Deadly home fires

Home is the place people feel safest from fire, but it’s actually the place they’re at greatest risk. Approximately 80% of all U.S. fire deaths occur in the home; an average of seven people die in home fires every day.

Plus, today’s homes burn faster than ever. Experts say you may have a little as two minutes (or even less) to safely escape a typical home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds.

Contact: NFPA's Public Affairs office at +1 617 984-7275 for press inquiries.

Survivor story

Podcast

NFPA presents The Survivors, a multi-part podcast series that takes an extensive look at Wyoming resident Feike van Dijk, his wife Noelle, and their family. In 2014, they experienced the unthinkable when a home fire killed two of their children. The podcast showcases the lifelong toll fire has taken on this family and the people responsible for burn treatment and recovery in America.

See the podcast.

Important resources

• Reporter’s guide: The consequences of fire
• Seasonal fires
• Smoke alarms
• Home escape planning

NFPA reports

• Home Structure Fires
• Home Cooking Fires
• Home Electrical Fires
• Home Fires That Began With Upholstered Furniture
• Home Fires Started By Smoking
• Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment
• Fire Loss in the United States
• U.S. Experience with Sprinklers 

From NFPA Journal®

• One day. Fifty fires. An ambitious May event aims to ignite nationwide action on home fire sprinklers, May/June 2018

Blog post

• Red Cross survey identifies disturbing misconceptions about home fires

Video

• See how quickly today’s home fires grow and spread