Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires.
Facts and figures
- During 2006-2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,300 home* structure fires per year in which a microwave oven was involved in ignition. These fires caused an annual average of less than 10 civilian deaths, 150 civilian injuries and $31 million in direct property damage.
- One in every six (18%) of microwave oven home structure fires cited appliance housing or casing as the item first ignited.
- Nearly half (44%) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scalds.
- One-thirdof the scald burns and 15% of all microwave oven related injuries were scald burns incurred by children under five years of age.
Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" report by Marty Ahrens, November 2012.
Also see: Download a fact sheet on microwave ovens (PDF, 76 KB)
* Homes are dwellings, duplexes, manufactured homes, apartments, townhouses, rowhouses and condominiums.