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Fire Estimate Summary • April 2021

Residential Building Fire Injury Causes (2010‑2019)

This fire estimate summary presents basic data on residential building fire injury causes in the United States as depicted through data reported to the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System. The summary also highlights important trends in the data.

National Estimates

The 2019 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire injuries show that there were:

  1. 3,550 cooking fire injuries.
  2. 1,650 other unintentional, careless fire injuries.
  3. 1,050 electrical malfunction fire injuries.
  4. 1,000 open flame fire injuries.

Overall Trends

Overall trends in the leading fire injury causes for the 10-year period of 2010 to 2019 show the following:

  • Cooking was the leading cause of residential building fire injuries for the 10-year period.
  • A 19% decrease in residential cooking fire injuries.
  • A 9% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire injuries.
  • A 20% decrease in residential electrical malfunction fire injuries.
  • A 24% decrease in residential open flame fire injuries.

Leading Causes of Residential Building Fire Injuries (2010‑2019)

2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Cooking3750367544254225412537753475330031003550
Other Unintentional, Careless1525162510501075107513501325130014501650
Electrical Malfunction105012009008759258508007508251050
Open Flame115013001100115010509759259009751000
Smoking9501050800850775675750700700750
Intentional750850775725625650625700700750
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