In 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused 420 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million in direct property damage. Cooking caused 44% of reported home fires, 16% of home fire deaths, 40% of home fire injuries, and 15% of the direct property damage in 2010.
Source: NFPA's latest estimates of Home Cooking Fires - 2010 (PDF, 131 KB)
Video: Just a few simple safety tips can protect you and your family from a potentially devastating home fire.
Facts & figures
Based on 2006-2010 annual averages:
- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires.
- Two-thirds (67%) of home cooking fires started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
- Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 16% of the cooking fire deaths.
- Ranges accounted for the largest share (58%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
- Three of every five (57%) reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
- Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.
Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" report
*Homes include one- and two-family homes, apartments (regardless of ownership), and manufactured housing.