The South has the highest fire death rate per-capita with 18.4 civilian deaths per million population. 80 percent of all fatalities occur in the home. Of those, approximately 85 percent occur in single-family homes and duplexes. It is also the leading cause of home fire injuries. Cooking fires often result from unattended cooking and human error, rather than mechanical failure of stoves or ovens.
Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.
Smoke alarms and smolder-resistant bedding and upholstered furniture are significant fire deterrents. Heating is the second leading cause of residential fires and the second leading cause of fire deaths. However, heating fires are a larger problem in single family homes than in apartments. Unlike apartments, the heating systems in single family homes are often not professionally maintained. Arson is both the third leading cause of residential fires and residential fire deaths.