Nonresidential Building Fire Trends | March 2020 Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Fire Trends 

(2009-2018)

Fire estimate summaries present basic data 

on the size and status of the fire problem in the 

United States as depicted through data reported 

to the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National 

Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire 

Estimate Summary addresses the size of the 

specific fire or fire-related issue and highlights 

important trends in the data. Note: Fire estimate 

summaries are based on the USFA’s “National 

Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/

pdf/statistics/national_estimate_methodology.

pdf). The USFA is committed to providing the best 

and most current information on the U.S. fire 

problem and, as a result, continually examines 

its data and methodolog y. Because of this 

commitment, changes to data collection strategies 

and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies 

or data definitions used and may not be directly 

comparable to current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building fires and losses in 

2018, the most recent year for which data are available, are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 103,600.

ĵ Deaths: 85.

ĵ Injuries: 1,025.

ĵ Dollar loss: $2,656,600,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building fires and losses for the 

10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ A 26% increase in fires.

ĵ A 30% increase in deaths. In 2016, in Oakland, California, a fire 

at a former warehouse that had been converted to mixed-use 

properties with an assembly area contributed to the peak in fire 

deaths. Thirty-five fire deaths were reported to the NFIRS as a 

result of this incident. Excluding these 35 deaths from the 10-year 

trend analysis results in an overall 16% increase in nonresidential 

building fire deaths.

ĵ A 15% decrease in injuries.

ĵ A 6% decrease in dollar loss. (Note: This overall constant dollarloss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting each year’s 

dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

Trend

Fires

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building fires

96,800

111,000

103,600

89,200

84,900 85,400

92,800 93,700

99,500

104,600

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Estimate of deaths

Year

Nonresidential building fire deaths

145

95

85

90

80

65 65 60 70

Fire deaths

Trend

80

500

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

1,750

2,000

Trend

Fire injuries

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Estimate of injuries

Year

Nonresidential building fire injuries

1,550

1,200

1,025

1,500

1,375 1,450 1,425

1,200

1,325

1,100

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Estimate of dollar loss 

($billions)

Year

Nonresidential building fire dollar loss 

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

3.0

2.8 2.7

3.2

2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7

2.9

Fire dollar loss

Trend

2.8

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Nonresidential Building Fire Causes | March 2020 Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Fire Causes 

(2009-2018)

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for the leading causes of f ires in 

nonresidential buildings for 2018, the most recent year for 

which data are available, are as follows:

1. Cooking: 31,700 fires.

2. Other unintentional, careless: 11,900 fires.

3. Intentional: 10,200 fires.

Overall trends in the leading fire causes for the 10-year period 

of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ Cooking as the leading cause of nonresidential building fires 

for the 10-year period.

ĵ A 33% increase in nonresidential cooking fires. This increase 

may be due to an NFIRS coding edit implemented in 2012.

ĵ A 55% increase in nonresidential other unintentionally or 

carelessly set fires.

ĵ A 15% increase in nonresidential intentionally set fires.

Leading causes of nonresidential building fires (2009-2018)

Estimate of fires

Year

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Heating

Electrical malfunction

Intentional

Other unintentional, careless

Cooking

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Fire Dollar-Loss 

Causes (2009-2018) 

Nonresidential Building Fire Dollar-Loss Causes | March 2020

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System. Each Fire Estimate Summar y 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for the leading causes of nonresidential 

building fire dollar loss for 2018, the most recent year for which 

data are available, are as follows:

1. Other unintentional, careless: $505,900,000.

2. Electrical malfunction: $373,400,000.

3. Other equipment: $350,600,000.

Overall trends in the leading causes of fire dollar loss for the 

10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ An 18% increase in nonresidential other unintentionally or 

carelessly set fire dollar loss.

ĵ A 14% decrease in nonresidential electrical malfunction fire 

dollar loss.

ĵ A 12% decrease in nonresidential other equipment fire 

dollar loss.

Note: The overall constant dollar-loss trends take inflation into 

account by adjusting each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 

2018 value.

Leading causes of nonresidential building fire dollar loss (2009-2018)

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

Estimate of dollar loss ($millions)

Year

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

700.0

Other unintentional, careless

Cause under investigation

Electrical malfunction

Exposure

Other equipment

Intentional

Other heat

Open flame

Equipment malfunction

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Cooking Fire 

Trends (2009-2018)

Nonresidential Building Cooking Fire Trends | March 2020

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building cooking fires and 

loss for 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, 

are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 31,700.

ĵ Dollar loss: $51,700,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building cooking fires and loss 

for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ A 33% increase in fires. This increase may be due to an NFIRS 

coding edit implemented in 2012.

ĵ A 6% decrease in dollar loss. (Note: This overall constant 

dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting 

each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building cooking fires

22,000

23,000

24,000

25,000

26,000

27,000

28,000

29,000

30,000

31,000

32,000

33,000

34,000

35,000

36,000

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fires

Trend

28,900

33,700

31,700

26,800

24,100

27,200

30,900

27,400

29,000

24,200

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building cooking fire dollar loss 

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fire dollar loss

Trend

61.3

49.5

51.7

74.4

47.1 47.4

73.2

56.4

59.9

42.7

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Other Unintentional, 

Careless Fire Trends (2009-2018)

Nonresidential Building Other Unintentional, 

Careless Fire Trends | March 2020

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building other 

unintentional, careless fires and loss for 2018, the most recent 

year for which data are available, are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 11,900.

ĵ Dollar loss: $505,900,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building other unintentional, 

careless fires and loss for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 

show the following:

ĵ A 55% increase in fires.

ĵ An 18% increase in dollar loss. A $100,000,000 West, Texas, 

fertilizer plant fire and a $40,000,000 Burlington, Wisconsin, 

manufacturing plant fire contributed to the 2013 dollar-loss 

peak. A $31,000,000 reported fire in a Los Angeles, California, 

religious property and a $25,250,000 reported warehouse 

fire in Hopkins, Minnesota, contributed to the 2015 and 2016 

dollar-loss peaks, respectively. (Note: This overall constant 

dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting 

each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building other unintentional, 

careless fires

7,500

8,500

9,500

10,500

11,500

12,500

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Fires

Trend

10,700

12,300

8,200

11,900

8,400

9,100

10,900

8,600

10,000

8,500

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building other unintentional, 

careless fire dollar loss

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

700.0

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fire dollar loss

Trend

564.5

480.9

568.9

505.9

309.8

363.9

562.5

607.6

409.5 430.5

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Heating Fire 

Trends (2009-2018)

Nonresidential Building Heating Fire Trends | March 2020

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building heating fires and 

loss for 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, 

are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 7,100.

ĵ Dollar loss: $79,900,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building heating fires and loss 

for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ A 6% increase in fires.

ĵ A 3% decrease in dollar loss. (Note: This overall constant 

dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting 

each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building heating fires

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fires

Trend

7,100

7,600

7,100

7,700

6,200

7,400 7,900

8,400

9,000

6,700

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building heating fire dollar loss 

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fire dollar loss

Trend

145.8

101.9

79.9

192.7

52.2

74.2

127.4

213.5

110.2

61.9

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Intentional Fire 

Trends (2009-2018) 

Nonresidential Building Intentional Fire Trends | March 2020

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building intentional fires 

and loss for 2018, the most recent year for which data are 

available, are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 10,200.

ĵ Dollar loss: $162,600,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building intentional fires and 

loss for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the following:

ĵ A 15% increase in fires.

ĵ A 54% decrease in dollar loss. (Note: This overall constant 

dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting 

each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building intentional fires

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fires

Trend

9,000

10,900

10,200

9,500

8,900

9,700 9,800

9,100 8,800 8,500

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building intentional fire dollar loss 

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fire dollar loss

Trend

215.6 229.3

162.6

362.9

206.2

294.2

205.1 205.2 197.0

425.6

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Nonresidential Building Other Equipment 

Fire Trends | March 2020 Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Other 

Equipment Fire Trends (2009-2018)

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building other equipment 

fires and loss for 2018, the most recent year for which data are 

available, are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 4,900.

ĵ Dollar loss: $350,600,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building other equipment 

fires and loss for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the 

following:

ĵ A 45% increase in fires.

ĵ A 12% decrease in dollar loss. Multiple high dollar-loss fires, 

including a $110,000,000 reported Arkansas manufacturing 

fire, contributed to the 2011 dollar-loss peak. A $100,500,000 

transmitter building fire in Tustin, Michigan, contributed to 

the 2018 dollar-loss increase. (Note: This overall constant 

dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting 

each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Trend

Fires

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Estimate of fires

Year

Nonresidential building other equipment fires

3,600

3,600 3,600

4,100

4,500 4,600

5,100

4,500

5,000

4,900

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Fire dollar loss

Trend

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building other equipment 

fire dollar loss

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

233.6

265.9

184.2

311.0

165.5

146.6

245.8

235.7

350.6

539.6

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
Nonresidential Building Electrical Malfunction 

Fire Trends | March 2020 Fire Estimate Summary

Nonresidential Building Electrical 

Malfunction Fire Trends (2009-2018)

Fire estimate summaries present basic data on the 

size and status of the fire problem in the United 

States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. 

Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident 

Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary 

addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related 

issue and highlights important trends in the data. 

Note: Fire estimate summaries are based on the USFA’s 

“National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and 

Losses” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/

statistics/national_estimate_methodology.pdf). The 

USFA is committed to providing the best and most 

current information on the U.S. fire problem and, as a 

result, continually examines its data and methodology. 

Because of this commitment, changes to data collection 

strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing 

estimates to change slightly over time. Previous 

estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may 

have been a result of different methodologies or data 

definitions used and may not be directly comparable to 

current estimates.

National estimates for nonresidential building electrical 

malfunction fires and loss for 2018, the most recent year for 

which data are available, are as follows:

ĵ Fires: 8,100.

ĵ Dollar loss: $373,400,000.

Overall trends for nonresidential building electrical malfunction 

fires and loss for the 10-year period of 2009 to 2018 show the 

following:

ĵ A 5% increase in fires.

ĵ A continued decline from 2009 to 2011 and the 2014 and 

2016 lows contributing to an overall 14% decrease in dollar 

loss. (Note: This overall constant dollar-loss trend takes 

inflation into account by adjusting each year’s dollar loss to 

its equivalent 2018 value.)

Deaths and injuries by individual causes are not shown, as small 

numbers of nonresidential building casualties are reported to 

the NFIRS, and a large number of the fires that caused these 

casualties have insufficient information to determine fire cause.

Estimate of fires

Year

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fires

Trend

7,100

8,100 7,800 7,900

6,400

7,400

8,200 8,000 8,200 7,800

Nonresidential building electrical malfunction fires

Estimate of dollar loss 

($millions)

Year

Nonresidential building electrical malfunction

fire dollar loss

Adjusted to 2018 dollars

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

2018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Fire dollar loss

Trend

442.3

527.6

337.8

393.8

402.3

312.7

373.4

308.5

412.8

344.1

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

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