NFIRS Data Snapshot October 2021

Halloween Fires (2017-2019)

Although voluntary, the National Fire Incident Reporting System 

(NFIRS) is the world’s largest national, annual database of fire incident 

information. By contributing to the NFIRS, the fire service is helping in 

making data-based decisions from local budget development to the 

identification of national preparedness initiatives. It is important that 

fire departments participate in the NFIRS and critical that the data they 

report is complete and accurate so that sound decisions can be made.

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. These fires caused 

an estimated annual average of 25 

deaths, 100 injuries and $117 million in 

property loss.1

Loss measures for Halloween and non-Halloween fires (3-year average, 2017-2019)

Loss measure Halloween fires (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) Non-Halloween fires

Average loss:

Fatalities/1,000 fires 2.6 2.4

Injuries/1,000 Fires 9.0 9.7

Dollar loss/fire $13,690 $11,860

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

The average number of fatalities per 1,000 Halloween fires was slightly higher than the same loss measures for all 

other fires, while the average number of injuries per 1,000 Halloween fires was lower than for all other fires. The 

average dollar loss per Halloween fire was also higher than per non-Halloween fire.2

Halloween fires by general property type 

(2017-2019)

Outside

34.0%

Vehicle

16.4%

Nonresidential

10.2%

Residential

33.4%

Other

6.0%

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

In terms of numbers of Halloween fires, the largest general 

property type category was outside fires (34%) followed closely 

by residential fires (33%). Residential Halloween fires, however, 

resulted in the most deaths (45%), injuries (83%) and dollar loss 

(42%) when compared to the other property type categories.

National Fire Data Center

16825 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

usfa.fema.gov
Halloween fires occurred most 

frequently in the afternoon 

and early evening hours, 

peaking from 6 to 7 p.m. Fires 

then declined, reaching the 

lowest point during the early 

morning from 3 to 6 a.m.

Halloween fires by time of alarm (2017-2019)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

11 p.m. - Mid

10 - 11 p.m.

9 - 10 p.m.

1 - 2 p.m.2 - 3 p.m.3 - 4 p.m.4 - 5 p.m.5 - 6 p.m.6 - 7 p.m.7 - 8 p.m.8 - 9 p.m.

12 - 1 p.m.

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

10 - 11 a.m.

9 - 10 a.m.

1 - 2 a.m.2 - 3 a.m.3 - 4 a.m.4 - 5 a.m.5 - 6 a.m.6 - 7 a.m.7 - 8 a.m.8 - 9 a.m.

Mid - 1 a.m.

3.0

2.4 2.3 2.0 2.4

3.3 3.3 3.3

3.9

4.5

5.2 5.4

5.9 5.9

6.7 6.7 7.1

6.0 5.6

4.6

3.7

3.1

1.8 1.9

Time of alarm

Percent

Source: NFIRS 5.0.

The leading causes of residential Halloween fires were cooking (49%); heating (12%); other unintentional, careless 

actions (8%); and electrical malfunctions (8%).

For additional fire statistics, please visit https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/.

For Halloween fire safety tips, please visit: https://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/

halloween-safety/halloween-safety-tips and https://www.safekids.org/halloween.

Sources: NFIRS and the National Fire Protection Association.

Notes:	 1	 Halloween fires are defined as fires that occurred on Oct. 30, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Fires are defined by Incident Types 100-173 (all fires excluding Incident Type 110).

Aid Types 3 (mutual aid given) and 4 (automatic aid given) were excluded to avoid counting a single incident more than once. Estimates of fires are rounded to

the nearest 100, deaths to the nearest 5, injuries to the nearest 25, and losses to the nearest million.

2	 The average loss measures computed from the raw NFIRS data in the table differ from the average loss measures computed from national estimates. The fi

death rate computed from national estimates is (1,000 x (25/9,200)) = 2.7 deaths per 1,000 Halloween fires, and the fire injury rate is (1,000 x (100/9,200)) =

10.9 injuries per 1,000 Halloween fires. Average loss for fatalities and injuries is computed per 1,000 fires. Average dollar loss is computed per fire and rounded

to the nearest $10. The 2017 and 2018 dollar-loss values were adjusted to 2019 dollars.