In 2020, children ages:
0-4 had a higher relative risk of dying in a fire compared to older children.
5-9 had a relative risk of dying in a fire that was 70% less than the general population.
10-14 had a relative risk of dying in a fire that was 80% less than the general population.
Child fire deaths, fire death rates and relative risk (2011-2020)
Ages 0 to 14
The overall trend in the fire death rate of children ages 0 to 14 decreased 15% from 2011 to 2020 and the relative risk of dying in a fire was less than that of the general population. In 2020, the relative risk of dying in a fire for children ages 14 and under was 70% less than that of the general population.
Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 0 to 14 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 324 | 61,176,726 | 5.3 | 0.5 |
2012 | 274 | 61,127,458 | 4.5 | 0.4 |
2013 | 321 | 61,087,762 | 5.3 | 0.5 |
2014 | 285 | 61,078,836 | 4.7 | 0.4 |
2015 | 271 | 61,030,138 | 4.4 | 0.4 |
2016 | 309 | 61,021,294 | 5.1 | 0.5 |
2017 | 314 | 61,008,778 | 5.1 | 0.5 |
2018 | 332 | 60,879,327 | 5.5 | 0.5 |
2019 | 241 | 60,613,145 | 4.0 | 0.4 |
2020 | 232 | 61,301,070 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
10-Year Trend (%) | -14.9% |
Ages 0 to 4
For children under the age of 5, the fire death rate trend decreased 28% over the 10-year period. Children of this age group, however, have the highest fire death rates among children of all ages and, as a result, are at a higher relative risk of dying in a fire when compared to older children.
Prior to 2006, the fire death rate for young children was slightly higher than the general population. From 2011 to 2020, the fire death rates of children ages 4 and younger were less than that of the general population. This decline may be attributed, in part, to an increase in public fire education and prevention efforts.
For 2019 and 2020, the relative risk of dying in a fire for the youngest children was 50% lower than that of the general population — the lowest relative risk for this age group since the U.S. Fire Administration began tracking the relative risk of dying in a fire in the mid-1970s.
Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 0 to 4 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 175 | 20,126,211 | 8.7 | 0.8 |
2012 | 138 | 19,980,936 | 6.9 | 0.7 |
2013 | 163 | 19,855,184 | 8.2 | 0.7 |
2014 | 148 | 19,878,806 | 7.4 | 0.7 |
2015 | 137 | 19,924,706 | 6.9 | 0.7 |
2016 | 144 | 19,936,737 | 7.2 | 0.7 |
2017 | 130 | 19,895,016 | 6.5 | 0.6 |
2018 | 157 | 19,778,527 | 7.9 | 0.7 |
2019 | 105 | 19,571,339 | 5.4 | 0.5 |
2020 | 107 | 19,281,212 | 5.5 | 0.5 |
10-Year Trend (%) | -28.4% |
Ages 5 to 9
The fire death rate trend for children ages 5 to 9 decreased 6% over the 10-year period. In 2020, the relative risk of dying in a fire for this group was 70% less than that of the general population.
Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 5 to 9 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 97 | 20,335,489 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
2012 | 91 | 20,472,679 | 4.4 | 0.4 |
2013 | 102 | 20,575,591 | 5.0 | 0.5 |
2014 | 78 | 20,526,270 | 3.8 | 0.4 |
2015 | 83 | 20,490,819 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
2016 | 98 | 20,450,557 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
2017 | 115 | 20,330,306 | 5.7 | 0.5 |
2018 | 111 | 20,212,958 | 5.5 | 0.5 |
2019 | 85 | 20,221,753 | 4.2 | 0.4 |
2020 | 69 | 20,336,862 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
10-Year Trend (%) | -5.9% |
Ages 10 to 14
From 2011 to 2020, the fire death rate trend increased 15% for children ages 10 to 14. In 2020, however, the relative risk of dying in a fire for children of this age group was 80% less than that of the general population, as it also was in 2019. Although the trend in the fire death rate has increased for children of this age group, they still have the lowest relative risk of dying in a fire compared to younger children.
Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 10 to 14 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 52 | 20,715,026 | 2.5 | 0.2 |
2012 | 44 | 20,673,843 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
2013 | 55 | 20,656,987 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
2014 | 59 | 20,673,760 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
2015 | 51 | 20,614,613 | 2.5 | 0.2 |
2016 | 67 | 20,634,000 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
2017 | 69 | 20,783,456 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
2018 | 64 | 20,887,842 | 3.1 | 0.3 |
2019 | 51 | 20,820,053 | 2.4 | 0.2 |
2020 | 56 | 21,682,996 | 2.6 | 0.2 |
10-Year Trend (%) | +15.2% |
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:
- NCHS. 2011‑2020 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1, 2011-2019 population estimates from the file, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2020 (NC-EST2020-AGESEX-RES). Release date: May 2021.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1, 2020 population estimates from the file, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 (NC-EST2021-AGESEX-RES). Release date: April 2022.