Vehicles

NFPA members can download free PDF copies of selected One-Stop Data Shop reports. All reports and packages are also available for sale in bound, photocopy format. NFPA members receive a 10% discount off the cover price. To order any report(s), e-mail Nancy Schwartz or call +1 617 984-7450.

U.S. Vehicle Fire Trends and Patterns
Marty Ahrens, July 2008
Cost: $25:00. 76 pages.
A complete overview of vehicle fire patterns and trends and the U.S. highway vehicle fire problem. Includes trend tables, type of vehicle, time of day, month of year, day of week, heat source, area of origin, item first ignited and more.

Abstract: In 2002-2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 306,800 vehicle fires per year. These fires caused an average of 520 civilian deaths, 1,640 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage. Cars, trucks and other highway vehicles (meaning a vehicle designed for highway use, not that the fire occurred on a highway) accounted for 90% of the vehicle fires and 94% of the vehicle fire deaths. Data from the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual fire department experience survey are used to provide details about the types of vehicles involved in fire and the circumstances of highway vehicle fires.

Mechanical or electrical failures caused roughly three-quarters of the highway vehicle fires, but only 11% of the deaths. Collisions and overturns were factors contributing to the ignition in only 3% of the fires, but fires resulting from these incidents caused 57% of these vehicle fire deaths. Older teens and young adults are the age groups at highest risk of highway vehicle fire death and injuries. One-third (36%) of non-fatal highway vehicle fires injuries occurred when civilians attempted to fight the fire themselves.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 392 KB)
All visitors: Download a printable fact sheet on vehicle fires. (PDF, 63 KB)

Also available: Information on rail, water, air, transport vehicle fires and heavy and special equipment fires from U.S. Vehicle Fire Trends and Patterns, by Marty Ahrens, August 2005.

Rail Transport Vehicle Fires
Cost: $10.00. 26 pages. Order # USS27B.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 108 KB)
Water Transport Vehicle Fires
Cost: $10.00. 30 pages. Order # USS27C.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 123 KB)
Air Transport Vehicle Fires
Cost: $10.00. 28 pages. Order # USS27D.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 128 KB)
Heavy and Special Equipment Vehicle Fires
Cost: $10.00. 33 pages. Order # USS27E.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 132 KB)

Vehicle Fires Involving Buses and School Buses
Marty Ahrens, August 2006
Cost: $25.00. 29 pages. Order#1063
This analysis was prepared for the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) Public Hearing on Motorcoach Fires on August 8th and 9th, 2006 that was called in response to the September 2005 Texas motorcoach fire that claimed 23 lives. The analysis has statistics on bus and school bus fires reported to local fire departments and includes information by: year, day of week, time of day, month, property use, cause, factor contributing to ignition, heat source, area of fire origin and item first ignited.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 113 KB)

Industrial Loaders and Forklift Fires
Marty Ahrens, January 2009
Cost: $25.00 54 pages. Order # USS76.
An overview of fires involving industrial loaders and forklifts. The report looks at these types of fires by, area of origin, item first ignited, type of occupancy and factor contributing to ignition. Includes published incident descriptions.

Abstract: NFPA estimates that in 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated total of 1,340 structure and vehicle fires per year in which industrial loaders or forklifts were directly involved in ignition. These fires caused an estimated average of 22 civilian injuries, and $36 million in direct property damage per year. Ninety-one percent of the fires were coded as vehicle fires. These vehicle fires occurred in a wide variety of properties. Almost two-thirds of these fires originated in the vehicle’s engine area running gear or wheel area. These estimates are based on data from Version 5.0 of the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual fire department experience survey. Previously published incident descriptions are included to better illustrate how these fires can happen.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 303 KB)
All visitors: Download the executive summary. (PDF, 121 KB)
All visitors: Download the printable fact sheet. (PDF, 32 KB)

Also available: Industrial Loader, Forklift or Material Handling Equipment Fires by Model Year by Marty Ahrens, February 2009.
All visitors:; Download this table. (PDF, 60 KB)