Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. More than 2 million fires are reported each year. Many others go unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. It is also the leading cause of 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 detectors and smolder-resistant bedding and upholstered furniture are significant fire deterrents. Heating is the second leading cause of residential fires and ties with arson as 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 the third leading cause of residential fires and a leading cause of residential fire deaths.