About 2 million fires are reported each year. Many others go unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. Where Fires Occur There were 1,795,000 fires in the United States in 1997. 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 alarms 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 problems 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 the second leading cause of residential fire deaths.