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

National Fire Data Center • Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727

www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/reports/index.shtm

Topical Fire Report Series Volume 9, Issue 7 / December 2009

Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

These short 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

■ Approximately 10 percent of all vehicle fires are intentionally set.

■ The incidence of intentionally set vehicle fires peak in the summer months (June-August), 

especially in mid-summer (July).

■ Matches (20 percent) are the leading heat source of intentionally set vehicle fires.

■ Ninety-two percent of intentionally set vehicle fires occur in the vehicle area.

■ Vehicle seats (34 percent) and uncontained fuel (14 percent) are the items most often first 

ignited in intentionally set vehicle fires. 

From 2004 to 2006, an estimated 27,900 intentionally 

set vehicle fires occurred each year in the United States. 

Intentionally set fires account for 10 percent of all vehicle 

fires. These intentionally set fires resulted in an average of 

approximately 40 deaths, 75 injuries, and $169 million in 

property loss each year.1

 This topical report addresses the 

characteristics of intentionally set vehicle fires reported 

to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) 

between 2004 and 2006. Intentionally set fires are those 

that are deliberately set and include fires that result from 

deliberate misuse of a heat source, fires of an incendiary 

nature (arson), as well as controlled burn fires, such as crop 

clearing, that required fire service intervention. 

The NFIRS data provide information on fires and factors 

that may have contributed to the fire’s ignition. In the case 

of suspected arson fires, NFIRS allows for the collection of 

additional information to determine why the fire was set. 

In the case of intentionally set fires, only 12 percent of the 

incidents provide information as to the potential motive for 

these fires.2

This topical report is part of the Intentionally Set Fires 

Topical Reports series. The first, Intentionally Set Fires (Volume 

9, Issue 5), presents the overall intentionally set fires problem. Other aspects of the intentionally set fire problem are 

explored in Intentionally Set Outdoor Fires (Volume 9, Issue 6) 

and Intentionally Set Fires in Residential Buildings (Volume 9, 

Issue 8). 

Table 1 presents losses, averaged over this 3-year period, of 

all reported vehicle fires and intentionally set vehicle fires.3

Table 1. Loss Measures for All Vehicle Fires 

and Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires 

(3-year average, 2004–2006)

Measure All Vehicle 

Fires

Intentionally Set 

Vehicle Fires

Average Loss: N/A N/A

Fatalities/1,000 Fires 2.3 1.7 

Injuries/1,000 Fires 4.8 2.9

Dollar Loss/Fire $3,522 $4,797

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Average loss for fatalities and injuries is computed per 1,000 fires; average dollar loss is 

computed per fire.

One of the challenges in the analyses of NFIRS intentional 

fire data is the large number of unknown, undetermined, or 

unavailable entries reported. For example, in the analyses 

of the heat source and items first ignited in intentionally 

set vehicle fires, these unknown, undetermined, or unavailable entries comprise 52 percent and 45 percent of the data 

respectively, making it difficult to establish any concrete 

conclusions. 

Incident Types for Intentionally Set 

Vehicle Fires

Eighty-six percent of intentionally set vehicle fires are passenger vehicle fires. Mobile property vehicle fires account 

continued on next page
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 2

for 9 percent of intentionally set vehicle fires, another 2 

percent of fires occur in road freight or transport vehicles, 

and 1 percent of fires occur in camper or recreational 

vehicles (RV). Approximately 2 percent of intentionally set 

vehicle fires include off-road vehicles or heavy equipment, 

water vehicles, rail vehicles, self-propelled motor homes or 

RVs, and aircrafts (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires by Type of Incident (2004–2006)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Passenger vehicle re

Other unspecied

mobile property

(vehicle) re

Aircraft, rail, water,

RV/motor home/camper,

heavy equipment

Percent of Fires

 86.1

 8.8

 5.1

Source: NFIRS 5.0

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

When Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Occur

Figure 2 illustrates that intentionally set vehicle fires occur 

differently throughout the year. The maximum numbers 

of intentionally set vehicle fires occur during the summer 

months of June, July, and August. Intentionally set vehicle 

fires peak in July (11 percent) with the largest number of 

fires occurring on July 4. This peak is not unexpected as 

fireworks play a substantial role in the days around the holiday. Twenty-seven percent of intentionally set fires between 

July 3 and July 5 result from fireworks. Vehicle seats are the 

item first ignited in 43 percent of the intentionally set fires 

that occur during this same time period. 

Figure 2. Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires by Month(2004–2006)

January

 February

 March

 April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Percent of Fires

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

7.4

6.6

8.2

8.9 9.2 8.8 8.5

7.7

8.2

10.9

7.6 7.8

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 3

As shown in Figure 3, intentionally set vehicle fires occur 

mainly in the late night and early morning hours, peaking 

from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. This 2-hour period accounts for 17 

percent of intentionally set vehicle fires. Intentionally set 

vehicle fires occur least often from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.4

Figure 3. Time of Alarm for Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires (2004–2006)

Percent of Fires

10.0

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

Mid-1AM

 1AM-2AM

 2AM-3AM

 3AM-4AM

 4AM-5AM

 5AM-6AM

 6AM-7AM

 7AM-8AM

 8AM-9AM

 9AM-10AM

 10AM-11AM

 11AM-12PM

 12PM-1PM

 1PM-2PM

 2PM-3PM

 3PM-4PM

 4PM-5PM

 5PM-6PM

 6PM-7PM

 7PM-8PM

 8PM-9PM

 9PM-10PM

 10PM-11PM

11PM-Mid

8.7 8.6

6.0

7.2

8.6

4.2

3.3

2.1 2.2

2.8

2.4

8.0

7.5

6.2

1.6 1.6 1.5

4.8

1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8

3.1

2.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Where Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Start 

(Area of Fire Origin)

Not unexpectedly, 92 percent of intentionally set vehicle 

fires originate from the vehicle itself. The remaining 8 

percent of fires start outside the vehicle (4 percent) and in 

other miscellaneous areas (4 percent).

The leading areas of fire origin include the operator/

passenger area of transportation equipment (53 percent), non-specified vehicle area (13 percent), and the 

engine area, running gear,5

 and/or wheel area (10 percent). Seven percent start on the exterior exposed surface. 

Approximately 5 percent start in the cargo/trunk area, and 

3 percent start in the fuel tank or fuel line (Table 2).

Table 2. Leading Areas of Fire Origin in Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires (2004–2006)

Area of Fire Origin Percent of Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

Operator/passenger area of transportation equipment 53.3

Vehicle area, other 12.6

Engine area, running gear, wheel area 9.8

Exterior, exposed surface 7.4

Cargo/trunk area—all vehicles 5.3

Fuel tank, fuel line 3.0

Source: NFIRS 5.0 
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 4

What Ignites First in Intentionally Set 

Vehicle Fires

Thirty-four percent of the items first ignited in intentionally 

set vehicle fires are vehicle seats and related upholstery and 

trim (Figure 4).

The second leading category of items first ignited is liquids, 

piping, and filters (27 percent). This category includes 

atomized, vaporized liquids and aerosols, fuel in or escaping 

from combustion engines, fuel escaping from a container 

or pipe, and uncontained fuel and accelerants. Uncontained 

fuel accounts for 52 percent of all intentional vehicle fires 

within this category, or 14 percent of all intentionally set 

vehicle fires.

Vehicle seats and interior trim

Liquids, piping, lters

General materials

Other item rst ignited

Multiple items rst ignited

Soft goods, wearing apparel

Organic materials

Storage supplies

Adornment, recreational material, signs

Undetermined

Percent of incidents where item

rst ignited determined

Percent of all reported incidents

Percent of Fires

 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0

33.5

18.3

27.0

14.8

11.6

6.4

6.1

4.9

4.6

2.5

1.6

0.9

0.6

0.5

0.3

45.3

1.1

9.0

11.1

Figure 4. Item First Ignited in Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires (2004–2006) 

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Type of Material Ignited in 

Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

As vehicle seats and uncontained fuel are the leading items 

first ignited in intentionally set vehicle fires, it is not surprising that fabrics and gasoline are the leading types of 

materials ignited. Gasoline plays a substantial role in the 

ignition of vehicle fires. Moreover, when vehicle area of 

fire origin excludes the engine and fuel areas, gasoline still 

accounts for 20 percent of the materials first ignited.6

Table 3. Leading Type of Material Ignited in Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires (2004–2006)

Type of Material Ignited Percent of Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

Fabric, fiber, cotton, blends, rayon, wool 25.0

Gasoline 20.9

Multiple types of material 10.1

Flammable or combustible liquid, other 8.3

Plastic 8.1

Flammable gas, other 5.6

Fabric, textile, fur, other 5.4

Source: NFIRS 5.0 
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 5

How Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Start 

(Heat Source)

Fifty-six percent of intentionally set vehicle fires derive their 

heat source from open flame or smoking materials (Figure 

5), which include cigarettes, pipes or cigars, matches, lighters, candles, and heat from undetermined smoking material. Not surprisingly, one subcomponent of this category 

comprises the leading source of heat in all intentionally set 

vehicle fires—heat from matches (20 percent). 

Explosive devices and fireworks account for 15 percent of 

intentionally set vehicle fires. An additional 11 percent of 

intentionally set vehicle fires derive their heat source from 

other heat sources. This category includes other, unspecified 

heat sources. 

Figure 5. Sources of Heat in Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires (2004–2006)

Heat from open ame or smoking materials

Explosive, reworks

Other heat source

Heat from powered equipment

Hot or smoldering object

Multiple heat sources including multiple ignitions

Chemical, natural heat source

Heat spread from another re

Undetermined

Percent of incidents where 

heat source determined

Percent of all reported incidents

Percent of Fires

 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0

56.0

27.0

14.9

7.2

10.9

5.2

3.7

2.8

4.2

2.0

0.5

0.3

0.1

51.7

0.2

5.7

7.6

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Factors Contributing to Ignition

A flammable liquid used to kindle fires is the leading factor 

contributing to the ignition of intentionally set vehicle fires 

at approximately 16 percent, followed by other misuse of 

material or product and abandoned or discarded materials 

or products, both at approximately 14 percent (Table 4). 

The largest category is “other factors” (39 percent) which 

includes unspecified components that did not fit into any 

other category of contributing ignition factors. 

Table 4. Leading Factors Contributing to Ignition for Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

(Where Factor Contributing Specified, 2004–2006)

Factors Contributing to Ignition Percent of Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires

Flammable liquid used to kindle fire 15.6

Misuse of material or product, other 14.1

Abandoned or discarded materials or products 13.6

Flammable liquid or gas spilled 5.2

Playing with heat source 4.4

Other, unspecified factors contributing to ignition 38.8

Source: NFIRS 5.0 

Note: Includes only incidents where factors that contributed to the ignition of the fire were specified. Multiple factors contributing to fire ignition may be noted for each incident. 
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 6

Examples

The following are some recent examples of intentionally set 

vehicle fires as reported by the media:

•	 December 2007: Honolulu firefighters responded to 

four fires likely linked to fireworks—two tree fires, one 

wildfire, and one vehicle fire. The vehicle fire incident 

occurred in a McDonald’s parking lot and was extinguished within 10 minutes. It was estimated to have 

caused $1,200 in damage. Honolulu police were asked 

to investigate the incident.7

•	 March 2009: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, fire and police 

responding to a vehicle fire call found two burning cars 

at the scene. Fire and police reported that one car was 

engulfed in flames and that the front of a second vehicle, a van, was burning. Investigators were examining 

whether accelerants were used to start the fires.8

•	 March 2009: In a new twist in response to hard economic times, the Columbus Division of Fire says they are 

seeing more intentional vehicle fires to recoup cash from 

insurance policies. While intentional car fires are not 

new, what is new is that owners are burning their own 

cars. The practice is called “vehicle give-up” whereby 

car owners set their vehicles ablaze or otherwise allow 

the car to be destroyed or stolen. The owner reports the 

vehicle loss to his insurance company and collects on the 

policy. Insurance coalitions note this as an “economydriven insurance-fraud trend.”9

Conclusion

Intentionally set vehicle fires account for approximately 

10 percent of all vehicle fires. The NFIRS data provide 

information on fires themselves but not necessarily why 

they begin. Data from a study of intentionally set fires 

in Britain suggests that 50 percent of deliberate primary 

vehicle fires occur in vehicles that have been reported stolen. The primary motivation for arson in stolen vehicles is 

the destruction of forensic evidence. For vehicles that have 

not been reported stolen, intentionally set fires are a means 

of disposing of the vehicle without identifying the owner.10 

The challenge for communities, the fire service, and police 

is to pinpoint the reasons why people set intentional vehicle 

fires and address these issues to prevent future fires from 

occurring.

NFIRS Data Specifications for Intentionally 

Set Vehicle Fires

Data for this report were extracted from the NFIRS annual 

Public Data Release (PDR) files for 2004, 2005, and 2006. 

Only version 5.0 data were extracted.

Intentionally set vehicle fires were defined as:

•	 Incident types 130-139;

•	 The USFA cause hierarchy was used to determine 

intentionally set fire incidents:11 http://www.usfa.dhs.

gov/fireservice/nfirs/tools/fire_cause_category_matrix.

shtm; and

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

given) were excluded to avoid double counting of 

incidents.

To request additional information or to comment on this 

report, visit http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/feedback/index.jsp

Notes

1 National estimates are based on 2004-2006 native version 5.0 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System 

(NFIRS) and vehicle fire loss estimates from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual survey of fire loss. 

Fires are rounded to the nearest 100, deaths to the nearest 5, injuries to the nearest 25, and loss to the nearest $million.

2 The NFIRS Arson module was completed for only 15 percent of intentionally set vehicle fires. Most provide some information as to motive, but the subset is too small to extrapolate intention to the full set of intentionally set vehicle fires.

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

fire death and fire injury loss rates computed from NFIRS data alone. The fire death rate computed from national estimates would be (1,000*(40/27,900)) = 1.4 deaths per 1,000 intentional vehicle fires and the fire injury rate would be 

(1,000*(75/27,900)) = 2.7 injuries per 1,000 intentional vehicle fires. In addition, NFPA has a separate estimate for 

intentional vehicle fires. The fire death rate computed from these estimates for 2005 would be (1,000*(40/26,000)) = 1.5 

deaths per 1,000 intentional vehicle fires and the fire injury rate would be (1,000*(80/26,000)) = 3.1 injuries per 1,000 

intentional vehicle fires. (NFPA, Intentional Fires and Arson, November 2007).

continued on next page
TFRS Volume 9, Issue 7/Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires Page 7

4 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.

5 The running gear of a vehicle generally refers to components that transfer power from the engine and deliver it to the 

wheels, e.g., transmission, drive shaft, differential.

6 There is debate on how to identify the type of material first ignited and the item first ignited. The NFIRS coding instructions for type of material first ignited notes “Be certain to enter the first material ignited by the heat source. For example, if 

an arsonist poured gasoline on a wooden floor, it was the gasoline and not the wood that was the material first ignited.” The 

instructions for item first ignited note: “The use or configuration of the item or material first ignited by the heat source. 

This block identifies the first item that had sufficient volume or heat intensity to extend to uncontrolled or self-perpetuating 

fire.”

7 “Four fires likely linked to fireworks,” the.honoluluadvertiser.com, December 31, 2007, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.

com/article/2007/Dec/31/br/br4198673250.html, (accessed March 26, 2009).

8 “Fond du Lac police investigate vehicle fires,” www.fdlreporter.com, March 20, 2009. http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/

pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090320/FON0101/90320138, (accessed March 26, 2009).

9 Steph Greegor, “Hot Wheels,” www.theotherpaper.com, March 25, 2009, http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2009/03/25/cover_story/doc49caa37bbccec134419508.txt. (accessed March 26, 2009).

10 Steve Merrall and Sylvia Chenery, Vehicle Fires: Explaining the Rise in Vehicle Arson, for the Arson Control Forum, Office of the 

Deputy Prime Minister, London, 2005.

11 USFA’s cause hierarchy is designed for structure fires; however, it can be used to determine certain causes for some specific types of fires.