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Fire Facts
Home Fires
* Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Only one
in five home fires were reported during these hours. - One quarter of home fire deaths were caused by fires that started in the bedroom.
Another quarter resulted from fires in the living room, family room or den. - Three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes
with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
* In 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 367,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 2,745 deaths,
11, 825 civilian injuries, and $6.8 billion in direct damage. On average, seven people die in U.S. home fires per day. Cooking equipment
is the leading cause of home fire injuries, followed by heating equipment.
* Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2014, 15 home fires killed five or more people resulting in a total of 88 deaths.
Smoke Alarms
* Three out of five home fire deaths in 2009-2013 were caused by fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
* In fires large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hard wired operated 94% of the time while battery powered operated 80% of the time.
* When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.
Escape Planning
* According to an NFPA survey, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
One-third of those surveyed estimated they would have at least 6 minutes before the fire became life threatening, the time is often less.
* Only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!
Cooking
* U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 162,400 cooking-related fires between 2009-2013 resulting in 430 civilian deaths, 5,400
injuries and 1.1 billion in direct damage.
* Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen, mostly from ignition of hot oil, food, or other cooking materials.
* More than half of people injured in home fires involving cooking were hurt while attempting to fight the fire themselves.
Heating
* The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean furnaces and chimneys.
Smoking Materials
* Most deaths in home smoking-material fires were caused by fires that started in bedrooms or living rooms, family rooms or dens.
One out of four fatal victims of smoking-material fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire.
Electrical
* Electrical failure or malfunctions caused an estimated 44,900 home fires in 2013, resulting in 410 deaths and $1.3 billion in direct
property damage.
Electrical issues can cause fires in wiring, cords, lighting, dryers, and any other type of equipment that uses electricity.
Candles
* On Average, there are 25 home candle fires reported per day.
More than one-thrid of these fires started in the bedroom; however, the candle industry found that only 13% of candles users burn
candles in the bedroom most often.
* Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Only one
in five home fires were reported during these hours. - One quarter of home fire deaths were caused by fires that started in the bedroom.
Another quarter resulted from fires in the living room, family room or den. - Three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes
with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
* In 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 367,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 2,745 deaths,
11, 825 civilian injuries, and $6.8 billion in direct damage. On average, seven people die in U.S. home fires per day. Cooking equipment
is the leading cause of home fire injuries, followed by heating equipment.
* Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2014, 15 home fires killed five or more people resulting in a total of 88 deaths.
Smoke Alarms
* Three out of five home fire deaths in 2009-2013 were caused by fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
* In fires large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hard wired operated 94% of the time while battery powered operated 80% of the time.
* When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.
Escape Planning
* According to an NFPA survey, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
One-third of those surveyed estimated they would have at least 6 minutes before the fire became life threatening, the time is often less.
* Only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!
Cooking
* U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 162,400 cooking-related fires between 2009-2013 resulting in 430 civilian deaths, 5,400
injuries and 1.1 billion in direct damage.
* Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen, mostly from ignition of hot oil, food, or other cooking materials.
* More than half of people injured in home fires involving cooking were hurt while attempting to fight the fire themselves.
Heating
* The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean furnaces and chimneys.
Smoking Materials
* Most deaths in home smoking-material fires were caused by fires that started in bedrooms or living rooms, family rooms or dens.
One out of four fatal victims of smoking-material fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire.
Electrical
* Electrical failure or malfunctions caused an estimated 44,900 home fires in 2013, resulting in 410 deaths and $1.3 billion in direct
property damage.
Electrical issues can cause fires in wiring, cords, lighting, dryers, and any other type of equipment that uses electricity.
Candles
* On Average, there are 25 home candle fires reported per day.
More than one-thrid of these fires started in the bedroom; however, the candle industry found that only 13% of candles users burn
candles in the bedroom most often.