National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Estimates
Fire Estimates (2010)
Additional information on the U.S. fire problem is available from the NFPA's website.
NFPA definition of Structure
An assembly of materials forming a construction for occupancy or use in such a manner as to serve a specific purpose. A building is a form of structure. Open platforms, bridges, roof assemblies over open storage or process areas, tents, airsupported, and grandstands are other forms of structures.
All Fires |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Direct Dollar Loss In Millions |
|---|---|---|---|
1,331,500 |
3,120 |
17,720 |
$11,593 |
| Property Use | Fires |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Direct Dollar Loss In Millions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Structures | 482,000 |
2,755 |
15,420 |
$9,716 |
| Residential Structures | 384,000 |
2,665 |
13,800 |
$7,079 |
| Nonresidential Structures | 98,000 |
90 |
1,620 |
$2,637 |
| Vehicles | 215,500 |
310 |
1,590 |
$1,376 |
| Outdoor and Other Fires | 634,000 |
55 |
710 |
$501 |
Fires |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Direct Dollar Loss In Millions |
|---|---|---|---|
27,500 |
200 |
Not Available |
$585 |
Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. 2010.
Fire Departments (2010)
All Fire Departments |
All Career |
Mostly Career |
Mostly Volunteer |
All Volunteer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
30,125 |
2,495 (8.3%) |
1,860 (6.2%) |
5,290 (17.5%) |
20,480 (68.0%) |
Career=100% career firefighters, Mostly Career=51%-99% career firefighters, Mostly Volunteer=1%-50% career firefighters, Volunteer=100% volunteer firefighters
Response |
Number |
% Change from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Fires | 1,331,500 |
-1.3 |
| Medical Aid | 18,522,000 |
+8.3 |
| False Alarms | 2,187,000 |
+0.5 |
| Mutual Aid/Assistance | 1,189,500 |
-8.2 |
| Hazmat | 402,000 |
+1.3 |
| Other Hazardous (Arcing wires, bomb removal, etc.) | 660,000 |
+5.5 |
| All Other (Smoke scares, lock-outs, etc.) | 3,913,000 |
+9.1 |
| TOTAL | 28,205,000 |
+6.3 |
Source: National Fire Protection Association reports Fire Loss in the United States 2010 and U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2010
Firefighters (2010)
- Estimated number of firefighters in 2010: 1,103,300 (career: 335,150, volunteer: 768,150)
- Firefighters by age group: 16-19 (3%), 20-29 (21%), 30-39 (27%), 40-49 (26%), 50-59 (17%), 60 and over (6%)
- Seventy-three percent of career firefighters are in communities that protect a population of 25,000 or more.
- Ninety-five percent of the volunteers are in departments that protect a population of less than 25,000 and of these departments, about 50% are located in small, rural departments that protect a population of less than 2,500.
Source: National Fire Protection Association, U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2010
