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Residential Building Fire Death Causes (2012‑2021)

National estimates

The 2021 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire deaths show that there were:

  • 575 other unintentional, careless fire deaths.
  • 470 cause-under-investigation fire deaths.
  • 295 electrical malfunction fire deaths.

Overall trends

Overall trends in the leading fire death causes for the 10-year period of 2012 to 2021 show the following:

  • Other unintentional, careless was the leading cause of residential fire deaths in 8 years out of the 10-year period.
  • A 54% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire deaths.
    In 2018, there were 16 reported multifatality fire incidents, 18 in 2019, 9 in 2020 and 15 in 2021. These reported multifatality fire incidents may have contributed to the increase in the estimates of fire deaths.
  • Cause under investigation was the leading or second leading cause of residential fire deaths 5 years out of the 10-year period.
  • An 83% increase in residential cause-under-investigation fire deaths.
    In 2019, there were 10 reported multifatality fire incidents, 18 in 2020 and 11 in 2021. These multifatality fire incidents may have contributed to the increase in the estimates of fire deaths.
  • A 17% decrease in residential electrical malfunction and a 5% decrease in residential smoking fire deaths.

Leading causes of residential building fire deaths (2012-2021)

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Other unintentional, careless295465450440480435545585500575
Cause under investigation285275305365405355375470505470
Electrical malfunction210335325290310200255225200295
Smoking330320325320375300390320330275
Intentional320320235290260370255265185275