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# Statistical Reports on the Fire Problem in the United StatesFire Causes

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## Main content

##### In this section

                - Reports                   - Fire Causes
                  - Where Fires Occur
                  - Who Fire Impacts
                  - Fire Departments & Firefighters
                - Death & Injury Risk
                - Residential Fires
                - Nonresidential Fires
                - Outside & Vehicle Fires
                - Firefighter Fatalities
                - Fire Department Registry
                - State Statistics
                - Data Sets

Our statistical reports explore aspects of the U.S. fire problem that affect Americans in their daily lives. Primarily based on data collected through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), our reports address the nature and relevance of the specific fire or fire-related problem, highlight important findings, and suggest other resources to consider for further information.

## Appliance and electrical

##### Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008‑2010) 

From 2008 to 2010, fire departments responded to an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. These fires resulted in an annual average loss of 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.

##### Residential Building Electrical Fires (2014‑2016)

It's hard to imagine a home without electricity in the United States, but using it can have dangerous consequences. This report addresses the characteristics of home electrical fires from 2014 to 2016.

## Cooking

##### Cooking Fires in Residential Buildings (2017‑2019)

Cooking was, by far, the leading cause of all residential building fires and accounted for 51% of all residential building fires responded to by fire departments across the nation. Additionally, cooking was the leading cause of residential building fire injuries.

##### Grill Fires on Residential Properties 

Grill fires on residential properties result in an estimated average of 10 deaths, 100 injuries and $37 million in property loss each year.

## Exposure

##### Fires and Exposures 

Exposures are defined as anything in the immediate range of a fire that is not burning but could start burning if the fire is not contained.

## Heating

##### Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2017‑2019)

Although trending downward since the early 1980's, heating fires remained the second leading cause of residential building fires.

##### Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2017‑2019)

While portable heater fires in residential buildings were only 3% of all heating fires in residential buildings, their consequences were substantial, accounting for 41% of fatal heating fires in residential buildings.

## Holiday and seasonal

##### Halloween Fires (2017‑2019)

For each year from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 9,200 fires were reported to fire departments in the United States over a 3-day period around Halloween.

##### Thanksgiving Day Fires in Residential Buildings (2017‑2019)

For each year from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 2,300 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day.

##### Winter Residential Building Fires (2014‑2016)

This report addresses the characteristics of winter home fires during the months of January, February and March from 2014 to 2016.

## Intentional

##### Intentionally Set Fires 

Intentional fires are those fires 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 that required fire service intervention.

##### Intentionally Set Fires in Residential Buildings 

Lighters and matches were the leading heat sources of intentionally set fires in residential buildings.

##### Intentionally Set Fires in Residential Buildings (2008%#8209;2010) 

Lighters, heat from other open flame or smoking materials, and matches were the leading heat sources of intentionally set fires in residential buildings.

##### Intentionally Set Outdoor Fires 

The July 3-5 period has the highest daily intentionally set outdoor fire incidence.

##### Intentionally Set Vehicle Fires 

Matches are the leading heat source of intentionally set vehicle fires.

## Smoking

##### Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States (2009‑2016 

Fires or explosions caused by the batteries used in electronic cigarette are uncommon; however the consequences can be devastating and life-altering for the victims.

##### Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings (2008‑2010) 

While smoking-related fires accounted for only 2% of all residential building fires, they were a leading cause of civilian fire deaths.

## Fire in the United States

This collection of reports looks at the U.S. fire problem in 10-year periods, beginning in 1985. The reports provide a statistical overview of the fire problem that can motivate corrective action. They can also be used to select priorities, help target fire programs, and serve as a model for state or local analyses of fire data.

Review the report collection

## Archived topical fire reports

This spreadsheet contains links to older topical reports that we have archived off our website.
          -  Download archived reports spreadsheet  XLSX

## Data sources for our reports

Our reports reflect the most current data year available at the time of analysis. In priority order, we primarily rely on these data sources:
| Source                                                      | Data available                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| National Fire Incident Reporting System incident-level data | 10 to 18 months after the end of the calendar year |
| National Center for Health Statistics vital records         | 2 plus years after the end of the calendar year    |
| National Fire Protection Association survey estimates       | 9 months after the end of the calendar year        |

Other data sources include the Consumer Price Index and the U.S. Census Bureau.

## Methodology documentation

These documents describe the data sources and methodology we use to calculate our fire loss estimates.
          -  White paper: National Fire Estimation Using NFIRS Data (May 2017),  PDF
          -  Data Sources and Methodology Documentation  PDF
          -  National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and Losses  PDF

## Topical Fire Report Series

Data sources and methodology documentation.
          -  Volume 21  PDF
          -  Volume 20  PDF
          -  Volume 19  PDF
          -  Volume 18  PDF
          -  Volume 17  PDF
          -  Volume 16  PDF
          -  Volume 15  PDF

Page last reviewed: Sept. 6, 2022

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