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# Statistical Reports on the Fire Problem in the United StatesWhere Fires Occur

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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.

## Residential buildings

See also:Residential building fire estimate summaries

##### Attic Fires in Residential Buildings 

Electrical malfunction was the leading cause of residential building attic fires.

##### Campus Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings 

This report looks at factors that lead to the unnecessary fire deaths of college students.

##### Hotel and Motel Fires (2014‑2016) 

Cooking was the leading cause of hotel and motel fires.

##### Multifamily Residential Building Fires (2017‑2019)

Each year, from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 106,700 multifamily residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the United States.

##### One- and Two-Family Residential Building Basement Fires (2010‑2012) 

The leading reported causes of 1- and 2-family residential building basement fires were electrical malfunction and heating.

##### One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires (2017‑2019)

Each year, from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 230,500 1- and 2-family residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the United States.

##### Residential Building Fires (2017‑2019)

From 2017 to 2019, an estimated 368,500 residential building fires were reported to U.S. fire departments each year.

##### Residential Building Garage Fires (2009‑2011) 

Fires originating in residential building garages tend to be larger and spread farther than fires that start in other areas of a residence.

##### Vacant Residential Building Fires (2013‑2015) 

Intentional actions were the leading cause of vacant residential building fires.

##### University Housing Fires (2007‑2009) 

Most of the fires were cooking-related (hot plates, microwaves, portable grills, etc.), but the majority of deaths occurred in bedrooms

## Nonresidential buildings

See also:Nonresidential building fire estimate summaries

##### Hospital Fires (2012‑2014)

The leading causes of nonconfined hospital fires was electrical malfunction.

##### Large Loss Building Fires 

Attics, typically vacant spaces above the top story, are the primary origin of all large loss building fires, along with cooking areas or kitchens.

##### Medical Facility Fires (2012‑2014)

Appliances was the leading cause category of nonconfined fires, followed by electrical malfunction.

##### Nonresidential Building Fires (2017-2019)

Because many nonresidential buildings are places where people gather, they hold the greatest potential for a mass casualty incident to occur.

##### Nursing Home Fires (2012‑2014)

The leading cause of nursing home fires was cooking.

##### Restaurant Fires (2011‑2013)

Restaurants pose unique fire risks as they engage in cooking activities and large numbers of customers can potentially gather at one time.

##### School Building Fires (2009‑2011) 

The 3 leading causes of school building fires were cooking, intentional action and heating.

## Vehicles

##### Highway Vehicle Fires (2014‑2016) 

Approximately 1 in 8 fires responded to by fire departments across the nation is a highway vehicle fire.

##### Recreational Vehicle Fires (2018‑2020)

Each year, from 2018 to 2020, an estimated average of 4,200 recreational vehicle fires were reported to fire departments within the United States. Annually, these fires resulted in an estimated average of 15 civilian deaths, 125 civilian injuries and $60,300,000 in loss.

## Outdoors

See also:Wildfire Report Series

##### Outdoor Fires 

Almost half of outdoor fires are trash or rubbish fires.

##### Playground Fires (2011‑2013)

By maintaining playground areas — including keeping rubbish and dead leaves/grass to a minimum, as well as being careful with items related to smoking — we can limit playground fires.

## 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: Aug. 24, 2022

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