Vehicle fire trends and patterns

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.

Executive Summary

In 2003-2007, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 287,000 vehicle fires per year.  These fires caused an average of 480 civilian deaths, 1,525 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage annually. 

Details about the causes and circumstances of vehicle fires are provided by Version 5.0 of the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS 5.0). National estimates of these factors are derived from NFIRS 5.0 and NFPA’s annual fire department experience survey. The statistics in the following paragraphs are annual averages for fires reported in 2003-2007.

Highway vehicles account for the vast majority of vehicle fires and associated losses.
Ninety-three percent of reported vehicle fires and 92% of vehicle fire deaths involved highway-type vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles. The term “highway vehicle fires” is used to describe the type of vehicle, not the location of the fire. During 2003-2007, the 267,600 highway vehicles reported per year caused an average of 441 civilian deaths, 1,326 civilian fire injuries, and $1.0 billion in direct property damage. On average, 31 highway vehicle fires were reported per hour. These fires killed one person a day. Overall, highway vehicles fires were involved in 17% of reported U.S. fires, 12% of U.S. fire deaths, 8% of U.S. civilian fire injuries, and 9% of the direct property damage from reported fires. 

According to the U.S Federal Highway Administration data, roughly 2,980 billion miles were driven, on average, per year on U.S. roads during this period. Roughly 90 highway vehicle fires and 0.15 highway vehicle fire deaths were reported per billion miles driven.

Some form of mechanical failure or malfunction, such as leaks or breaks, backfires, or worn-out parts, contributed to 49% of the highway vehicle fires and 11% of the associated deaths. Electrical failures or malfunctions contributed to 23% of the highway vehicle fires but less than 1% of the associated deaths. Although collisions or overturns were factors in only 3% of the fires, 58% of the deaths resulted from these incidents. Older vehicles were more likely to have a fire caused by mechanical or electrical failures. 

Eight percent of the highway vehicle fires were intentionally set. More than half (54%) of these intentional fires originated in the operator or passenger area

Almost two-thirds (64%) of the highway vehicle fires began in the engine, running gear, or wheel area. Thirty-five percent of the associated civilian fire deaths, 46% of the civilian fire injuries, and 53% of the direct property damage resulted from fires that originated in this type of area. Only 2% of the highway vehicle fires started in the fuel tank or fuel line area but these fires caused 18% of the associated deaths. 

Although only 14% of the U.S. population was between 15 and 24 in 2003-2007, 25% of the people killed in highway vehicle fires during these years were in this age group, giving them a risk of vehicle fire death nearly twice that of the general population. This group also had the highest risk of vehicle fire injury. Seventy-eight percent of the people who died from highway vehicle fires and 79% of those who were non-fatally injured were male. 

One-third (35%) of non-fatal highway vehicle fires injuries occurred when civilians attempted to fight the fire themselves.

NFPA survey shows that vehicle fires hit a new low in 2008.
NFPA’s annual fire department survey, based on fire department reports about the number of responses they made, provides estimates of how many fires were reported. The survey does not collect details about causes and circumstances. Because it is designed as a statistical sample, however, projections can be made about totals of broad types of fires and associated losses.

During 2008, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 236,000 fires involving vehicles of all types, including highway and other non-road vehicles such as water vessels, aircraft, construction, yard, and agricultural vehicles. These fires caused an estimated 365 civilian deaths, 1,065 civilian injuries, and $1.5 billion in direct property damage. Vehicle fires, as well as civilian deaths and injuries caused directly by these fires, were at their lowest point in 2008 since NFPA began tracking vehicle fires and losses with its current methods.

In 2008, an estimated 207,000 highway vehicle fires caused 350 civilian fire deaths, 850 civilian fire injuries, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage. From 1980 to 2008, these fires fell a cumulative 55%, and have been hitting new lows every year since 2002.  Civilian deaths from highway vehicle fires fell 4% from 365 in 2007 to 350 in 2008, two consecutive years of record lows. Civilian injuries in highway vehicle fires fell 43% from 1,500 in 2007 to 850 in 2008. From 1980 to 2008, these injuries fell a cumulative 70%. Direct property damage, adjusted for inflation, rose 4%.