National Estimates
The 2019 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire dollar loss show that there was:
- $1,570,900,000 loss from other unintentional, careless fires.
- $1,208,300,000 loss from electrical malfunction fires.
- $645,400,000 loss from open flame fires.
Overall Trends
Overall trends in the leading causes of fire dollar loss for the 10-year period of 2010 to 2019 show the following:
- Other unintentional, careless was the leading cause of residential fire dollar loss for the 10-year period, and there was a 30% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire dollar loss. In 2018 and 2019, there were 33 and 30 incidents, respectively, with a reported dollar loss of $1,000,000 or more, which may have contributed to the continued increase in fire dollar loss.
- A 9% increase in residential electrical malfunction fire dollar loss. In 2018 and 2019, there were 32 and 14 incidents, respectively, with a reported dollar loss of $1,000,000 or more, which may have contributed to the continued increase in fire dollar loss. The 2019 high dollar loss fires included a $26,400,000 hotel fire in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- A 5% decrease in residential open flame fire dollar loss.
- The spike in the 2016 residential exposure fire dollar loss is attributed in part to the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, wildfires.
Leading Causes of Residential Building Fire Dollar Loss (2010‑2019)
Adjusted to 2019 Dollars ($millions)
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other Unintentional, Careless | 1330 | 1226 | 1246 | 1142 | 1186 | 1341 | 1249 | 1441 | 1609 | 1571 |
Electrical Malfunction | 1188 | 1161 | 907 | 1014 | 1004 | 1024 | 966 | 1103 | 1250 | 1208 |
Open Flame | 708 | 687 | 703 | 617 | 664 | 664 | 567 | 661 | 737 | 645 |
Other Heat | 593 | 557 | 648 | 487 | 506 | 716 | 427 | 546 | 643 | 524 |
Natural | 504 | 553 | 699 | 409 | 523 | 488 | 499 | 488 | 527 | 517 |
Cause Under Investigation | 402 | 413 | 406 | 480 | 389 | 423 | 471 | 478 | 489 | 450 |
Intentional | 573 | 547 | 593 | 519 | 417 | 424 | 432 | 770 | 567 | 441 |
Exposure | 298 | 402 | 332 | 606 | 426 | 463 | 1241 | 535 | 319 | 410 |