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.
BSTTWTranslationsIn 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
YearFiresDeathsInjuriesDirect Dollar Loss In Millions19942,054,5004,27527,250$8,63019951,965,5004,58525,775$9,18219961,975,0004,99025,550$9,40619971,795,0004,05023,750$8,52519981,755,0004,03523,100$8,62919991,823,0003,57021,875$10,02420001,708,0004,04522350$11,2072001¹1,734,5003,74520,300$10,5832001²1,734,5002,451800$33,44020021,687,5003,38018,425$10,33720031,584,5003,92518,125$12,307¹ 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 1977 to 2007.
National
YearFiresCivilian deathsCivilian injuriesFirefighter deathsFirefighter injuriesDirect property damage (in billions)
As reportedDirect property damage
(in billions)
In 2007 dollars19773,264,0007,39531,190157112,540$4.7$16.119782,817,5007,71029,825173101,100$4.5$14.319792,845,5007,57531,32512595,780$5.8$16.519802,988,0006,50530,20013898,070$6.3$15.819812,893,5006,70030,450136103,340$6.7$15.219822,538,0006,02030,52512898,150$6.4$13.819832,326,5005,92031,275113103,150$6.6$13.719842,343,0005,24028,125119102,300$6.7$13.419852,371,0006,18528,425128100,900$7.3$14.119862,271,5005,85026,82512096,450$6.7$12.719872,330,0005,81028,215132102,600$7.2$13.119882,436,5006,21530,800136102,900$8.4$14.719892,115,0005,41028,250118100,700$8.7$14.519902,019,0005,19528,600108100,300$7.8$12.419912,041,5004,46529,375108103,300$9.5$14.419921,964,5004,73028,7007597,700$8.3$12.319931,952,5004,63530,47579101,500$8.5$12.319942,054,5004,27527,25010595,400$8.2$11.419951,965,5004,58525,7759794,500$8.9$12.119961,975,0004,99025,5509687,150$9.4$12.519971,795,0004,05023,7509985,400$8.5$11.019981,755,5004,03523,1009187,500$8.6$11.019991,823,0003,57021,87511288,500$10.0$12.520001,708,0004,04522,35010384,550$11.2$13.520011,734,5006,196121,1002443382,250$44.04$51.6420021,687,5003,38018,4259780,800$10.3$11.920031,584,5003,92518,12510578,750$12.3$13.9520041,550,5003,90017,87510475,840$9.8$10.820051,602,000>3,67517,9258780,100$10.7$11.320061,642,5003,24516,4008983,400$11.3$14.6620071,557,5003,43017,675102TBA$14.66$14.66
1 Includes 2,451 civilian deaths that occurred from the events of 9/11/01.2 Includes 800 civilian injuries that occurred from the events of 9/11/01.3 Includes 340 firefighters at the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001.4 Includes $33.44 billion in property loss that occurred from the events of 9/11/01.5 Includes the Southern California Wildfires (Cedar and Old Wildfires) with an estimated total property loss of $2,040,000,000. Loss by specific property type for this fire was not available.6 This includes the California Fire Storm 2007 with an estimated property damage of $1.8 billion.Direct property damage figures do not include indirect losses, like business interruption. Inflation adjustment to 2007 dollars is done using the consumer price index.
Source: NFPA survey, NFPA’s Fire Incident Data Organization (FIDO).
Where Fires Occurred - 2007
- There were 1,557,500 fires in the United States. Of these:
- 5% decreasa compaired to 2006
- 3,430 civilian fire related deaths
- 17,675 civilian fire relate injuries
- 78% were Structure Residential Fires
- 14.6 million dollars worth of property damage
- The fire department responded every 20 seconds
- 84 percent of all fire fatalities occurred in the home, where home is defined as one- and two-family dwellings and apartments.
- 2,865 civilian fire deaths occurred in homes. That is an increase of 11%.
- Nationwide there was a civilian fire death every 153 minutes.
- Compared to 2006 there was a 7% drop in the number of vehicle fires in 2007
- Compared to 2006 there was a 6% drop in the number of outside and other fire in 2007
Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2005 Abridged Report.
- There were 1,584,500 fires in the United States. Of these:
