United States Fire Statistics

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the United States has a severe fire dilemma that is more so than what is generally perceived. Nationally, there are millions of fires, thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars lost - which makes the U.S. fire problem one of great national importance.

In 2005 there were 1,602,000 fires in the United States. Fifty percent of those fires were outside and other fires. Over thirty-one percent were structure fires. And eighteen percent were vehicle fires. The result of those fires were 3,675 deaths and 17,925 burn injuries.

The following table shows the number of fires, deaths, injuries and dollar loss in the United States from 1994 to 2003.

National
Year Fires Deaths Injuries Direct Dollar Loss In Millions
1994 2,054,500 4,275 27,250 $8,630
1995 1,965,500 4,585 25,775 $9,182
1996 1,975,000 4,990 25,550 $9,406
1997 1,795,000 4,050 23,750 $8,525
1998 1,755,000 4,035 23,100 $8,629
1999 1,823,000 3,570 21,875 $10,024
2000 1,708,000 4,045 22350 $11,207
2001¹ 1,734,500 3,745 20,300 $10,583
2001² 1,734,500 2,451 800 $33,440
2002 1,687,500 3,380 18,425 $10,337
2003 1,584,500 3,925 18,125 $12,307

¹  Excludes the events of September 11, 2001.

²  These estimates reflect the number of deaths, injuries and dollar loss directly related to the events of September 11, 2001.

Where Fires Occurred - 2003

  • There were 1,584,500 fires in the United States. Of these:
    • 47.5% were Outside and Other Fires
    • 32.8% were Structure Fires
    • 19.7% were Vehicle Fires
  • Residential fires represented 25.4 percent of all fires and 77.4 percent of structure fires.
  • The South had the highest fire death rate per-capita with 16.4 civilian deaths per million population.
  • 80 percent of all civilian fire fatalities occurred in the home, where home is defined as one- and two-family dwellings and apartments. Of those, approximately 87 percent occurred in single-family homes and duplexes.
  • Intentionally set structure fires represented 8.0% of all structure property loss.
  • 30,500 intentionally set vehicle fires occurred, causing an estimated $132 million in property damage.

Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2003

The table below shows the number of fires, deaths, injuries and dollar loss in the United States from 1996 to 2005.

National
     Year     
     Fires     
     Deaths     
     Injuries     
     Direct Dollar Loss In Millions     
     1996     
     1,975,000     
     4,990     
     25,550     
     $9,406     
     1997     
     1,795,000     
     4,050     
     23,750     
     $8,525     
     1998     
     1,755,000     
     4,035     
     23,100     
     $8,629     
     1999     
     1,823,000     
     3,570     
     21,875     
     $10,024     
     2000     
     1,708,000     
     4,045     
     22,350     
     $11,207     
     2001¹     
     1,734,500     
     3,745     
     20,300     
     $10,583     
     2001²     
     -     
     2,451     
     800     
     $33,440     
     2002     
     1,687,500     
     3,380     
     18,425     
     $10,337     
     2003     
     1,584,500     
     3,925     
     18,125     
     $12,307     
     2004³     
     1,550,500     
     3,900     
     17,875     
     $9,794     
     2005     
     1,602,000     
     3,675     
     17,925     
     $10,672     

¹  Excludes the events of September 11, 2001.
²  These estimates reflect the number of deaths, injuries and dollar loss directly related to the events of September 11, 2001.
³  The decrease in direct dollar loss in 2004 reflects the Southern California wildfires with an estimated loss of $2,040,000,000 that occurred in 2003.

Where Fires Occurred - 2005

  • There were 1,602,000 fires in the United States. Of these:
    • 50.0% were Outside and Other Fires
    • 31.9% were Structure Fires
    • 18.1% were Vehicle Fires
  • Residential fires represented 24.7 percent of all fires and 77.5 percent of structure fires.
  • 82.4 percent of all civilian fire fatalities occurred in the home, where home is defined as one- and two-family dwellings and apartments. Of those, approximately 84.8 percent occurred in single-family homes and duplexes.
  • Intentionally set structure fires represented 7.2% of all structure property loss.
  • 21,000 intentionally set vehicle fires occurred, causing an estimated $113 million in property damage.
Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2005 Abridged Report.

DISCLAIMER
Copyright © Burn Survivors Throughout The World, Inc.