NFPA Journal - Summer 2023 - 80

roughly one-third the rates from 1980,
the death rate per 1000 reported home
fires was 11 percent higher in 2021 than
in 1980.
Reported home fires peaked from
5-8 p.m. when many people are coming
home from work, preparing dinner, or
engaging in other household activities.
Only one-fifth (19 percent) of the fires
were reported between 11 p.m. and 7
a.m., but these fires caused nearly half
of the home fire deaths (48 percent).
While cooking was the leading
cause of home fires (49 percent) and
fire injuries (41 percent) and the
second-leading cause of home fire
deaths (20 percent), it ranked lower
on casualties per 1,000 reported fires
(3 deaths and 27 injuries) and was last
among the major causes for average
loss per reported fire ($7,200).
Fires started by smoking materials
have been the leading cause or one of
the leading causes of home fire fatalities
for decades. The 5 percent of home
fires started by smoking materials in
2016-2020 caused 24 percent of the fire
deaths and 7 percent of the injuries.
Lighters, candles, or matches were
the heat source in an average of 24,900
home structure fires per year (7 percent).
These fires caused an annual
average of 316 deaths (12 percent).
Candle fires had an injury rate of 91
per 1,000 reported fires, roughly three
times the overall home fire injury rate.
The 29,400 intentional home fires
(9 percent) per year from 2016 to 2020
caused an annual average of 361 deaths
(14 percent), 820 injuries (7 percent),
and $596 million in direct property
damage (8 percent).
Heating equipment was the second-leading
cause of home fires and
home fire injuries and the third-leading
cause of home fire deaths. Heating
equipment was the second leading
cause of fire deaths in one- or two-family
homes, immediately behind
smoking materials.
Electrical distribution or lighting
equipment was involved in 9 percent
of the home fires during this period,
15 percent of home fire deaths, and 10
percent of related injuries. These fires
were the leading cause of home fire
property damage (18 percent).
The 44 percent of home fires during
this period that began in the kitchen
caused 17 percent of home fire deaths.
While the number of reported
home fires and home fire
deaths have been cut in half
since 1980, the death rate and
injury rate per 1,000 reported
home fires are higher now than
they were in 1980 for homes
overall, and even higher for
one- and two-family homes.
The 6 percent started in the bedroom
and 3 percent that began in the living
room each caused 25 and 26 percent of
home fire deaths, respectively.
Upholstered furniture was first
ignited in only 1 percent of reported
home fires, yet these incidents caused
15 percent of the deaths. The 2 percent
of fires that began with mattresses or
bedding caused 12 percent of
the deaths.
SHELBY HALL is a fire analysis research
manager at NFPA.
80 | NFPA JOURNAL * SUMMER 2023
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NFPA Journal - Summer 2023

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