USFA Releases Latest Residential Building Civilian Fire Injuries Report

Over 70 percent of all civilian fire injuries occur as a result of residential building fires, according to the latest report issued by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

The report, Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings, which examines the characteristics of civilian fire injuries in residential buildings, was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

According to statistics contained within the report, between 2008 and 2010, there were an estimated 13,000 civilian fire injuries resulting from approximately 8,200 residential building fires. Residential fires resulting in injuries, unlike fatal residential fires which most often occur late at night or in the early morning hours, occur most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening hours, peaking between 7 and 8 p.m., the report stated.

The report also identified a seasonal trend for residential fire injuries, with more injuries occurring during the winter months of December and January.

According to the report:

• Seventy-six percent of all civilian fire injuries occurred as a result of fires in residential buildings.
• Cooking (30 percent) was the primary cause for residential building fires that resulted in injuries.
• Thirty-five percent of civilian fire injuries in residential buildings resulted from trying to control a fire followed by attempting to escape (26 percent).
• Seventy-nine percent of injuries resulting from residential building fires involved smoke inhalation and thermal burns.
• The leading human factor contributing to injuries in residential building fires was being asleep (55 percent).
• Bedrooms (35 percent) were the leading location where civilian injuries occurred in residential building fires.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)