.2

7.4

9.5

7.0 6.8

Source: NFIRS 5.0. 

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

Where Multiple-fatality Fires in 

Residential Buildings Start

One- and two-family dwellings accounted for 81 percent 

of residential multiple-fatality fires as seen in Table 3. This 

is not surprising since almost three-quarters of the population lives in these types of residences.10 Multifamily dwellings such as apartments, townhouses, condominiums and 

tenement properties accounted for 15 percent of all residential multiple-fatality fires. Other residential occupancies, 

including boarding and rooming houses as well as hotels 

and motels, were a very small portion, accounting for only 

4 percent of residential multiple-fatality fires. The distribution of multiple-fatality fires was very similar to that of 

single-fatality residential fires.

Table 3. Property Use for Multiple- and Single-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings 

(2009-2011)

Property Use Percent of Multiple-fatality Fires 

in Residential Buildings

Percent of Single-fatality Fires 

in Residential Buildings

One- and two-family dwellings 81.0 79.5

Multifamily dwellings 14.9 15.8

Other residential buildings 2.9 3.5

Boarding, rooming houses 1.0 0.7

Hotels and motels 0.2 0.6

Total 100.0 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0. 

Note: Total of single-fatality fires in residential buildings does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

Table 4 shows the leading areas of fire origin in residential 

multiple-fatality fires. These fires started most frequently in 

bedrooms (23 percent) and common rooms including dens, 

family rooms, living rooms and lounges (also 23 percent). 

Fires starting in cooking areas or kitchens accounted for an 

additional 12 percent of residential multiple-fatality fires. 

These areas of fire origin were also the three leading areas 

of fire origin for single-fatality residential fires.
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 5

Table 4. Leading Areas of Origin for Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

Area of Origin Percent

(Unknowns Apportioned)

Bedrooms 23.4

Common room, den, family room, living room, lounge 22.9

Cooking area, kitchen 12.2

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Causes of Multiple-fatality Fires in 

Residential Buildings 

The causes of fires are often a complex chain of events. To 

determine the cause of a fire, analysts rely on the data collected. Heat source, equipment involved, factors (human or 

otherwise) contributing to the ignition, incident type, and 

the cause of ignition are the primary data elements used to 

determine cause.11 A large percentage of residential multiple-fatality fire incidents reported to NFIRS (48 percent), 

however, did not have sufficient information to determine 

the cause of the fire. As a result, the cause analyses that follow reflect only the 52 percent of incidents where enough 

information and detail was reported to determine the cause 

of the fatal fire, making it difficult to establish conclusions.

“Other unintentional, careless” action was the leading cause 

of residential multiple-fatality fires at 16 percent (Figure 4). 

“Other unintentional, careless” actions include misuse of a 

material or product, abandoned or discarded materials or 

products, heat source placed too close to combustibles, and 

miscellaneous unintentional actions. The next leading causes 

were “cause under investigation,” “electrical malfunction” 

and “intentional” action at 12 percent each. These leading 

causes accounted for 52 percent of multiple-fatality fires.

By comparison, “other unintentional, careless” action 

and “smoking”12 were the leading causes of single-fatality 

residential fires at 16 percent each. Fires caused by “other 

unintentional, careless” action played a larger role in both 

multiple-fatality and single-fatality fires (16 percent each) 

than in nonfatal residential fires (7 percent), where cooking 

was the predominant cause (46 percent).

Figure 4. Causes of Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

Percent of Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings

Causes

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0 55.0

Unknown

Cause Under Investigation

Other Unintentional, Careless

Equipment Misoperation, Failure

Exposure

Natural

Other Equipment

Other Heat

Open Flame

Appliances

Electrical Malfunction

Cooking

Heating

Smoking

Playing with Heat Source

Intentional 11.6

6.0

3.7

9.7

1.9

5.0

3.4

1.7

8.6

4.5

3.0

1.6

6.3

3.3

11.6

6.0

6.7

3.5

1.1

0.7

0.6

0.4

5.2

2.7

0.0

0.0

16.4

11.9

6.2

48.1

8.5

Percent of Multiple-fatality 

Fires in Residential Buildings 

with Cause Determined

Percent of Multiple-fatality 

Fires in Residential Buildings

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes: 1. Total of multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings with cause determined does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

2. Causes are listed in order of the USFA Structure Fire Cause Hierarchy for ease of comparison of fire causes across different aspects of the fire problem. Fires are assigned to one of 16 cause groupings using 

a hierarchy of definitions, approximately as shown in the chart above. A fire is included in the highest category into which it fits. If it does not fit the top category, then the second one is considered, and if not that 

one, the third and so on. For example, if the fire is judged to be intentionally set and a match was used to ignite it, it is classified as intentional and not open flame because intentional is higher in the hierarchy.
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 6

Fire Spread in Multiple-fatality Fires in 

Residential Buildings

As shown in Figure 5, 91 percent of residential multiplefatality fires extended beyond the room of origin. By comparison, 77 percent of single-fatality fires extended beyond 

the room of origin. While only 9 percent of residential 

multiple-fatality fires were confined to the room or object 

of origin, these smaller spreading fires are evidence that a 

fire does not have to be large to cause multiple fatalities. 

Figure 5. Extent of Fire Spread in Multiple- and Single-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings 

(2009-2011)

Percent of Fatal Fires in Residential Buildings

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0

Beyond Building of Origin

Confined to Building of Origin

Confined to Floor of Origin

Confined to Room of Origin

Confined to Object of Origin 1.6

3.6

64.7

53.8

12.2

17.2

19.5

7.2

10.9

9.3

Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings

Single-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Human Factors Contributing to Ignition 

of Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential 

Buildings

Human factors — the human condition or situation that 

allowed the heat source and combustible material to 

combine to ignite the fire — played an important role in 

residential multiple-fatality fires. The leading human factor 

contributing to the ignition of the fire was being “asleep” 

(53 percent). This finding is not unexpected, as 72 percent 

of residential multiple-fatality fires occurred during the 

10-hour period, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., when many people were 

expected to be sleeping (Table 5). “Possibly impaired by 

alcohol or drugs” and “physical disability” were the next 

leading human factors contributing to the ignition of the 

fire at 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively. 

Table 5. Human Factors Contributing to Ignition of Multiple-fatality Fires 

in Residential Buildings (Where Human Factor Contributing Specified, 2009-2011)

Human Factors Contributing to Ignition Percent

(Unknowns Apportioned)

Asleep 53.2

Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs 17.4

Physical disability 14.7

Unattended or unsupervised person 13.7

Age was a factor 12.1

Possible intellectual disability 8.9

Multiple persons involved 7.9

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

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

2. Multiple human factors contributing to fire ignition may be noted for each incident; total will exceed 100 percent.
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 7

Alerting/Suppression Systems in Multiplefatality Fires in Residential Buildings

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

fire fatalities and injuries. Households with fires (both fatal 

and nonfatal), however, were less likely to have had smoke 

alarms (93 percent) than nonfire households (97 percent).13

In addition, a continuing trend of multiple-fatality fires in 

residential buildings is the high proportion with no smoke 

alarms or nonfunctioning smoke alarms.

Note that the data presented in Tables 6 and 7 are the raw 

counts from the NFIRS data set and are not scaled to national 

estimates of smoke alarms in residential multiple-fatality 

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

of the type of smoke alarm — that is, if the smoke alarm was 

photoelectric or ionization — or the location of the smoke 

alarm with respect to the point of origin of the fire.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms were reported as present in 36 percent of residential multiple-fatality fires. By comparison, smoke alarms 

were present in 42 percent of nonfatal residential fires.14 In 

25 percent of residential multiple-fatality fires, there were 

no smoke alarms present.15 Nationally, only 3 percent of 

households do not have a smoke alarm installed.16 This 

lack of early warning is a considerable factor in residential 

multiple-fatality fires. Lastly, in 40 percent of these multiple-fatality fires, firefighters were unable to determine if a 

smoke alarm was present (Table 6).17

Table 6. Presence of Smoke Alarms in Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

Presence of Smoke Alarms Percent

Present 35.7

None present 24.6

Undetermined 39.7

Total 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Where the existence of a smoke alarm was not determined, 

91 percent of the fires spread beyond the floor of fire origin. 

Because these fires were so expansive, it may be impossible 

to determine the presence of smoke alarms. 

Fires in one- and two-family housing accounted for 86 percent of residential multiple-fatality fires in which no smoke 

alarm was present. Multifamily housing accounted for just 

10 percent of these fires, perhaps because it is subject to 

more stringent codes and often requires the landlord or 

manager to maintain the detection systems. 

When smoke alarm operational status was considered 

(Table 7), the percentage of smoke alarms reported as present (36 percent) consisted of:

—Present and operated — 12 percent.

—Present but did not operate — 8 percent (alarm failed to 

operate, 8 percent; fire too small, 0 percent).

—Present but operational status unknown — 16 percent. 

When the subset of incidents where smoke alarms were 

reported as present is analyzed separately, smoke alarms 

were reported to have operated in 33 percent of the incidents and failed to operate in 23 percent. The operational 

status of the alarm was undetermined in 45 percent of 

these incidents.18

Table 7. NFIRS Smoke Alarm Data for Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

Presence of 

Smoke Alarms Smoke Alarm Operational Status Smoke Alarm Effectiveness Count Percent

Present

Fire too small to activate smoke alarm 0 0.0

Smoke alarm operated

Smoke alarm alerted occupants, occupants responded 29 5.6

Smoke alarm alerted occupants, occupants failed to respond 13 2.5

No occupants 0 0.0

Smoke alarm failed to alert occupants 1 0.2

Undetermined 17 3.3

Smoke alarm failed to operate 42 8.1

Undetermined 82 15.9

None present 127 24.6

Undetermined 205 39.7

Total incidents 516 100.0

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 multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings. They are presented 

for informational purposes. 

2. Total does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 8

Automatic Extinguishing Systems

Overall, full or partial automatic extinguishing systems, 

mainly sprinklers, were present in less than 1 percent of 

residential multiple-fatality fires (Table 8). This is to be 

expected, as residential sprinklers are largely absent in residences nationwide.19

Table 8. NFIRS AES Data for Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)

AES Presence Count Percent

AES present 2 0.4

Partial system present 0 0.0

AES not present 473 91.7

Unknown 41 7.9

Total incidents 516 100.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note: The data presented in this table are raw data counts from the NFIRS data set. They do not represent national estimates of AESs in multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings. They are presented for informational purposes. 

Examples

The following are examples of residential multiple-fatality 

fires reported by the media:

—April 2013: A mother, 94, and daughter, 64, died in a 

late night house fire in Whately, Mass. When fire crews 

arrived on-scene, they rescued the mother and daughter, who were both unconscious. It appeared to officials 

that the daughter was trying to get the mother out of the 

house. Both mother and daughter were rushed to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. The fire started 

under the floor of an old prefabricated metal fireplace 

that had rusted and decayed, causing the fireplace to 

malfunction.20

—February 2013: A single-story house fire caused by an 

unattended stove claimed the lives of three adults in 

Richland, Ga. Two women, ages 84 and 65, and one 

59-year-old man, died as a result of the fire. The oldest 

victim was the mother of the other two victims.21

—February 2013: A mobile home fire in English, Ind., 

killed three adults and two children, ages 3 and 8. The 

Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office ruled that the fire was 

accidental and ignited by a wood burning stove.22

—December 2012: A morning house fire killed a mother, 

28, and her four children, ranging in age from 3 to 8, in 

northwest Oklahoma City, Okla. The fire, which started 

about 6:30 a.m., was caused by a space heater sitting too 

close to flammable material. The mother’s boyfriend was 

also severely burned and in critical condition. In addition 

to the victims, firefighters found the bodies of three dogs 

inside of the house.23

NFIRS Data Specifications for Multiplefatality Fires in Residential Buildings

Data for this report were extracted from the NFIRS annual 

Public Data Release files for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Only version 5.0 data were extracted.

Multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings were defined 

using the following criteria:

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

given) were excluded to avoid double counting of 

incidents.

—Incident Types 111 to 123 (excludes 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

Note: Incident Types 113 to 118 do not specify if the structure is a building.
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 9

—Property Use series 400, which consists of the following:

Property 

Use Description

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.

—2—Fixed portable or mobile structure.

—Civilian deaths greater than one.

The analyses contained in this report reflect the current 

methodologies used by the USFA. USFA is committed to 

providing the best information on the U.S. 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 The U.S. fire death rate for 2011 shown here is based on the National Fire Protection Association’s estimate of fire deaths in 

2011 and the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 1 estimate of the 2011 U.S. resident population.

2 USFA, “Fire Death Rate Trends: An International Perspective,” July 2011, Volume 12, Issue 8, http://www.usfa.fema.gov/

downloads/pdf/statistics/v12i8.pdf.

3 The Geneva Association, “World Fire Statistics,” Geneva Association Information Newsletter, Number 28, October 2012. Note:

Belgium was excluded from this review, as its 2007-2009 death rates were unavailable.

4 The 2009-2011 annual average estimate of civilian fire deaths is based on data from the NFPA’s report, “Fire Loss in the 

United States During 2011,” September 2012.

5 National estimates are based on 2009-2011 native version 5.0 data from NFIRS, residential structure fire loss estimates 

from the NFPA’s annual surveys of fire loss, and the USFA’s residential building fire loss estimates: http://www.usfa.fema.

gov/statistics/estimates/index.shtm. Fires are rounded to the nearest 100, deaths to the nearest five, injuries to the nearest 

25, and losses to the nearest million dollars.

6 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 structures 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. 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 without a structure type specified are considered to be invalid incidents (structure type is a required field) and are not included.

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. The national estimates are based on a sample of fire departments 

that report fatality totals. The NFIRS data are based on a large set of fires, with the data at the individual fire incident level. 

The fire death rate computed from national estimates is 740/200 = 3.7 deaths per multiple-fatality fire in residential buildings and the fire injury rate is 175/200 = 0.9 injuries per multiple-fatality fire in residential buildings. 
TFRS Volume 14, Issue 6/Multiple-fatality Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011) Page 10

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

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

9 USFA, “Cooking Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010),” Volume 13, Issue 12, January 2013, http://www.usfa.fema.

gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v13i12.pdf.

10 The U.S. Census Bureau shows that in 2011, 76.3 percent (87.7 million) of occupied housing units were one-unit attached 

and detached structures or manufactured/mobile homes (http://www.census.gov/housing/ahs/data/national.html for 

occupied housing). Household size (2007-2011) was estimated at 2.6 people per household (http://quickfacts.census.gov/

qfd/states/00000.html). Thus, 87.7 million housing units x 2.6 people per household = 228 million people lived in one-unit 

attached and detached structures or mobile homes. With the 2011 U.S. population estimate given as 311.6 million, (Annual 

Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 

(NST-EST2012-01) http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/totals/2012/index.html), approximately 73.2 percent of the 

population lived in what NFIRS defines as one- and two-family housing.

11 The USFA Structure Fire Cause Methodology was used to determine the cause of multiple-fatality fires in residential 

buildings: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/nfirs/tools/fire_cause_category_matrix.shtm.

12 USFA differentiates between smoking as a cause of fires and fires ignited by smoking materials. Smoking or smokingrelated fires are considered a behavioral cause. Fires ignited by smoking materials are considered as a group of fires where 

smoking materials were the heat source. The two sets are similar but not identical. A deliberately set fire with smoking 

materials as the heat of ignition would be considered an “intentional” fire; a fire unintentionally set by someone smoking 

(cigarettes, cigars or other smoking materials) would be considered a “smoking” fire.

13 Greene, Michael, and Craig Andres. 2004-2005 National Sample Survey of Unreported Residential Fires. Division of Hazard Analysis, 

Directorate for Epidemiology, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Table 5-3, July 2009.

14 Here, 42 percent reflects nonconfined residential nonfatal fires only. Nonconfined fires are generally large and more serious fires. Confined fires, defined in NFIRS as Incident Types 113-118, are excluded from this analysis as the NFIRS smoke 

alarm data elements are not required to be completed for these types of fires. 

15 Here, at least 25 percent of multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings had no smoke alarms present — the 25 percent 

that were known to not have smoke alarms and some portion (or as many as all) of the fires where the smoke alarm presence was undetermined.

16 Greene, Michael, and Craig Andres. 2004-2005 National Sample Survey of Unreported Residential Fires. Division of Hazard Analysis, 

Directorate for Epidemiology, CPSC, July 2009.

17 The percentages cited for the presence of smoke alarms in multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings do not add up to 

100 percent due to rounding.

18 When the subset of incidents where smoke alarms were reported as present is analyzed separately, the percentages cited for 

the presence of smoke alarms in multiple-fatality fires in residential buildings do not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

19 Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey Branch, “American 

Housing Survey for the United States: 2009,” Table 1-4, www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/ahs09/ahs09.html.

20 Samantha Lavien, “House Fire in Whately on Wednesday Night Leaves 2 Women Dead,” cbs3springfield.com, April 4, 

2013. http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/21880128/house-fire-in-whately-wednesday-night-leaves-two-women-dead 

(accessed April 5, 2013).

21 Jennifer Maddox Parks, “Three Killed in Richland House Fire,” albanyherald.com, Feb. 11, 2013. http://www.

albanyherald.com/news/2013/feb/11/three-dead-richland-house-fire/ (accessed April 5, 2013).

22 “Officials: Wood Stove Caused Fire That Killed 5,” wdrb.com, Feb. 15, 2013. http://www.wdrb.com/story/21136999/

officials-wood-stove-caused-fire-that-killed-5 (accessed April 5, 2013).

23 Bryan Dean and Robert Medley, “Update: Victims of Deadly House Fire in North Oklahoma City Are Identified,” newsok.

com, Dec. 26, 2012. http://newsok.com/update-victims-of-deadly-house-fire-in-north-oklahoma-city-are-identified/

article/3740771 (accessed April 5, 2013).