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RESIDENTIAL FIRE FACTS
AND STATISTICS |
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| HOW MANY FIRES ARE THERE, REALLY? |
| According to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, in 2005 there were 1,602,000
fires reported in the United States. This number is down 3% from
2004. These fires caused 3,675 civilian deaths, 17,925 civilian
injuries, 87 firefighter deaths, and $10.7 billion in property
damage. |
THOSE FIRES BREAKDOWN INTO THREE
CATEGORIES:
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511,000 were structure fires (down 3% from 2004), causing 3,105 civilian
deaths, 15,325 civilian injuries, and $9.2 billion
in property damage.
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290,000 were vehicle fires (down 2% from 2004), causing 520 civilian
fire deaths, 1,650 civilian fire injuries, and $1.3 billion
in property damage. *Note civilian deaths and injuries were those directly
related to fire injuries or burns.
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801,000 were outside and other fires (up 10% from 2004), causing 50
civilian fire deaths, 950 civilian fire injuries, and $0.2 billion
in property damage.
*On average, 100 firefighters die in the line duty
every year.*
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| WHAT CAUSES FIRES IN YOUR HOME: |
| NFPA lists the below as the leading causes of structure fires in homes between
2000 and 2004. NFPA defines a home as dwellings, duplexes, manufactured
homes (mobile homes), apartments, row houses, townhouses, and condominiums. |
| Major Cause |
Fires |
Civilian Deaths |
Civilian Injuries |
Direct Property Damage
(In Millions)* |
| Cooking Equipment Fire |
120,000 (32%) |
220 (7%) |
3,660 (25%) |
$362 (7%) |
| Identified Cooking Equipment |
21,500 (6%) |
210 (7%) |
2,140 (15%) |
$334 (6%) |
| Confined Cooking Fire |
98,500 (26%) |
10 (0%) |
1,520 (11%) |
$28 (1%) |
| Heating Equipment Fire |
59,000 (16%) |
330 (11%) |
1,250 (9%) |
$540 (10%) |
| Identified Heating Equipment |
19,600 (5%) |
320 (11%) |
1,130 (8%) |
$521 (9%) |
| Confined Chimney or Flue Fire |
26,200 (7%) |
0 (0%) |
40 (0%) |
$15 (0%) |
| Confined Fuel Burner or Boiler Malfunction or Fire |
13,300 (4%) |
0 (0%) |
80 (1%) |
$4 (0%) |
| Intentional (Arson) |
19,000 (5%) |
310 (11%) |
1,070 (7%) |
$487 (9%) |
| Candle |
16,400 (4%) |
200 (7%) |
1,680 (12%) |
$450 (8%) |
| Smoking Materials (Cigars, Cigarettes, Pipes) |
14,000 (4%) |
700 (24%) |
1,340 (9%) |
$378 (7%) |
| Exposure to Other Fire |
13,900 (4%) |
30 (1%) |
80 (1%) |
$319 (6%) |
| Electrical Distribution or Lighting Equipment |
13,100 (3%) |
140 (5%) |
580 (4%) |
$340 (6%) |
| Clothing Dryer or Washer |
8,900 (2%) |
10 (0%) |
290 (2%) |
$85 (2%) |
| Playing with Heat Source (Playing with Matches and Lighters) |
8,200 (2%) |
170 (6%) |
1,020 (7%) |
$225 (4%) |
| Confined or Contained Trash or Rubbish Fire |
13,900 (4%) |
0 (0%) |
50 (0%) |
$3 (0%) |
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SOME MORE FACTS (In the United
States):
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A fire department responded to a fire every 20
seconds.
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One structure fire is reported every 62
seconds.
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One home structure fire is reported every 83
seconds.
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One civilian fire injury is reported every 29
minutes.
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One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 23
minutes.
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One outside fire was reported every 39
seconds.
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One vehicle fire was reported every 109 seconds.
* It is important to understand that not every fire or
injury from fire is reported to the fire service. If you have a fire in your
home, even a small one, it is NECESSARY that you contact the fire department.*
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