Structure Fires in Residential Board and Care Facilities

More information

"Structure Fires in Residential Board and Care Facilities" report (PDF)

Incidents
Fires in Residential Board and Care or Assisted Living Properties: Selected incidents published since 2009 (PDF), April 2016.

Fact sheet
"Structure Fires in Residential Board and Care Facilities" fact sheet (PDF) 

Fire investigations
See fire investigations reports on board and care facilities. (NFPA members)

Contact us
If you have any questions, e-mail Nancy Schwartz or call +1 617 984-7450.

Report: NFPA's "Structure Fires in Residential Board and Care Facilities" (PDF)
Author: Marty Ahrens
Issued: July 2016

This report examines causes and circumstances of structure fires in residential board and care facilities, assisted living, and related properties reported to local fire departments in the U.S. Trend data is provided for the past decade. Previously published incident descriptions are also included.

Report highlights

  • During 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 1,830 structure fires in residential board and care facilities or similar properties per year. These fires caused annual averages of six civilian deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $8.4 million in direct property damage.
  • Cooking equipment was involved in 83% of the fires in these properties, including three-quarters (77%) of board and care fires coded as cooking fires confined to the object of origin.
  • Overall, 88% of fires in these properties did not spread beyond the object of origin.
  • Fires in residential board and care facilities peaked between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.
Structure Fires in Board and Care Facilities - 2009-2013