Victim patterns

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.

Human Factors Contributing to Fatal Injury Based on NFIRS 5.0 Field in the Civilian Casualty Module
Marty Ahrens, September 2009
Cost: $25.00, 34 pages, Order # USS83
This report compares fatal home fire victims with five different human factors contributing to the fatal injury: asleep, possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs, physically disabled; possibly mentally disabled, and unattended or unsupervised child under 10 years old, with all home fire victims on a variety of fire causes and circumstances.

Abstract: The outcome of a home fire is influenced by a wide variety of factors including area of origin, cause of fire, presence of working smoke alarms, and victim’s proximity. Human factors that contributed to the fatal injury are also important, but often overlooked. During 2003-2006, one or more human factors contributed to an estimated average of 1,810, or 63%, of the 2,850 fatal home fire injuries. These estimates are based on 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.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 139 KB)

Physical Disability as a Factor in Home Fire Deaths
Marty Ahrens, August 2009
Cost: $25.00, 47 pages, Order # USS82
This report examines fire circumstances and victim characteristics when physical disability was cited as a factor contributing to fatal injury and compared these circumstances and characteristics with those found in home fire deaths overall. Previously published incident descriptions are also included.

Abstract: NFPA estimates that physical disability was a factor in an average of 360, or 13%, of home fire deaths. More than half of the victims were involved in ignition and in the area of origin when the fire started. More than half had working smoking alarms. When physical disability contributed to the fatal injury, the victims were more likely to have been killed by a fire started by smoking materials, that originated in the bedroom, and that began with either a) mattresses or bedding, or b) clothing, than were home fire victims in general. These estimates are based on 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.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 510 KB)
All visitors: Download the executive summary. (PDF, 515 KB)
All visitors: Download a printable fact sheet on physical disability as a factor in home fire deaths. (PDF, 58 KB)

Socioeconomic Factors and Fire
Fire Analysis and Research, One-Stop Data Shop, December 2008
Cost: Free, 17 pages, Order #USS75

Abstract: The risk of fire death and injury varies by age group, race, region, and community size. Children under five and adults 65 or older face the highest risk of fire death, although they do not account for the majority of fire fatalities. The risk of non-fatal fire injury is higher for those between 18 and 64, inclusive. Higher fire death rates are seen in states with larger percentages of people who possess one or more of the following characteristics: are black, poor, smoke, have less formal education, or who live in rural areas. Children account for almost twice the share of black victims as white. In more affluent areas, race played less of a role. The South and Midwest had the highest fire death rates per million population in 2002-2006. The rate in the rural South was the highest by far.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 145 KB)

Characteristics of Home Fire Victims
Jennifer D. Flynn, July 2008
Cost: $25.00, 108 pages, Order # USS01
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fatal and non-fatal victims of home fires, with information about victim age, sex, race, and region. Relative risk is also addressed, and additional information is provided about the relative importance of socioeconomic factors in predicting differences in the risk of fire and fire death. This report also discusses leading fire causes and risk factors such as activity when injured, victim location, and factors contributing to injury.

Abstract: Children under age 5 are one and a half times as likely to die in a home fire as the average person, but their relative risk has been declining over time. Older adults age 65 and older are more than twice as likely to die in home fires as the average person. Alcohol or other drugs, disabilities and age-related limitations are all factors in the risk of home fire death.
NFPA members: Download this report. (PDF, 510 KB)
All visitors: Download the executive summary. (PDF, 515 KB)
All visitors: Download a printable fact sheet on characteristics of home fire victims. (PDF, 58 KB)
All visitors: Download an errata for this report. (PDF, 17 KB)

Socioeconomic Factors Studies Package
Cost: $25.00 (free to the fire service). 68 pages. Order # PKG23.
Seven studies provide detailed statistical analysis of the impact on fire experience and fire risk of poverty and related socioeconomic factors. From Fire Journal, NFPA Journal, and one chapter of an out-of-print NFPA book.

The following four studies are also available individually:

How Being Poor Affects Fire Risk (1989)
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 8 pages. Order # PSS25.
Fire Risks of the Homeless (1989)
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 7 pages. Order # PSS31.
Fatal Fires and Unsupervised Children (1986)
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 5 pages. Order # PSS03.
Leaving Children Unsupervised is Playing with Fire (1993)
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 5 pages. Order # PSS38.
Who Dies in Fires in the United States? (1994)
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 7 pages. Order # PSS40

Locked In or Locked Out? and When Security Provisions Threaten Firesafety
Cost: $10.00. 12 pages. Order # PSS41.
Two articles on security provisions and firesafety. The articles highlight unsafe security measures and include fire incidents and statistics illustrating the continuing problem of gates, bars and locks in preventing escape. From NFPA Journal, May 1994, and November 1988.