Eighty-five
percent of fire deaths occur in the home (one-or two-family dwellings, apartments
or manufactured housing). 72% of all fire deaths result from fires in one- and
two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes.
Facts & Figures*
- In 2000, there were 368,000 home fires in the United
States, resulting in 3,420 deaths, 16,975 injuries and $5.5 billion in direct
property damage.
- Home fire deaths have fallen 34% from 5,200 in 1980
to 3,420 in 2000.
- The statistics below are based on annual averages
for the five-year period from 1994 through 1998:
- Half of all home fire deaths resulted from fires that
were reported between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Only one-fourth of the home
fires occur during these hours.
- January was the peak month for home fire deaths. February
ranked second, and December was third.
- Smoking was the leading cause of home fire deaths
overall, but in the months of December, January and February, smoking and
heating equipment caused similar shares of fire deaths. Cooking was the
leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries year-round.
- Although children five and under make up about 9%
of the country's population, they accounted for 17% of the home fire deaths,
assigning them a risk twice the national average. Adults 65 and older also
face a risk twice the average, while people 85 and older have a risk that
is almost four-and-a-half times more than average.
- Only one-fifth of the home fire deaths from 1989-1998
were caused by fires in which a smoke alarm was present and operated.
- Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2000,
18 home fires killed five or more people. These 18 fires resulted in 99
deaths, accounting for 3% of all home fire deaths.**
(*
From national estimates reported to U.S. municipal fire departments
based on NFIRS and NFPA survey. Excludes fires reported
only to federal or state agencies or industrial fire brigades.)
(**
From "Catastrophic fires of 2000" NFPA Journal, September/October
2001.)
