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Residential Building Fire Injury Causes (2014-2023)

National estimates

The 2023 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire injuries show that there were:

  • 2,500 cooking fire injuries.
  • 1,600 other unintentional, careless fire injuries.
  • 925 open-flame fire injuries.
  • 800 electrical malfunction fire injuries.

Overall trends

Overall trends in the leading fire injury causes for the 10-year period of 2014 to 2023 show the following:

  • Cooking was the leading cause of residential building fire injuries for the 10-year period.
  • A 37% decrease in residential cooking fire injuries.
  • A 38% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire injuries.
    In 2020, there were 64 reported multiple injury fire incidents, 68 in 2021 and 63 in 2023 that may have contributed to the increase in the estimate of fire injuries. The 2020 multiple injury fire incidents included a high-rise apartment building fire in Bronx, New York, with 29 injuries.
  • An 8% decrease in residential open-flame fire injuries.
  • A 2% increase in residential electrical malfunction fire injuries.

Leading causes of residential building fire injuries (2014-2023)

2014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Cooking4125377534753300310035503175300023502500
Other unintentional, careless1075135013251300145016501800170013751600
Open flame10509759259009751000975975850925
Electrical malfunction9258508007508251050975900850800