At a Glance
Each year, from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of
230,500
1- and 2-family residential building fires
were reported to fire departments in the United States.
These fires caused an estimated annual average of:
![2,220 deaths](/img/icons/v21i6-deaths.png)
![7,250 injuries](/img/icons/v21i6-injuries.png)
injuries
![$6 billion](/img/icons/v21i6-dollar-loss.png)
in property loss
![steaming pan](/img/icons/heart-beat.png)
Deaths in 1- and 2-family residential building fires accounted for far more deaths in most years than all natural disasters combined.
63%
1- and 2-family residential building fires accounted for 63% of all residential building fires.
![cooking pan](/img/icons/v21i6-pan.450x323.png)
Cooking, at 37%, was the leading cause of 1- and 2-family residential building fires.
![January calendar](/img/icons/v21i2-4.450x360.png)
1- and 2-family residential building fires occurred more often in the cooler months, peaking in January at 11%.
![house with a flame on top half of it](/img/icons/v21i6-house-fire.png)
In 54% of nonconfined 1- and 2-family residential building fires, the fire extended beyond the room of fire origin.
![smoke alarm](/img/icons/smoke-alarm.png)
Smoke alarms were not present in 23% of nonconfined fires in occupied 1- and 2-family residential buildings.