Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. Every year more than 5,000 people die in fires, over 25,000 are injured, and direct property loss is estimated at over $9 billion.Fortunately, most fire losses can be prevented through effective public education and awareness initiatives.

Many Americans believe "fires can only happen to other people not to me and not in my home." Yet, over 80 percent of fire deaths occur in the home, most often claiming the lives of the young, the elderly and the disadvantaged.

Fire in the United States

Where do fires Occur?

What is the leading Cause of Fires and Fire Deaths?

Who is Most at Risk?

What Saves Lives?

FIRE IN THE UNITED STATES

The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. For 1998, the U.S. fire death rate was 14.9 deaths per million populations.

Between 1994 and 1998, an average of 4,400 Americans lost their lives and another 25,100 were injured annually as the result of fire.

About 100 firefighters are killed each year in duty-related incidents.

Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined.

Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the home; at least 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in residences.

About 2 million fires are reported each year. Many others go unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss.

Property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion annually.

WHERE DO FIRE OCCUR

There were 1,755,000 fires in the United States in 1998. Of these:

• 41% were Outside Fires

• 29% were Structure Fires

• 22% were Vehicle Fires

• 8 % were fires of other types

Residential fires represent 22 percent of all fires and 74 percent of structure fires.

Fires in 1-2 family dwellings most often start in the:

1. Kitchen 23.5%

2. Bedroom 12.7%

3. Living Room 7.9%

4. Chimney 7.1%

5. Laundry Area 4.7%

Apartment fires most often start in the:

1. Kitchen 46.1%

2. Bedroom 12.3%

3. Living Room 6.2%

4. Laundry Area 3.3%

5. Bathroom 2.4%

The South has the highest fire death rate per-capita with 18.4 civilian deaths per million populations. Studies have found 80 percent of all fatalities occur in the home. Of those, approximately 85 percent occur in single-family homes and duplexes.