Frequently Asked Questions

How many fires were attended to by fire departments across the country in 2006?

1.6 million fires attended by fire departments, an increase of 2.5 percent (1, pg. 1)

How often does a fire department respond to a fire?

Every 19 seconds a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation (1, pg.1)

How many structure fires were there in 2006?

524,000 structure fires, an increase of 2.5 percent (1, pg. 1)

How many fires occurred in residential properties?

412,500 (79%) of all fires occurred in residential properties (1, pg.1)

How often do fires occur?

A fire occurs in a structure at the rate of one very 60 seconds and in residential fire every 76 seconds (1, pg.1)

How many people are killed and injured in fires in the United States each year?

3,245 civilian fire deaths in 2006, a decrease of 12%. 16,400 civilian fire injuries in 2006, a decrease of 8.5% (1,pg.2)

How many people are killed or injured in residential fires?

80% occurred in the home, or 2,580 deaths in 2006, a decrease of 15%
12,925 civilian injuries occur in residential properties (1, pg.2)

How often does someone die in a residential fire?

On average, a civilian fire death occurs every 162 minutes (1, pg. 2)

How does the US fire death rate compare to other nations?

For two decades, the US fire death has been in the top five of industrialized nations around the globe.

Six states and the District of Columbia have fire death rates over 25 deaths per million, which is one of the worst among the world’s nations (Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and the District of Columbia). (2, pg 2)

Rank order of States by Civilian Fire Deaths for 2004

According to the US Fire Administration, ten states account for 49 percent of the national total U.S. fire deaths (California, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, and North Carolina). (2, pg.2, pg.28, pg.32)

Rank order of States by Civilian Fire Deaths per million population (2004)

According to the US Fire Administration, the top ten states, for 2004, in terms of the rate of fire deaths per million are: Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri, and South Dakota) The District of Columbia has the highest rate of fire deaths in the nation. The National Fire death is 13.6 per million. (2, pg.31)

What are the leading causes of residential fire deaths?

The three leading causes of fatal fires include smoking, heating and intentional fires (arson). NOTE the the exact percentages differ between USFA and NFPA as to each cause. (3, pg. 7) (2, pg.3)

Who is dying in fires?

African-Americans comprise a large and disproportionate share of total fire deaths, accounting for 24 percent of fire deaths – nearly twice as high as their share of the overall population. (USFA)

Fifty percent more men than women die in fires according to the US Fire Administration. (2, pg. 3)

How much damage does fire cause?

$11.3 billion in property damage in 2006, an increase of 6% (1, pg. 3)