Topical Fire reporT SerieS Volume 8, Issue 3 / March 2008

Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005

continued on next page

These short topical reports are designed to 

explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as 

depicted through data collected in 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

■ Seventy-two percent of civilian fire injuries occur as a result of fires in residential 

buildings.

■ Approximately 39% of civilian fire injuries result from trying to control a fire.

■ The leading area for fire injuries in residential buildings is the bedroom.

■ The three leading causes for civilian fire injuries are exposure to fire products 

(82%), exposure to hazardous materials or toxic fumes (6%), and other cause of 

injury (4%).

■ December has the highest incidence of civilian fire injuries (11%).

Fires can strike anywhere—in structures, buildings, 

automobiles, and the outdoors.1

 Fires that affect our 

homes are often the most tragic and the most preventable. 

While the loss of our possessions can be upsetting, the 

physical and psychological injuries fires inflict are often far 

more devastating. It is a sad fact, but nearly three-quarters 

(72%) of all civilian fire injuries occur as a result of fires in 

residential buildings—our homes. This Topical Fire Report 

focuses on the characteristics of these injuries.

Civilian fire injuries, by definition, involve people who are 

injured as a result of a fire. These injuries generally occur 

from activities of fire control, attempting rescue, or escaping 

from the dangers of the fire.

In 2005, someone was injured in a residential building fire 

every 39 minutes. The latest available data for 2005 show 

that an estimated 13,375 civilian fire injuries resulted from 

an estimated 376,500 residential building fires.2,3

Civilian Injury Rates for Residential 

Building Fires

Not all fires produce injuries. When civilian fire injuries are 

averaged over all residential building fires, the overall injury 

rate is 3 civilian injuries per 100 residential building fires 

(Table 1).4

 When someone is injured in a fire, however, on 

average there is more than one injury. Fires that result in 

injuries have 124 injuries for every 100 fires.

Table 1. Injury Rates for Residential Building 

Fires per 100 Fires (2005)

Injury-Producing Residential 

Building Fires All Residential Building Fires

124.4 2.8

Source: 2005 NFIRS 5.0 data.

Cause of Injury

The predominant cause of injury involves exposure to fire 

products (82%) such as flame, heat, smoke, or gas (Figure 

1). The next two leading causes are exposure to hazardous 

materials or toxic fumes other than smoke (6%), and other 

(various) causes (4%).

Types of Injuries 

Eighty percent of injuries in residential building fires 

involve thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Smoke inhalation alone accounts for 39% of residential building fire 

injuries. Thermal burns (as opposed to scalds or chemical 

or electrical burns) account for another 27%, and burns 

combined with smoke inhalation account for an additional 

14% (Figure 2). The next leading type of injury, difficulty 

breathing, accounts for only 6% of injuries, and cuts or lacerations are a small (4%) proportion of civilian fire injuries. 

Forty-one percent of civilian injuries required transport to 

emergency facilities.5

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
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 2

continued on next page

Figure 1. Cause of Injury for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.1

0.3

1.0

1.1

1.4

2.0

3.0

3.6

5.7

81.8

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0

Structural collapse

Caught or trapped

Overexertion

Multiple causes

Fell, slipped, or tripped

Jumped in escape attempt

Struck by or contact with object

Other

Exposed to hazardous materials or toxic fumes

Exposed to fire products

Percent of Injuries

Source: 2005 NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Thermal burns are caused by contact with flames, hot liquids, hot surfaces, and other sources of high heat. Over 70% 

of thermal burns to the body were on the upper and lower 

extremities (57% and 14%, respectively).

Seventy percent of smoke inhalation injuries are internal 

injuries, which is particularly critical, as it can lead to lung 

damage. The inflammation and damage to delicate breathing 

sacs actually grows worse in the hours after the incident. A 

chest x-ray can look clear, and oxygen levels in the blood may 

appear normal in the first few hours after a fire. But a day or 

two later the victim can take a sudden turn for the worse as 

the lungs become unable to exchange oxygen properly.6

Most civilian fire injuries in residential buildings are minor 

(65%). Only 11 percent of these injuries are considered 

serious or life threatening.

Areas of the Body Affected

The body parts affected the most by injury (Figure 3) 

include both internal (30%) and upper extremity injuries 

(28%). The types of injuries that affect most areas of the 

body are thermal burns, smoke inhalation, or a combination 

of both. 

Figure 2. Leading Symptoms of Injury for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

5.6

27.3

3.8

13.6

39.2

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

Cut or laceration

Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath

Burns and smoke inhalation

Burns only: thermal

Smoke inhalation

Percent of Injuries

Source: 2005 NFIRS 5.0 data.

Note: Percentages computed only for those injuries where symptoms were noted.
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 3

Figure 3. Injuries by Part of Body Injured for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.3

0.3

1.4

8.4

9.4

9.7

12.0

28.1

30.3

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0

Spine

Abdomen

Neck or shoulder

Lower extremities

Head

Thorax, includes chest and back, excludes spine

Multiple body parts

Upper extremities

Internal

Percent of Injuries

Source: 2005 NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Note: Percentages computed only for those injuries where part of body injured was noted.

Factors Contributing to Civilian Injuries

The most notable factors contributing to civilian injuries (outside of “other factors”) (Figure 4) are fire pattern (25%), escape (25%), and equipment-related factors 

(15%). 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. 

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. Equipment-related problems include such factors as the improper use of cooking 

or heating equipment and the use of unvented heating 

equipment.

Figure 4. Factors Contributing to Civilian Injuries for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.4

0.4

6.9

7.6

15.5

24.9

25.0

31.1

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0

Collapse

Vehicle-related factors

Other special factors

Egress problem

Equipment-related factors

Escape

Fire pattern

Factor contributing to injury, other

Percent of Injuries

continued on next page

Source: NFIRS 5.0 data.

Note: Includes incidents where factors contributing to injury were specified. As multiple factors contributing to injury may be noted for each injury, 

the distribution may sum to more than 100%.
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 4

Figure 5. Cause of Residential Building Fires Resulting in Injury, 2005.

continued on next page

0.5

0.7

1.7

2.3

2.3

2.5

3.8

6.1

7.2

7.3

8.1

8.6

11.9

12.2

24.7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Exposure

Natural

Other equipment

Playing with heat source

Investigation w/arson module

Heating

Appliances

Intentional

Other heat

Smoking

Electrical malfunction

Equipment misoperation, failure

Open flame

Other unintentional, careless

Cooking

Percent of Fires Resulting in Injury

Source: NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Cause of Fires that Result in Injury

Cooking is the primary cause for fires 25% of the time 

when injuries occur (Figure 5). Other unintentional or 

careless fires as well as open-flame fires each yield 12% of 

injuries. Fires where equipment misoperates or fails produce 9% of injuries. Electrical malfunction fires generate 8% 

of injuries.

Civilian Activity When Injured

Most civilian injuries occur when the victim is attempting to control the fire (39%) followed by escaping (23%) 

and sleeping (11%), as shown in Figure 6. Unless a fire is 

small and confined, such as a small trashcan fire, leave fire 

control to trained firefighters who wear protective gear 

and have extensive knowledge of fire control. 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. If you cannot get out of the residence 

safely, call for help and stay in a room with the door closed 

until firefighters arrive. Smoke alarms are more effective for 

waking people when they are asleep during a fire than a 

person’s sense of smell. A person cannot wake up from the 

smell of fire while sleeping.7

Gender, Race, and Ethnicity of Civilian Injuries

Males accounted for 53% of injuries, and women accounted 

for 47% of the injuries. Civilian injuries sorted by race show 

that Whites are injured 68% of the time followed by Blacks 

or African-Americans (23%), Other, including multiracial 

(6%), Asian (2%), American Indian or Alaska Native (1%), 

and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (less than 1%) 

(Figure 7).

Eighty-five percent of injured civilians were Non-Hispanic

or Non-Latino. The remaining 15% were Hispanic or

Latino.
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 5

Figure 6. Activity When Injured for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.4

2.4

2.9

5.8

5.9

9.0

11.4

23.2

38.9

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

Returning to vicinity of fire after control of fire

Unable to act

Irrational act

Rescue attempt

Returning to vicinity of fire before control of fire

Activity, other

Sleeping

Escaping

Fire control

Percent of Injuries

continued on next page

Source: NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Note: Percentages computed for only those injuries where activity information was available.

Figure 7. Civilian Injuries by Race in Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.2

0.9

1.6

6.3

22.7

68.4

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

Black or African- American

White

Percent of Injuries

Source: NFIRS 5.0 data.

Note: Percentages computed for only those injuries where race information was available.

Age of Civilians Injured and Activity 

While Injured

Over half (53%) of civilians injured in residential building 

fires are between the ages of 20 and 49 (Figure 8). On average, civilians between the ages of 20 and 49 primarily get 

hurt by trying to control a fire (44%) or escaping (19%). 

Except for the very young or very old, the first reaction of 

civilians of all ages is to try to put out the fire or escape. 

In contrast, the young and the elderly are less likely to be 

as mobile or ready to act in a fire situation. Infants, young 

children, the disabled, or the elderly require special provisions in a fire or emergency situation. Children under 10 

years of age, in particular, usually try to “escape” by hiding 

in a closet or under a bed when frightened in a fire situation. Children are injured trying to escape (46%) and when 

sleeping (24%). Older adults 70 years and over on average 

get injured 29% of the time trying to control a fire, 28% 

trying to escape, and 13% while sleeping. The oldest adults 

(aged 90 and over) are more likely to be bedridden and 

unable to act 21% of the time. 
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 6

continued on next page

Figure 8. Civilian Injury by Age for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

0.8

3.0

6.2

6.7

11.9

17.2

17.9

18.1

10.9

7.3

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0

90 and over

80-89

70-79

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

10-19

0-9

Percent of Injuries

Source: NFIRS 5.0 data.

Note: Percentages computed only for those injuries where age was valid.

Where Civilian Injuries Occur

The specific location at the time of injury mostly occurs 

in bedrooms with fewer than five people (32%); common 

rooms such as a den, family room, living room, or lounge 

(11%); and cooking areas (11%). 

While not a specific room in the home, egress areas account 

for 17% of injuries. Exits such as corridors, stairways, and 

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

When Civilian Injuries Occur in 

Residential Buildings

Civilian injuries follow a daily pattern (Figure 9). Nighttime 

injuries peak between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. (5%). These consist 

mostly of smoke inhalation injuries. Injuries then steadily 

decrease to the lowest point of the day, between 7 a.m. and 

8 a.m. (3%). In general, injuries then steadily increase during the daytime hours with a slight peak between the hours 

of noon and 1 p.m. (5%) where thermal burns and smoke 

inhalation are the primary symptoms. Injuries are highest 

during the early evening hours between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. 

(6%) where thermal burns and smoke inhalation are also in 

force. Cooking is the leading cause for fires throughout the 

day and provides many opportunities for injury.

Civilian injuries tend to follow a seasonal trend with more 

injuries taking place during the colder months (Figure 10) 

than the warmer months. Overall, December produces the 

most injuries and has higher than average smoke inhalation 

injuries (39%). September has the least number of injuries. 

This drop may be explained by a decrease in residential 

building heating fires and their associated injuries during 

the warmer months.8

Examples

The following recent examples illustrate fire scenarios in 

which civilian injuries have occurred.

June 2007, Rosenberg, TX: A Rosenberg woman was 

seriously burned in a fire when a companion lit a 

cigarette while she was using fingernail polish remover. 

Fumes from the acetone in the polish remover ignited, 

and burned the couple in their bed.9

February 2008, Detroit, MI: A house explosion injured five 

people, including three children, and fire officials were 

investigating whether someone had tampered with the 

gas service. Two women in their 40s were also injured. The 

victims suffered second and third degree burns.10

February 2008, Manhattan, NY: An early morning blaze 

in a stationery store led to the evacuation of tenants 

from a luxury apartment building. Fourteen residents 

were injured. One resident’s description was “they were 

woken by the smoke creeping into their apartments. The 

hallways and stairwells were clogged with smoke–there 

was no exit possible.”11
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 7

continued on next page

Figure 9. Time of Day of Occurrence for Civilian Injuries for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

4.4

4.6 4.5

4.0

3.2

2.9

2.7 2.5

3.6

3.9 3.9

4.1

4.5 4.4

4.0

4.3

5.2

5.4 5.5

5.3

5.1

4.7

3.6 3.6

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mid-1AM

1AM-2AM

2AM-3AM3AM-4AM

4AM-5AM

5AM-6AM6AM-7AM

7AM-8AM

8AM-9AM

9AM-10AM

10AM-11AM

11AM-12PM

12PM-1PM

1PM-2PM2PM-3PM

3PM-4PM

4PM-5PM5PM-6PM

6PM-7PM7PM-8PM

8PM-9PM

9PM-10PM

10PM-11PM

11PM-Mid

Percent of Injuries Source: NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Figure 10. Civilian Injuries by Month for Residential Building Fires, 2005.

9.7

8.9

9.9

8.1 8.1

7.1 7.3 7.3

6.5

7.8

8.6

10.7

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Percent of Injuries Source: NFIRS 5.0 data. 

Escape Planning for Residential Buildings

Everyone should know how to escape from their residence. 

Leave fighting a fire to trained firefighters unless it is a 

small, easily controllable fire. Instead, focus efforts on following a pre-set escape plan.

A home filled with smoke is a very dangerous situation. 

Smoke blocks vision, and the toxic gases can cause dizziness 

and disorientation. Under these conditions, one can easily 

become lost or trapped in the home. Therefore, the first step 

in an escape plan is to make sure smoke alarms are in good 

working order.

Most civilian injuries are caused by trying to control a fire. 

Unless a fire is small and confined, call for help and leave 

fire control to trained firefighters. The peak time for 
TFRS Volume 8, Issue 3/Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 Page 8

injuries is the early evening hours. Injuries are highest in 

the month of December. The majority of civilian injuries 

consist of smoke inhalation and thermal burns.

Leading factors contributing to civilian injuries largely consist of situations where exits are blocked by fire, vision is 

impaired by smoke, or civilians are trapped above or below 

the fire. Unfamiliarity with exits, excessive distance to the 

nearest exit, or an inappropriate choice of exit can hinder a 

crucial escape.

A first step in an escape plan is to make sure smoke alarms 

are in good working order. Plan and practice at least two 

escape routes for every room and have procedures in place 

for those who require additional help such as infants, the 

elderly, and the disabled.

Notes:

1 In NFIRS 5.0, a structure is a constructed item of which a building is one type. The term “residential structure” commonly refers 

to buildings where people live. The definition of a residential 

structure fire 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, incidents that have a residential property 

use, but do not have a structure type specified are presumed to be 

buildings.

2NFIRS 5.0 contains both converted NFIRS 4.1 data and native 

NFIRS 5.0 data. This topical report includes only native 5.0 data 

and excludes incident type ‘110’ since it is a 4.1 conversion code.

3National estimates are based on 2005 native version 5.0 data 

from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and 

residential structure fire loss estimates from the National Fire 

Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual survey of fire loss. Fires are 

rounded to the nearest 100 and injuries to the nearest 25.

4 Fire injury rates computed from national estimates will not 

agree with injury rates computed from NFIRS data alone. 

Fire injury rates computed from national estimates would be 

(100*(13,375/8,500)) = 157.4 injuries per 100 injury-producing residential building fires and (100*(13,375/376,500)) =3.6 

injuries per 100 residential building fires.

5 If the incidents with unknown disposition are distributed in the 

same proportion as the incidents with known disposition, then 

this percentage would rise to 97%.

6 “Doctors: Smoke Inhalation Victim Can Seem Fine, Go 

Into Lung Failure Suddenly,” Sheryl Ubelacker, EMS Responder

(Toronto, Canada) http://publicsafety.com/article/article.

jsp?id=1220&siteSection=15

7 “Scents Will Not Rouse Us From Slumber, Says New Brown 

University Study.” Science Daily, May 2004, (Providence, RI) http://

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040518075747.htm

8Heating Fires in Residential Buildings. USFA, http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/

downloads/pdf/tfrs/v6i3.pdf

9 “ Woman Doing Nails In Bed Suffers Burns When Man Lights 

Up A Smoke.” Bob Dunn, FortBendNow (Richmond, TX) http://

www.fortbendnow.com/news/3070/woman-doing-nails-in-bedsuffers-serious-burns-when-man-lights-up-a-smoke

10 “Five Injured in Detroit Home Explosion.” Associated Press,

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_A0BXlGA92Rmc3SMMH

LCYR8s1yQD8URQ7C00

11 “Alarm Was Off in Building Where Fire Injured 33.” John 

Sullivan The New York Times (NYC, NY) http://cityroom.blogs.

nytimes.com/2008/02/07/alarm-was-off-in-building-wherefire-injured-33/