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Large-loss fires in the United States

Report: NFPA's "Large-Loss Fires in the United States"
AuthorStephen G. Badger
Issued: April 2023

 


Report highlights

  • In 2021, there were 24 large-loss fires or explosions in the United States. These included 20 structure fires, two wildland/urban interface fires, and two boat fires
  • The estimated direct property damage caused by the 24 large-loss fires was $1.54 billion, accounting for 9.7 percent of the total estimated dollar loss from all fires reported in the 2021 Fire Loss Report.
  • The number of incidents in 2021 (24) is tied for the second-lowest number of large-loss fires or explosions in a year in the last decade.

  • In 2021, 14 fires, four more than the previous year, each resulted in more than $20 million in property damage. Four fires caused losses of $100 million or more each: two structure fires, a wildland fire, and a ship fire, for a combined loss of $1.1 billion.

  • The Marshall Fire in Colorado in December 2021 was the costliest fire of 2021, with an estimated property loss of $678 million.

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