Fire
in the United States
- The
U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized
world. For 2001, exclusive of the events of September
11, the U.S. fire death rate was 13.4 deaths per million
population.
- Between
1992 and 2001, an average of 4,266 Americans lost their
lives and another 24,913 were injured annually as the
result of fire. These averages do not reflect the events
of September 11.
- About
100 firefighters are killed each year in duty-related
incidents.
- Each
year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters
combined.
- At
least 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in residences.
- Between
1992 and 2001, an average of 1.9 million fires were reported
each year. Many others go unreported, causing additional
injuries and property loss.
- In
2001, direct property loss due to fires was an estimated
$10.6 billion. Additionally, $33.4 billion in property
was lost due to the events of September 11, 2001.
Where
Fires Occur
- There
were 1,734,500 fires in the United States in 2001. Of
these:
-
50% were Outside Fires
-
30% were Structure Fires
-
20% were Vehicle Fires
- Residential
fires represent 23 percent of all fires and 76 percent
of structure fires.
- Fires
in 1-2 family dwellings most often start in the:
-
Bedroom 13.7%
-
Living Room 8.6%
-
Chimney 8.2%
-
Laundry Area 5.0%
- Apartment
fires most often start in the:
-
Kitchen 48.5%
-
Bedroom 13.4%
-
Living Room 6.4%
-
Laundry Area 3.5%
-
Bathroom 2.4%
- The
South has the highest fire death rate per-capita with
17.8 civilian deaths per million population.
- 81%
of all civilian fire deaths occur in the home.
Causes
of Fires and Fire Deaths
- Cooking
is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. It is also
the leading cause of home fire injuries. Cooking fires
often result from unattended cooking and human error,
rather than mechanical failure of stoves or ovens.
- Careless
smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. Smoke alarms
and smolder-resistant bedding and upholstered furniture
are significant fire deterrents.
- Arson
is both the second leading cause of residential fires
and residential fire deaths. In commercial properties,
arson is the major cause of deaths, injuries and dollar
loss.
- Heating
is the third leading cause of residential fires. Heating
fires are a larger problem in single-family homes than
in apartments. Unlike apartments, the heating systems
in single-family homes are often not professionally maintained.
Who is Most at Risk (1994-1998)
- Senior
citizens age 65 and over and children under the age of
5 have the greatest risk of fire death.
- The
fire death risk among seniors over 65 is more than double;
over age 75 triple; over age 85, 3 and one half times
the average population.
- Children
under the age of 10 accounted for an estimated 22.2 percent
of all fire deaths.
- Men
die or are injured in fires almost twice as often as women.
- African
Americans and American Indians have significantly higher
death rates per capita than the national average.
- Although
African Americans comprise 13 percent of the population,
they account for 26 percent of fire deaths.
What Saves Lives (1994-1998)
- A
working smoke alarm dramatically increases a person's
chance of surviving a fire.
- Over
90 percent of U.S. homes have at least one smoke alarm.
However, these alarms are not always properly maintained
and as a result might not work in an emergency. There
has been a disturbing increase over the last ten years
in the number of fires that occur in homes with non-functioning
alarms.
- It
is estimated that over 39 percent of residential fires
and 52 percent of residential fatalities occur in homes
with no smoke alarms.
- Residential
sprinklers have become more cost effective for homes.
Currently, few homes are protected by them.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
2001 Fire Loss in the U.S., National Fire Protection Association
2001 U.S. Fire Problem, National Fire Protection Association
Home Fire Casualties by Age and Sex, and National Fire Data
Center Fire in the United States 1989-1998 12th Edition |
