NFPA Journal - Fall 2022 - 76

NFPA Research The Reports
fire injuries. 8% of the
civilians who died and
half (52%) of the civilians
non-fatally injured in home
cooking fires were hurt
while trying to control the
fire themselves. Only oneMales
had twice the risk
of females of dying in
an intentionally set fire.
Nearly half (46%) of all
victims of intentionally set
home fires were acting
irrationally when fatally
REPORT SUMMARY
Home Fire Victims
by Age and Gender
By Marty Ahrens
T
he risk of home fire death and fire injury varies by
age, gender, and cause of fire. A new report, " Home
Fire Victims by Age and Gender, " finds that, during
the period 2015-2019, the majority of home fire
victims were male, accounting for 57 percent of the
deaths and 55 percent of the injuries.
The largest number of deaths (20 percent) in a single age group
was among people 55-64 years old. Thirteen percent of the population
was in that age group. More than one-third (37 percent) of the
fatalities were 65 or older. Only 17 percent of the non-fatally injured
were in that age group.
Children under 15 accounted for 11 percent of the home fire fatalities
and 9 percent of the injuries. Children under five accounted for 5
percent of the deaths and 4 percent of the injuries.
third (32%) of the cooking
fire fatalities had been in
the area of origin when
the fire started. Cooking
was the leading cause of
fire death among adults 85
and older.
Three of every five fatal
candle fire victims (59%)
were female, as were 55%
of the non-fatally injured.
Almost three of every five
victims of fatal candle
fires (57%) were at least 55
years old.
KEY
FINDINGS
NFPA.ORG/
FIREVICTIMS
Read the complete
report on home
fire victims by age
and gender.
During 2015-2019, an
estimated average of
2,620 civilians died and
11,070 were injured in
reported home fires annually,
accounting for 75%
of total civilian fire deaths
and 72% of civilian fire
injuries.
In 1980, 19% of home fire
fatalities were 65 or older;
18% were under five. In
2019, two of every five
fatalities were at least 65
and only 5% were under
five years of age.
While smoking materials
76 | NFPA JOURNAL * FALL 2022
were the leading cause
of home fire deaths overall,
this was true only for
people in the 55-84 age
group. Nearly three out of
four (73%) of the victims of
fatal smoking material fires
were in the area of origin
when the fire occurred.
Three of every five (61%)
were in the area and
involved in ignition. More
than a third (35%) of the
smoking fire fatalities had
been sleeping and 17% had
been unable to act.
Cooking is the leading
cause of non-fatal home
Three-quarters (74%) of
the 150 people who died in
home fires that began with
clothing ignitions were at
least 55 years of age. Only
6% were under 15.
Three of every five (60%)
of the people killed each
year in fires caused by
playing with fire were
under 15 years old.
Male victims of fatal home
fires were more likely
to have been impaired
by alcohol than female
victims.
injured. According to
death certificate data, 64%
of all intentional fire or
flame deaths in 2015-2019
(including non-home fires)
were suicides.
A larger percentage of
females (20%) who died
in fatal home fires had a
physical disability compared
to males (16%).
In 1999, 50% of fire
and flame deaths were
attributed to smoke
inhalation only, 26% to
burns only, and 21% to
both burns and smoke
inhalation. In 2019, smoke
inhalation alone caused
38% of all fire flame
deaths, while burns alone
and burns with smoke
inhalation each caused
30% of such deaths.
Most reported home
fire injuries were minor
(55%) or moderate (30%).
Non-fatally injured males
were more likely to have
been trying to control the
fire or rescue someone
than were females.
MARTY AHRENS is manager of fire analysis services at NFPA.
GETTY IMAGES
http://www.NFPA.ORG/FIREVICTIMS http://www.NFPA.ORG/FIREVICTIMS
NFPA Journal - Fall 2022

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