150+ Statistics On Home Fires In America

While there has been an average 4% decrease in the number of residential fires over the last 10 years, the cost has increased by 21% during that same time frame.

Nearly 50% of all home fires are caused by cooking accidents. These cooking accidents are also one of the leading causes of home fire injuries. However, the leading cause of home fire deaths related to smoking materials and candles.

60% of all home fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke detectors. As such it is essential that homes have proper smoke detectors installed in multiple areas, test them monthly, replace them when they turn yellow, and incorporate other measures for home fire safety like fire extinguishers and regular electrical inspections.

This page will provide key statistics around home fires.

Causes Of Home Fires

The biggest cause of home fires involves cooking accidents which have a direct correlation to accidents that take place at different times of year which will be explored in the sections below. The second leading cause of home fires involves heating equipment, unintentional fires, and electrical malfunctions.

• 47.7%: 47.7% of home fires in 2022 were caused by cooking accidents.
• 9.3%: 9.3% of home fires in 2022 were caused by heating accidents.
• 8.8%: 8.8% of home fires in 2022 were caused unintentionally.
• 7.0%: 7.0% of home fires in 2022 were caused by electrical malfunctions.
• 166,430: Each year, cooking causes an average of 166,430 home fire deaths.
• 15,900: An average 15,900 fires caused by smoking materials from 2016 through 2020 caused 620 deaths.
• 44,210: An average 44,210 fires caused by heating equipment from 2016 through 2020 caused 480 deaths.
• 15,900: An average 15,900 fires caused by smoking materials from 2016 through 2020 caused 1,030 injuries.
• 44,210: An average 44,210 fires caused by heating equipment from 2016 through 2020 caused 1,370 injuries.
• $1 billion: 44,210 heating equipment related fires from 2016 to 2020 resulted in 1 billion in direct property damage each year.
• 7,200: 7,200 home fires are caused annually by candles.
• 2%: On average 2% of all home fires are the result of candles.
• 91: Candle fires have an injury rate of 91 per 1,000 reported fires annually.
• 3x: Candle fires have an injury rate 3x the overall home fire injury rate.

Statistics indicate that while cooking fires are the most substantial cause of home fires, accounting for a higher percentage than all other causes combined, fires caused unintentionally by things like cigarettes, lighters, and candles are responsible for the highest number of home fire deaths.

A significant reason for this is that more sprinkler systems and smoke alarms are utilized in kitchens where minor cooking fires take place, reducing the response time and severity.

The table below indicates the leading items that first ignited in home fires from 2016 to 2022:

Home Fire Origin Points

Given the correlation between cooking accidents and the causes of home fires, home fire origin point statistics indicate that the kitchen is the most common source of home fires.

The cooking area is not just the leading cause of fires but fire injuries. Nearly 2/3 or 68% of all home fire deaths and 68% of all home fire injuries took place in the kitchen, living room, or bedroom.

Despite these being the leading causes and areas for injury and death, fires in the garage, balcony, porch, attic, or ceiling caused the highest level of property damage resulting in the biggest economic impact.

• 69%: 69% of kitchen fires took place in multi-family settings or apartments.
• 33%: 33% of kitchen fires started in single family or two family homes.
• 44%: 44% of all home fires took place in a kitchen or cooking area.
• 6%: 6% of all home fires took place in a bedroom.
• 5%: 5% of all home fires took place in an outside area.
• 4%: 4% of all home fires took place in a chimney or fireplace.
• 3%: 3% of all home fires took place in a living room.
• 26%: 26% of all residential fire deaths happen in the living room.
• 25%: 25% of all deaths from a residential fire happen in the bedroom.
• 17%: 17% of all deaths from home fires happen in a kitchen or cooking area.
• 38%: 38% of all residential fire injuries were sustained in a kitchen or cooking area.
• 19%: 19% of all injuries from residential fires happened in a bedroom.
• 11%: 11% of all residential fire injuries happened in a living room.
• 4%: 4% of all home fire injuries happened in a garage.
• 14%: 14% of direct property damage from residential fires is in the kitchen or cooking area.
• 12%: 12% of direct property damage in a residential fire is in the bedroom.
• 10%: 10% of economic losses from house fires take place in the garage.
• 7%: 7% of all direct property damage from residential fires happen in the attic, ceiling, or roof.
• 6%: 6% of all economic losses from house fires happen on the exterior balcony or the open porch.

The kitchen or cooking area is the leading area of origin for home fires and it is also where the highest percentage of injuries take place as well as the highest economic impact. The second leading origin point for fires, fire related deaths, fire related injuries, and fire related economic losses are the bedrooms.

Home Fires By Time Of Year

Given the high prevalence of cooking related home fires, there is a higher risk of home fires taking place around the holiday season. This extends to the end of October, November, and December.

How To Prevent Home Fires

There are several things you can do to prevent home fires including the following:

• Have fire extinguishers in your home
• Install smoke detectors
• Extinguish candles when you are not in the room
• Avoid upholstery or clothing items over lamps
• Have regular electrical inspections
• Install smoke hoods over a cooking area

If a fire takes palace:

• Yell fire to alert everyone in the area
• If the fire is small and you have a fire extinguisher near you, use it
• Go to safety, crawling on the floor if there is smoke
• Touch door knobs and handles before you grab them
• If you are on fire, stop, drop, and roll
• Call 911 as soon as you are safe

Proper Cooking

Cooking is the leading cause of home fire so when you are cooking, do so cautiously. Never wear loose clothing especially if you have a gas powered stove where clothing items can easily catch on fire.

Always stay near the stove when you are cooking. If you have excess oil or grease, let it cool and then clean it up immediately once it is cool.

Escape Plans

Always have an escape plan with several points of exit. If possible invest in small fire extinguishers that you can keep along an evacuation route to reach those exit points. If a fire cannot be contained, a fire extinguisher can help you reach and exit safely.

These escape plans should be shared with all members of the house.

Fire Extinguishers

Given the high correlation between residential fires and cooking, it is important to keep fire extinguishers in your home for traditional fires. One should be kept at a minimum on every floor of your home including in the kitchen where fires are most likely to take place.

Note: Fire extinguishers have an expiration date. Always check the expiration date and replace an old fire extinguisher.

Smoke Detectors

Half of home fire deaths are between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when the majority of people are asleep. Smoke detectors can save your life whether or not you are asleep. Make sure that your home is up to code with smoke detectors on every floor and in every bedroom.

You should also test your smoke alarms each month using the test button. Battery should be changed regularly.

Note: If your smoke detectors have turned yellow instead of white on the outside, this indicates damage to the bromine, the flame retardant inside the smoke detector. Replace yellow smoke detectors immediately.

Electrical Inspections

Approximately 10% of cooking fires were the result of electrical or mechanical malfunctions where homeowners and other residents were not even present. One way to prevent home fires of this nature is to schedule annual electrical inspections.

Regular electrical inspections can check things like heating and electrical equipment so that replacements and repairs can be made to outdated, worn out, or damaged equipment.

During these inspections, things like dryer lint traps and bathroom fans can be cleaned, to remove excess flammable material like lint but you can do this on a regular basis as well.

Insurance

Many homeowners insurance policies do not directly cover fires but you can add fire insurance as part of your coverage. This won’t help you prevent fires but it can certainly help you deal with the economic losses after the fact.

Home Fire Statistics Over The Years

From 2013 to 2022, there has been an average 4% decrease in fires. The table below presents information on the number of fires in residential buildings from 2013 to 2022:

The number of residential fires over the last ten years has remained relatively stable with a marginal 8% average drop in 2016, 2019, and 2021 respectively. However, the average rate of residential fires annually for the last ten years is 371,000 annually.

Economic Impact Of Home Fires

Electrical fires represent the leading cause of home fire property damage. These types of fires happen with electrical failure or malfunctions involving any electrically powered equipment. Half of all fires between 2016 and 2020 caused by electrical failure involved electrical distribution equipment but the rest were caused by electrical failures or malfunctions in:

• Cooking equipment
• Heating equipment
• Fans
• Air conditioners
• Dryers

The economic impact of home fires has increased somewhat steadily over the last decade, reaching the highest figures in 2022, representing a 12% increase from 2021 to 2022. Over the last ten years, the average economic dollar loss from home fires was $8,446,380,000.

From 2013 to 2022, there has been an average 21% increase in economic dollar loss from home fires.

• $1.2 billion: Each year, home fires caused by cooking cost an average of $1.2 billion in economic damages.
• 18%: 18% of all direct property damages are because of home fires caused by electrical failure.
• 16%: 16% of all direct property damages are because of home fires caused by cooking accidents.
• 14%: 14% of the direct property damages from home fires are the result of heating equipment fires.
• 8%: Unintentional fires represent 8% of all average direct property damage.
• $1.4 billion: 30,740 electrical fires resulted in an average of 1.4 billion dollars in damages each year from 2016 through 2020.
• $596 million: The 29,400 intentional fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of $596 million in economic impact.
• $298 million: The 7,200 candle related home fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of $298 million in economic impact.
• 2%: 2% of all direct property loss is a result of fires caused by candles.

The table below presents information on the economic loss resulting from fires in residential buildings from 2013 to 2022:

Home Fire Deaths

Home fire deaths are most commonly caused by smoking materials, followed by heating equipment related home fires.

From 2013 to 2022, there has been an average 1% increase in home fire deaths.

• 60%: 60% of all home fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke detectors.
• 63.8%: 63.8% of those injured in home fires were men.
• 36.2%: 36.2% of those injured in home fires over the last 10 years have been women.
• 46: In 2024 there have been 46 home fire deaths involving firefighters so far.
• 166,430: Each year, cooking causes an average of 166,430 home fire deaths.
• 24%: 24% of all home fire deaths are because of home fires caused by smoking materials.
• 20%: 20% of all home fire deaths are because of home fires caused by cooking accidents.
• 18%: 18% of the home fire deaths are from home fires the result of heating equipment fires.
• 15%: 15% of all home fire deaths are because of electrical fires.
• 14%: Unintentional fires represent 14% of all home fire deaths.
• 16%: Space heaters including portable heaters were only involved in 4% of all home fires over the last several years but accounted for 16% of all home fire deaths.
• 390: 30,740 electrical fires resulted in 390 deaths each year from 2016 through 2020.
• 5%: Electrical wiring and cable insulation accounts for an average of 5% of all home fires but 4% of all home fire deaths.
• 1%: Extension cords and plugs represent only 1% of all home fires but account for 6% of home fire deaths.
• 360: The 29,400 intentional fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of 360 deaths.
• 100: The 7,200 candle related home fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of 100 deaths.
• 4%: 4% of all annual deaths from 2016 to 2020 in home fires were the result of fires caused by candles.

The table below presents information on the number of home fire deaths in residential buildings from 2013 to 2022:

Looking at the table above, it is clear that the number of deaths from residential fires have remained much the same since 2013 with slight drops in 2015 and 2020, but a high in 2021. The average number of residential fire deaths in the last year is 2,744.

So far, 2024 has seen 1,484 fire fatalities.

The table below indicates the leading items that first ignited in home fires from 2016 to 2022 resulting in deaths:

Home Fire Injuries

From 2013 to 2022, there has been an average 8% increase in home fire injuries. The majority of injuries, equaling more than all other sources combined, happen with cooking fires however, injuries are the only category where candles are a leading cause.

• 61.4%: 61.4% of those injured in home fires were men.
• 38.6%: 38.6% of those injured in home fires over the last 10 years have been women.
• 41%: 41% of all home fire injuries are because of home fires caused by cooking accidents.
• 12%: 12% of the home fire injuries are from home fires the result of heating equipment fires.
• 10%: 10% of all home fire injuries are because of home fires caused by electrical fires.
• 7%: 7% of all home fire deaths are because of candles.
• 1,090: 30,740 electrical fires resulted in 1,090 home fire injuries each year from 2016 through 2020.
• 820: The 29,400 intentional fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of 820 injuries.
• 660: The 7,200 candle related home fires each year from 2016 to 2020 resulted in an average annual number of 660 injuries.

The table below presents information on the number of home fire injuries in residential buildings from 2013 to 2022:

Home fire injury rates were at their highest in 2019, followed by 2013. However, the lowest rates occurred in 2022, followed by 2017. The average number of residential fire injuries over the last ten years was 11,547 injuries.

The table below indicates the leading items that first ignited in home fires from 2016 to 2022 resulting in injuries: