The fire safety community must address the fire safety needs of older adults or be faced with the potential for a severe public health problem. Over 1,200 Americans over the age of 65 die as a result of a fire each year. Older adults comprise over 25 percent of fire deaths of all ages, and 30 percent of fire deaths that occur in the home. Fires and burns are a leading cause of deaths from unintentional injuries among older adults. Residential fires injure an average of 3,000 older adults each year.
Fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of fire deaths in the elderly.
Fires caused by cooking are the leading cause of fire-related injuries in the elderly. Elderly fire victims usually come in close contact with the heat source that starts the fire. The aging process, with its associated illnesses and impairments, leaves a person vulnerable to a variety of accidental injuries, including fires and burns. The likelihood of experiencing a severe disability increases with age. Impairments associated with the aging process, such as blindness or deafness, predispose the elderly to accidental injuries, including fires.