National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/

July 2017 | Volume 18, Issue 4 Topical Fire Report Series

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential 

Buildings (2013-2015)

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

ĵ Thermal burns and smoke inhalation were the primary symptoms leading to death, 

accounting for 90 percent of all fatalities in residential fires.

ĵ Bedrooms, at 51 percent, were the leading specific location where civilian fire 

fatalities occurred in residential buildings.

ĵ The time period from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. accounted for 51 percent of civilian fire 

fatalities in residential buildings. This period also accounted for 47 percent of fatal 

fires in residential buildings.

ĵ At the time of their deaths, 37 percent of fire victims in residential buildings were 

trying to escape; an additional 31 percent were sleeping.

ĵ “Other unintentional, careless” actions (16 percent) and “smoking” (13 percent) 

were the leading causes of fatal fires in residential buildings.

ĵ Males accounted for 58 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings; 

females accounted for 42 percent of fire fatalities.

ĵ Adults aged 50 to 69 accounted for 37 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential 

buildings.

ĵ Children less than 10 years old accounted for 11 percent of civilian fire fatalities 

in residential buildings.

Fires can strike anywhere — in structures, buildings, automobiles and the outdoors. Fires that affect our homes 

are often the most tragic and the most preventable. It is a sad fact that each year, over 75 percent of all civilian 

fire fatalities occurred as a result of fires in residential buildings — our homes.1,2

From 2013 to 2015, civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings accounted for 83 percent of all fire fatalities.3

This topical fire report focuses on the characteristics of these fatalities as reported to the National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS) from 2013 to 2015.4 NFIRS data is used for the analyses presented throughout this report.

By definition, civilian fire fatalities involve people not on active duty with a firefighting organization who die as a 

result of a fire.5 These fatalities generally occur when an individual is escaping, sleeping or unable to act during a fire.

Annually, from 2013 to 2015, an estimated 2,695 civilian fire fatalities resulted from 1,800 fatal fires in residential 

buildings and an estimated 380,200 residential building fires.6 Fatal fires are those fires where one or more 

fatalities occur. This report focuses on the characteristics of civilian fire fatalities (e.g., gender, race and age of 

the victim; activity prior to death) in residential buildings as opposed to the characteristics of the fires (e.g., fire 

spread, factors contributing to ignition, alerting/suppression systems) from which these fatalities occurred.

For the purpose of this report, the term “residential building fires” is synonymous with “residential fires.” The term 

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

reflect the full category “fires in residential buildings” or “residential building fires.”
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

2

Civilian fire fatality rates in residential buildings

Not all fires produced fatalities. When civilian fatalities were averaged across all reported residential fires, the overall 

fatality rate was nearly six civilian fatalities per 1,000 residential fires (Table 1).7Residential fatal fires had 1,201 fatalities 

for every 1,000 fires, or slightly more than one fatality per fatal fire. Of the residential fatal fires, 85 percent resulted in 

one civilian fatality, 11 percent resulted in two civilian fatalities, and 4 percent resulted in three or more civilian fatalities.

Table 1. Fatality rates for residential building fires per 1,000 fires (2013-2015)

Fatalities per 1,000 fatal fires Fatalities per 1,000 residential building fires

1,201.0 5.5

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

When fatal fires in residential buildings occur

As shown in Figure 1, residential fatal fires occurred most frequently late at night or in the very early morning when 

most people were sleeping, a major factor contributing to the fatalities (see Table 2). From 2013 to 2015, fatal fire 

incidence was highest from midnight to 2 a.m. and 3 to 5 a.m. Fatal fires were most prevalent when overall residential 

fire incidence was generally at its lowest, making nighttime fires the most deadly. The eight-hour peak period (11 p.m. 

to 7 a.m.) accounted for 47 percent of residential fatal fires and 51 percent of deaths.8

Figure 1. Fatal fires in residential buildings by time of alarm (2013-2015)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

11 p.m. - Mid

10 - 11 p.m.

9 - 10 p.m.

1 - 2 p.m.2 - 3 p.m.3 - 4 p.m.4 - 5 p.m.5 - 6 p.m.6 - 7 p.m.

7- 8 p.m.

8 - 9 p.m.

12 - 1 p.m.

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

10 - 11 a.m.

9 - 10 a.m.

1 - 2 a.m.2 - 3 a.m.3 - 4 a.m.4 - 5 a.m.5 - 6 a.m.6 - 7 a.m.7 - 8 a.m.8 - 9 a.m.

Mid - 1 a.m.

6.6 6.5

5.4

3.7 4.0

3.2

3.7

3.1 3.0 2.9 3.1

2.3

2.9 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.4

4.1 3.8

5.4

6.6 6.6

5.5

4.8

Percent of fires

Time of alarm

Fatal fires in residential buildings

Residential building fires

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note: Total does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

3

Residential fatal fires occurred more frequently in the colder months, as did all residential fires (Figure 2). The winter 

peak occurred during January (14 percent). Residential fatal fires were lowest during July and August. Comparable to 

all fires in residential buildings, residential fatal fires occurred most often on weekends (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Fatal fires in residential buildings by month (2013-2015)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

November

December

October

September

August

July

April

May

June

March

February

January

14.0

11.9

6.0 5.5 5.3 5.3 5.5

7.3

9.8

10.8

9.9

8.7

Percent of fires

Month of year

Fatal fires in residential buildings

Residential building fires

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Figure 3. Fatal fires in residential buildings by day of week (2013-2015)

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

14.5

13.8 14.1 13.8 14.9

16.0

12.9

Percent of fires

Month of year

Fatal fires in residential buildings

Residential building fires

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Source: NFIRS 5.0.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

4

Factors contributing to civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings

The most notable factors contributing to the fatalities (outside of “other (unspecified) factors”) (Figure 4) were “fire 

pattern” (62 percent), “egress problems” (20 percent), and “escape problems” (17 percent). Fire pattern factors involve 

situations where exits are blocked by smoke and flame, vision is blocked or impaired by smoke, and civilians are 

trapped above or below the fire. Egress problems include such factors as crowded situations, limited exits, locked 

exits or other exit problems, as well as mechanical obstacles to the exit. Escape factors include unfamiliarity with 

exits, excessive travel distance to the nearest clear exit, choice of an inappropriate exit route, re-entering the building, 

and clothing catching on fire while escaping.

Figure 4. Factors contributing to civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings (2013-2015)

19.3

Percent of fatalities in residential building fires

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0

Vehicle-related factors

Collapse

Equipment-related factors

Overexertion/Clothing burned

Escape problems

Other (unspecified) factors

Egress problems

Fire pattern 61.7

19.8

16.8

8.0

3.3

2.5

0.8

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes:	 1.	Only includes fatalities where factors contributing to the fatality were specified. The factors contributing to the fatality were specified in 29 percent of

reported fatalities.

2. As multiple factors contributing to fatalities may be noted for each fatality, the total sums to more than 100 percent.

Human factors contributing to civilian fire fatalities

Human factors played an important role in residential fire fatalities. The leading human factor contributing to fatalities 

was being “asleep” (44 percent). This finding was not unexpected, as the largest numbers of fatalities occurred from 

11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“Physical disability” was the second leading human factor contributing to fatalities (27 percent). This was followed 

by “possibly impaired by alcohol” and “possibly impaired by other drug or chemical” at 17 percent and 9 percent, 

respectively (Table 2).
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

5

Table 2. Human factors contributing to civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings (2013-2015)

Human factors contributing to fatality Percent of fire fatalities in residential buildings

(unknowns apportioned)

Asleep 44.0

Physical disability 26.7

Possibly impaired by alcohol 17.4

Possibly impaired by other drug or chemical 9.0

Possible intellectual disability 7.7

Unconscious 7.3

Unattended or unsupervised person 6.1

Physically restrained 0.4

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes:	 1.	Only includes fatalities where human factors that contributed to the fatality were specified. At least one human factor contributing to the fatality was

specified in 32 percent of reported fatalities.

	 2.	Multiple human factors contributing to the fire fatality may be noted for each incident; total will exceed 100 percent.

Primary symptoms of civilian fire fatalities

Thermal burns and smoke inhalation were the primary symptoms leading to death, accounting for 90 percent of 

all fatalities in residential fires. Burns and smoke inhalation combined made up 48 percent of the fatalities. Smoke 

inhalation by itself accounted for 37 percent of residential fire fatalities, and thermal burns (as opposed to scalds 

or chemical or electrical burns) alone accounted for 6 percent of fatalities (Figure 5). Thermal burns are caused by 

contact with flames, hot liquids, hot surfaces, and other sources of high heat. Multiple body parts were involved in 

92 percent of thermal burn fatalities. Cardiac arrests accounted for only 4 percent of fatalities.

Smoke inhalation affects the internal organs, specifically the lungs and airways within the body. It results from 

breathing smoke that contains harmful gases and small particles that are present in the air during a fire. These gases 

and particles include chemicals or toxins that can lead to inflammation and blockage of the airways.9

Figure 5. Civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings by primary symptoms (2013-2015)

5.7

Percent of fatalities in residential building fires

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0

Gunshot or projectile wound

Respiratory arrest

Unconscious

All other causes

Cardiac arrest

Burns only, thermal

Smoke inhalation

Burns and smoke inhalation 47.9

36.5

4.2

2.0

1.6

1.1

0.9

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes:	 1.	Percentages computed only for those fatalities where symptoms were noted. Primary symptoms were specified for 45 percent of the reported fatalities.

2. Total does not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

6

Causes of fatal fires in residential buildings

“Other unintentional, careless” actions (16 percent) and “smoking” (13 percent) were the leading causes of residential 

fires that resulted in fatalities — fatal fires (Figure 6).10 These two fire causes accounted for 29 percent of all residential 

fatal fires. “Other unintentional, careless” actions include misuse of materials or products, abandoned or discarded 

materials or products, and a heat source being too close to combustibles. The cause of the fire was “unknown” in 

47 percent of fatal fires.11

Figure 6. Causes of fatal fires in residential buildings (2013-2015) Causes

Percent of fatal fires in residential buildings

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0

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

Percent of fatal fires in residential buildings 

with cause determined

Percent of fatal fires in residential buildings

10.3

5.5

1.0

0.5

13.2

7.0

7.3

8.2

4.4

10.4

5.5

3.0

1.6

5.8

3.1

7.0

3.7

2.1

1.1

0.6

0.3

1.1

0.6

1.4

0.8

16.3

8.7

12.4

6.6

46.7

3.9

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

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

	 2.	Fires caused by intentional actions include, but are not limited to, fires that are deemed to be arson. Intentional fires are those fires that are deliberately

set and include fires that result from the deliberate misuse of a heat source and fires of an incendiary nature (arson) that require fire service intervention.

For information and statistics on arson fires only, refer to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program arson statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI,

Criminal Justice Information Services Division, https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr.

	 3.	Causes are listed in order of the U.S. Fire Administration (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 figure 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 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

7

Civilian activity prior to death

Most civilian fire fatalities occurred when the victim was attempting to escape (37 percent) or sleeping (31 percent), 

as shown in Figure 7. To escape a fire, many civilians make the mistake of fleeing through the area where the fire is 

located. The area of a fire has tremendous heat, smoke and a toxic atmosphere that can render a person unconscious. 

As a result, it is imperative that an escape plan be prepared and practiced. With a well-thought-out plan that includes 

multiple escape options, the chances of survival and escape greatly increase. In addition, it has been demonstrated 

that people may not wake up from the smell of smoke while sleeping. Therefore, it is also vital that smoke alarms are 

installed in homes to alert sleeping people to the presence of fire.12

Figure 7. Civilian activity prior to death in residential building fires (2013-2015)

11.8

Percent of fatalities in residential building fires

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0

Returning to vicinity of fire

 after control of fire

Fire control

Returning to vicinity of fire

 before control of fire

Rescue attempt

Activity, other

Irrational act

Unable to act

Sleeping

Escaping 37.4

31.4

5.8

4.4

3.2

3.0

2.7

0.3

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note:	 Percentages computed for only those fatalities where activity information was available. The activity prior to death was specified for 31 percent of reported fatalities.

Gender, race and ethnicity of civilian fire fatalities

Males accounted for 58 percent of residential fire fatalities; females accounted for 42 percent of fire fatalities. Where 

racial information was provided, Whites constituted 69 percent of the fatalities, followed by African-Americans at 

26 percent. All other races accounted for 5 percent of fire fatalities (Figure 8). Race was specified for 63 percent of 

reported fatalities.

Where ethnicity data was provided, 92 percent of civilian fatalities were non-Hispanic or non-Latino. The remaining 

8 percent were Hispanic or Latino. Ethnicity was specified for 40 percent of reported fatalities.

Figure 8. Civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings by race (2013-2015)

Percent of fatalities in residential building fires

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

Native Hawaiian or

 other Pacific Islander

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Other, includes multiracial

African-American

White 69.4

2.7

1.1

1.0

0.1

25.7

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note:	 Percentages computed for only those fatalities where racial information was available. Race was specified for 63 percent of reported fatalities.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

8

Age and activity prior to death

Adults aged 50 to 69 accounted for 37 percent of civilian fatalities in residential fires (Figure 9). Children less than 10 

years old accounted for 11 percent of fatalities, while adults aged 70 and over accounted for 25 percent of fatalities.

Where the information was reported, at the time of death, escaping (37 percent) and sleeping (31 percent) were the 

two leading activities that resulted in fatalities. Children aged 0 to 9 were primarily sleeping (39 percent) over trying 

to escape (33 percent). Adults aged 30 to 49 were also more likely to be sleeping at the time of their deaths. Those 

aged 10 to 29 and those aged 50 and over were more likely trying to escape at the time of their deaths, as opposed 

to sleeping (Table 3). Overall, activity at the time of the fatal injury was reported for 31 percent of the fatalities.

Figure 9. Civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings by age group (2013-2015)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90+

10.9

4.6

9.6

18.1 18.7

13.5

8.8

2.5

5.6

8.0

Percent of fatalities in

residential building fires

Age

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Notes:	 1.	Percentages computed only for those fatalities where age was valid. A valid age was provided for nearly all reported fatalities (99.8 percent).

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

Table 3. Leading activities resulting in civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings by age group (2013-2015)

Percent of fatalities where age and activity reported (2013-2015)

Age group Escaping Sleeping

0-9 33.3 39.2

10-19 40.6 39.1

20-29 47.3 32.4

30-39 34.3 41.0

40-49 28.7 31.3

50-59 36.5 29.5

60-69 40.4 26.2

70-79 38.8 29.1

80-89 41.2 28.2

90+ 29.3 26.8

Overall 37.4 31.4

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note: Percentages computed only for those fatalities where age was valid and activity was reported.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

9

Specific location of fire fatality

Bedrooms (51 percent) were the leading specific location where civilian fire fatalities occurred in residential buildings 

(Table 4). Family rooms or living rooms (11 percent); bathrooms (8 percent); and kitchens and cooking areas (7 percent) 

accounted for an additional 26 percent.

While not specific rooms in the home, egress areas accounted for 11 percent of fatalities. Exits (such as corridors, 

stairways and doors) can get filled with smoke, fire or extreme heat, making escape routes treacherous.

Table 4. Leading specific location of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings (2013-2015)

Specific location at time of fatal injury Percent

(unknowns apportioned)

Bedrooms 50.7

Common rooms, dens, family rooms, living rooms, lounges 11.1

Bathrooms 8.2

Kitchens and cooking areas 6.7

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

Note:	 Percentages computed only for those fatalities where the specific location at the time of fatal injury was specified. The location of the fatality was specified for

28 percent of reported fatalities.

Examples

The following are some recent examples of civilian fire fatalities reported by the media:

ĵ March 2017: A house fire in Taneytown, Maryland, claimed the life of a 2-year-old girl. The fire, which was reported 

at 3:34 p.m. on a Wednesday, was believed to have started in the attic of the two-story home. Firefighters were 

able to contain the fire to the attic. Another toddler, age unknown, was able to escape from the home. The Office 

of the State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.13

ĵ March 2017: A 77-year-old man died in a house fire south of Simsboro, Louisiana, on a Saturday night. When 

firefighters arrived on scene, the house was engulfed in flames. Investigators believed that the man was trying to 

escape from the home when he died. A heater is believed to have started the fire; however, the Louisiana State 

Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating. It was reported that the home had no smoke alarms.14

ĵ March 2017: An apartment fire resulting in the death of a 58-year-old woman in Moorhead, Minnesota, was 

reported around 10:40 a.m. on a Wednesday. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found smoke coming from 

a garden level apartment and discovered the woman inside the home. The fire was determined to be started by 

smoking materials in the bedroom. The apartment sustained heavy smoke damage, while minor to moderate 

smoke damage was reportedly found throughout the remainder of the building.15

ĵ March 2017: A 44-year-old woman died as a result of a house fire in Dalton, Georgia. The fire happened around 

5:40 p.m. on a Sunday. After firefighters rescued the woman from the home, she was transported to the hospital 

where she later succumbed to her injuries. Investigators reported that the cause of the blaze was possibly due 

to an electrical malfunction in the attic. No smoke alarm was found in the home.16
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

10

Escape planning for residential buildings

Everyone should know how to escape from a burning home. The USFA recommends leaving fighting a fire to trained 

firefighters. Instead, efforts should be focused on escaping.

Smoke is very dangerous. It blocks vision, and the poisonous gases can cause dizziness, disorientation and ultimately 

death. These conditions can result in becoming lost or trapped in a home. Because many people die trying to escape 

from a fire, everyone should practice a home escape plan.

Put working smoke alarms on every level of the home, as well as inside and outside of sleeping areas. Everyone should 

create a home escape plan and know two safe ways out of each room. Establish a family meeting place outside the 

home. In addition, because young children, older adults and individuals with disabilities may need help getting out 

of the home, the plan should include who will assist them in a fire. Practice the plan with everyone in the home at 

least two times a year. For more information on preparing and practicing a fire escape plan, visit https://www.usfa.

fema.gov/prevention/outreach/escape.html.

Alerting/Suppression systems in residential buildings 

Fire fatalities and injuries have declined over the last 35 years, partly due to new technologies to detect and extinguish 

fires. Smoke alarms are present in most homes. In addition, the use of residential sprinklers is widely supported by 

the fire service and is gaining support within residential communities.

Nationally, only 3 percent of households do not have smoke alarms.17 Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms 

provide an early warning signal to everyone in a home if a fire occurs. Smoke alarms help save lives and property.

The USFA continues to partner with other government agencies and fire service organizations to improve and develop 

new smoke alarm technologies. More information on smoke alarm technologies, performance, disposal and storage, 

training bulletins, and public education and outreach materials is available at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/

technology/smoke_fire_alarms.html.

Residential sprinkler systems help to reduce the risk of deaths and injuries, homeowner insurance premiums, and 

uninsured property losses. Yet many homes do not have automatic extinguishing systems, although they are often 

found in hotels and businesses. Sprinklers are required by code in hotels and many multifamily residences. There 

are major movements in the U.S. fire service to require sprinklers in all new homes. At present, however, they are 

largely absent in residences nationwide.18

The USFA and fire service officials across the nation are working to promote and advance residential fire sprinklers. 

More information on costs and benefits, performance, training bulletins, and public education and outreach 

materials regarding residential sprinklers is available at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/technology/home_

fire_sprinklers.html. Additionally, the USFA’s position statement on residential sprinklers is available at https://www.

usfa.fema.gov/about/sprinklers_position.html.

NFIRS data specifications for civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings 

Data for this report were extracted from the NFIRS annual Public Data Release files for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Only 

Version 5.0 data were extracted.

Civilian fatalities in residential building fires were defined using the following criteria:

ĵ Aid Types 3 (mutual aid given) and 4 (automatic aid given) were excluded to avoid double counting of incidents.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

11

ĵ Incident Types 111 to 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

Note: Incident Types 113 to 118 do not specify if the structure is a building.

ĵ 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

ĵ Structure Type:

Ý For Incident Types 113 to 118:

f 1—Enclosed building, or

f 2—Fixed portable or mobile structure, or

f Structure Type not specified (null entry).

Ý For Incident Types 111 and 120 to 123:

f 1—Enclosed building, or

f 2—Fixed portable or mobile structure.

ĵ Civilian casualty severity: 5 (death).

ĵ Other civilian deaths: greater than 0.

The analyses contained in this report reflect the current methodologies used by the USFA. The USFA is committed 

to providing the best and most current 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.
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

12

Information regarding the USFA’s national estimates for residential building fires, as well as the data sources used to 

derive the estimates, can be found in the document “Data Sources and National Estimates Methodology Overview 

for the U.S. Fire Administration’s Topical Fire Report Series (Volume 18),” https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/data_sources_and_national_estimates_methodology_vol18.pdf. This document also addresses the specific 

NFIRS data elements analyzed in the topical reports, as well as “unknown” data entries and missing data.

To request additional information, visit https://www.usfa.fema.gov/contact.html. To comment on this specific 

report, visit https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/contact/dataReportEval?reportTitle=Civilian%20Fire%20Fatalities%20in%20

Residential%20Buildings%20(2013-2015).

Notes:

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

NFIRS 5.0 includes 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. In addition, confined fire incidents that have a residential 

property use, but do not have a structure type specified, are presumed to occur in 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.

2The percentage presented here is based on the analysis of residential building fire deaths since 2003, the first year for which residential building 

estimates are available (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/order_download_data.html), and the National Fire Protection Association’s 

(NFPA’s) annual estimates of fire deaths (http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-in-the-us/overall-fire-problem/overviewof-the-us-fire-problem). The consistency of the percentage of residential building fire deaths leads analysts to believe that this proportion has 

most likely been stable for some time. 

3Residential buildings include, but are not limited to, one- or two-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, manufactured housing, boarding 

houses or residential hotels, commercial hotels, college dormitories, and sorority/fraternity houses. 

4Fire department participation in the NFIRS is voluntary; however, some states do require their departments to participate in the state system. 

Additionally, if a fire department is a recipient of a Fire Act Grant, participation is required. From 2013 to 2015, 67 percent of the NFPA’s annual 

average estimated 1,294,500 fires to which fire departments responded were captured in the NFIRS. Thus, the NFIRS is not representative of 

all fire incidents in the U.S. and is not a “complete” census of fire incidents. Although the NFIRS does not represent 100 percent of the incidents 

reported to fire departments each year, the enormous dataset exhibits stability from one year to the next without radical changes. Results 

based on the full dataset are generally similar to those based on part of the data.

5Civilians also include emergency personnel who are not members of the fire department, such as police officers or utility workers.

6In this topical report, fires are rounded to the nearest 100 and deaths to the nearest five. National estimates are based on 2013 to 2015 native 

Version 5.0 data from the NFIRS, residential structure fire loss estimates from the NFPA’s annual surveys of fire loss, and the USFA’s residential 

building fire loss estimates: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/order_download_data.html. Further information on the USFA’s residential 

building fire loss estimates can be found in the “National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and Losses,” August 2012, https://www.usfa.

fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf. For information on the NFPA’s survey methodology, see the NFPA’s 

report “Fire Loss in the United States During 2015,” September 2016, http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-in-the-us/

overall-fire-problem/fire-loss-in-the-united-states. 

7The average fire fatality rates computed from the national estimates do not agree with average fire fatality rates computed from the NFIRS 

data alone. The fire fatality rate for fatal fires computed from national estimates is 1,000 x (2,695/1,800) = 1,497.2 deaths per 1,000 fatal fires 

in residential buildings. The fire fatality rate for all residential building fires computed from national estimates is 1,000 x (2,695/380,200) = 7.1 

deaths per 1,000 residential building fires.

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

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

9Caldwell, David S., “Smoke Inhalation and Your Body,” ezinearticles.com, http://ezinearticles.com/?Smoke-Inhalation-and-Your-Body&id=4807600

(accessed March 29, 2017).

10The USFA Structure Fire Cause Methodology was used to determine the cause of fatal residential building fires. The cause methodology and 

definitions can be found in the document “National Fire Incident Reporting System Version 5.0 Fire Data Analysis Guidelines and Issues,” July 

2011, https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/nfirs/nfirs_data_analysis_guidelines_issues.pdf.

11A large percentage of residential fatal fire incidents reported to the NFIRS (47 percent) did not have sufficient information to determine the 

cause of the fire. The cause analysis reflects only the 53 percent of incidents where enough information and detail were reported to determine 

the cause of the fatal fire.

12Brown University, “Scents Will Not Rouse Us From Slumber, Says New Brown University Study,” Science Daily, May 2004 (Providence, Rhode 

Island), http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040518075747.htm (accessed March 29, 2017). 

13“Toddler Dies in Taneytown Fire,” www.carrollcountytimes.com, March 22, 2017, http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/taneytown/ph-cctaneytown-fire-032217-20170322-story.html (accessed April 3, 2017).
TFRS Volume 18, Issue 4 | Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2013-2015)

13

14“House Fire Kills 77-year-old Simsboro Man,” www.lmtonlinektbs.com, March 21, 2017, https://www.ktbs.com/news/house-fire-kills--year-oldsimsboro-man/article_8d8f30ae-a3dd-5cf2-b02a-34276d35bb47.html (accessed April 3, 2017). 

15“Fatal Moorhead Apartment Fire Caused by Bedroom Smoking,” www.wday.com, March 16, 2017, http://www.wday.com/news/4235917-fatalmoorhead-apartment-fire-caused-bedroom-smoking (accessed April 3, 2017).

16“Update: Woman Dies in House Fire in Whitfield County,” www.wrcbtv.com, March 13, 2017, http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/34734501/updatewoman-dies-in-house-fire-in-whitfield-county (accessed April 3, 2017).

17Greene, 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, July 2009.

18U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey for the United States: 2011, September 

2013, “Health and Safety Characteristics-All Occupied Units (National),” Table S-01-AO, https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programssurveys/ahs/data/2011/h150-11.pdf (accessed April 3, 2017).