Trends in Older Adult Fire Death Rates (2000-2009)
See also: Overall Trends | Child Fire Death Trends

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On a per capita basis, fire death rates are declining, partially due to an increase in the U.S. population and an overall decline in the numbers of reported fires and fire deaths. In the case of fire deaths, fire death rates are measured by deaths per million population. Trends in fire death rates are computed to show how the rates have changed over time by smoothing fluctuations or variations in the data from year-to-year.

Overall, the trend in the fire death rate per million population for older adults ages 65 and older decreased 16 percent from 2000-2009. Although the trend in fire death rates has decreased for the older adult population, older adults face the greatest risk of dying in a fire. In 2009, the risk of dying in a fire for older adults was 2.6 times higher than that of the population as a whole and rose even higher for the oldest segment of the population (age 85 and over). The table and chart below show the decline collectively for older adults ages 65 and over.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Older Adults Ages 65+ (2000-2009)

Year Number of Older Adult Fire Deaths Age 65+ Population Fire Death Rate (per million population)
2000 1,324 35,073,704 37.7
2001 1,252 35,320,452 35.4
2002 1,195 35,570,891 33.6
2003 1,308 35,922,907 36.4
2004 1,265 36,263,494 34.9
2005 1,277 36,703,697 34.8
2006 1,241 37,205,916 33.4
2007 1,296 37,867,145 34.2
2008 1,254 38,799,891 32.3
2009 1,130 39,570,590 28.6
10-Year Trend (%)     -16.3%

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported. The counts of fire deaths for the individual age categories (i.e., 65-74, 75-84, 85+) may not sum to the total per year for the 65+ age category due to rounding.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

The trend in the fire death rate per million population for older adults ages 65 to 74 decreased 10 percent over the 10-year period. Older adults in this age group had 2.0 times greater risk of dying in a fire than the general population in 2009.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Older Adults Ages 65-74 (2000-2009)

Year Number of Older Adult Fire Deaths Age 65-74 Population Fire Death Rate (per million population)
2000 481 18,374,606 26.2
2001 472 18,342,380 25.7
2002 456 18,310,162 24.9
2003 492 18,380,791 26.8
2004 429 18,501,787 23.2
2005 460 18,665,637 24.6
2006 471 18,936,149 24.9
2007 491 19,389,304 25.3
2008 507 20,138,983 25.2
2009 451 20,792,067 21.7
10-Year Trend (%)     -9.7%

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

For older adults ages 75 to 84, the fire death rate trend decreased 17 percent over the 10-year period. In 2009, individuals in this age group were 3.0 times more likely to die in a fire then the rest of the population. The table and chart below show the decrease in the fire death rate for older adults age 75 to 84.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Older Adults Ages 75-84 (2000-2009)

Year Number of Older Adult Fire Deaths Age 75-84 Population Fire Death Rate (per million population)
2000 544 12,428,577 43.8
2001 494 12,623,681 39.1
2002 489 12,816,880 38.2
2003 523 12,967,828 40.3
2004 529 13,077,213 40.5
2005 533 13,176,159 40.5
2006 506 13,206,691 38.3
2007 499 13,213,485 37.8
2008 469 13,211,138 35.5
2009 437 13,147,862 33.2
10-Year Trend (%)     -16.6%

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

From 2000 to 2009, the largest decrease in the fire death rate trends for older adults occurred in the group of individuals age 85 and over. The trend in the fire death rate per million population for this group decreased 30 percent over the 10-year period. Older adults of this age group, however, still have the highest fire death rates among the general population as a whole and, as a result, are at the highest risk of dying in a fire. In 2009, individuals age 85 or older were 3.9 times more likely to die in a fire than the general population. The table and chart below show the decrease in the fire death rate for older adults ages 85 and over.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Older Adults Ages 85+ (2000-2009)

Year Number of Older Adult Fire Deaths Age 85+ Population Fire Death Rate (per million population)
2000 299 4,270,521 70.0
2001 286 4,354,391 65.7
2002 250 4,443,849 56.3
2003 293 4,574,288 64.1
2004 307 4,684,494 65.5
2005 284 4,861,901 58.4
2006 264 5,063,076 52.1
2007 306 5,264,356 58.1
2008 279 5,449,770 51.2
2009 241 5,630,661 42.8
10-Year Trend (%) -30.1%

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

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