U.S. home structure fires
In 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to 370,000 home structure1 fires. These fires caused 13,910 civilian injuries, 2,520 civilian deaths, $6.9 billion in direct damage.
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92% of all civilian structure fire deaths resulted from home structure fires.
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Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.
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Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home structure fires (42%) and civilian home fire injuries (38%).
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Only 4% of home fires started in the living room, family room, or den; these fires caused 24% of home fire deaths.
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Seven percent of reported home fires started in the bedroom. These fires caused 25% of home fire deaths, 20% of home fire injuries, and 14% of the direct property damage.
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Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
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Home structure fires peak around dinner hours between 5:00 and 8:00 pm.
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Three out of five reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarm present (37%), or at least one was present but none operated (23%).
- Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2011, 12 home fires killed five or more people. These 12 fires resulted in 67 deaths.
1Homes are dwellings, duplexes, manufactured homes, apartments, townhouses and rowhouses.
Home structure fires by year
| Year |
Fires |
Civilian deaths |
Civilian injuries |
Direct property damage
(In billions)
As reported |
Direct property damage
(In billions)
In 2011 dollars
|
| 1977 |
723,500 |
5,865 |
21,640 |
$2.0 |
$10.1 |
| 1978 |
706,500 |
6,015 |
20,400 |
$2.1 |
$7.1 |
| 1979 |
696,500 |
5,500 |
18,825 |
$2.4 |
$7.4 |
| 1980 |
734,000 |
5,200 |
19,700 |
$2.8 |
$7.8 |
| 1981 |
711,000 |
5,400 |
19,125 |
$3.1 |
$7.7 |
| 1982 |
654,500 |
4,820 |
20,450 |
$3.1 |
$7.3 |
| 1983 |
625,500 |
4,670 |
20,750 |
$3.2 |
$7.2 |
| 1984 |
605,500 |
4,075 |
18,750 |
$3.4 |
$7.3 |
| 1985 |
606,000 |
4,885 |
19,175 |
$3.7 |
$7.7 |
| 1986 |
565,500 |
4,655 |
18,575 |
$3.5 |
$7.1 |
| 1987 |
536,500 |
4,570 |
19,965 |
$3.6 |
$7.1 |
| 1988 |
538,500 |
4,955 |
22,075 |
$3.9 |
$7.4 |
| 1989 |
498,500 |
4,335 |
20,275 |
$3.9 |
$7.0 |
| 1990 |
454,500 |
4,050 |
20,225 |
$4.2 |
$7.2 |
| 1991 |
464,500 |
3,500 |
21,275 |
$5.51 |
$9.01 |
| 1992 |
459,000 |
3,705 |
21,100 |
$3.8 |
$6.0 |
| 1993 |
458,000 |
3,720 |
22,000 |
$4.82 |
$7.42 |
| 1994 |
438,000 |
3,425 |
19,475 |
$4.2 |
$6.4 |
| 1995 |
414,000 |
3,640 |
18,650 |
$4.3 |
$6.3 |
| 1996 |
417,000 |
4,035 |
18,875 |
$4.9 |
$7.0 |
| 1997 |
395,500 |
3,360 |
17,300 |
$4.5 |
$6.2 |
| 1998 |
369,500 |
3,220 |
16,800 |
$4.3 |
$5.9 |
| 1999 |
371,000 |
2,895 |
16,050 |
$5.0 |
$6.7 |
| 2000 |
368,000 |
3,420 |
16,975 |
$5.5 |
$7.2 |
| 2001 |
383,500 |
3,110 |
15,200 |
$5.5 |
$7.0 |
| 2002 |
389,000 |
2,670 |
13,650 |
$5.9 |
$7.4 |
| 2003 |
388,500 |
3,145 |
13,650 |
$5.93 |
$7.33 |
| 2004 |
395,500 |
3,190 |
13,700 |
$5.8 |
$6.9 |
| 2005 |
381,000 |
3,030 |
13,300 |
$6.7 |
$7.7 |
| 2006 |
396,000 |
2,580 |
12,500 |
$6.8 |
$7.6 |
| 2007 |
399,000 |
2,865 |
13,600 |
$7.44 |
$8.04 |
| 2008 |
386,500 |
2,755 |
13,160 |
$8.2 |
$8.65 |
| 2009 |
362,500 |
2,565 |
12,650 |
$7.6 |
$8.0 |
| 2010 |
369,500 |
2,640 |
13,350 |
$6.9 |
$7.1 |
| 2011 |
370,000 |
2,520 |
13,910 |
$6.9 |
$6.9 |
 |
 |
1 Includes $1.5 billion in damage caused by the Oakland Fire Storm, most of which was loss to homes but for which no detailed breakdown by property type was available.
2 Includes $809 million in damage caused by Southern California Wildfires.
3 Does not include the Southern California Wildfires.
4 Does not include the California Fire Storm 2007 with an estimated property damage of $1.8 billion.
5 Does not include the CA wildfires 2008 with an estimated property damage of $1.4 billion.
"Homes" are dwellings, duplexes, manufactured homes (also called mobile homes), apartments, rowhouses, townhouses and condominiums. Other residential properties, such as hotels and motels, dormitories, barracks, rooming and boarding homes, and the like, are not included. Direct property damage figures do not include indirect losses, like business interruption. Inflation adjustment to 2011 dollars is done using the consumer price index. All are estimates of losses in fires reported to fire departments, based on data reported to NFPA's annual National Fire Experience Survey. Direct property damage figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
Sources:
Updated: 9/12