Older adults compared to the general population (2020):
Ages 65-74 had 2.2 times the risk of dying in a fire. The 10-year (2011‑2020) fire death rate trend for this age group increased 22%.
Ages 75-84 had 2.7 times the risk of dying in a fire — the lowest relative risk for this age group over the 10-year period.
Ages 85 and over had the highest relative risk among the general population of dying in a fire.
Older adult fire deaths, fire death rates and relative risk (2011‑2020)
Ages 65 and over
The fire death rate trend for older adults (ages 65 and older) increased by 3% from 2011 to 2020. In 2020, the fire death rate for people in this age group was 29.1 deaths per million population. The older adult population faces the greatest relative risk of dying in a fire. In 2020, the relative risk of dying in a fire for older adults was 2.5 times higher than that of the general population, as it also was in 2019.
| Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 65 and Over | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,215 | 41,350,891 | 29.4 | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 1,143 | 43,132,211 | 26.5 | 2.6 |
| 2013 | 1,234 | 44,632,337 | 27.6 | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 1,306 | 46,161,005 | 28.3 | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 1,332 | 47,655,870 | 28.0 | 2.7 |
| 2016 | 1,314 | 49,208,479 | 26.7 | 2.5 |
| 2017 | 1,444 | 50,757,639 | 28.4 | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 1,593 | 52,354,605 | 30.4 | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 1,471 | 54,036,735 | 27.2 | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 1,583 | 54,438,296 | 29.1 | 2.5 |
| 10-Year Trend (%) | +3.0% |
Ages 65 to 74
The trend in fire death rate for older adults ages 65 to 74 increased 22% over the 10-year period. In 2020, the fire death rate for people in this age group was 25.0 deaths per million population. Older adults (ages 65 to 74) had 2.2 times the risk of dying in a fire in 2020 than the general population, as it also was in 2018 and 2019.
| Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 65 to 74 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 488 | 22,486,575 | 21.7 | 2.0 |
| 2012 | 489 | 23,993,263 | 20.4 | 2.0 |
| 2013 | 505 | 25,194,487 | 20.0 | 1.8 |
| 2014 | 577 | 26,355,438 | 21.9 | 2.0 |
| 2015 | 610 | 27,488,218 | 22.2 | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 626 | 28,593,127 | 21.9 | 2.0 |
| 2017 | 689 | 29,606,234 | 23.3 | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 774 | 30,445,006 | 25.4 | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 744 | 31,471,344 | 23.6 | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 816 | 32,596,995 | 25.0 | 2.2 |
| 10-Year Trend (%) | +22.5% |
Ages 75 to 84
From 2011 to 2020, the largest decrease in the fire death rate trends for older adults occurred in the group of individuals ages 75 to 84. For this age group, the fire death rate trend decreased 8% over the 10-year period. In 2020, individuals ages 75 to 84 were 2.7 times more likely to die in a fire than the general population — the lowest relative risk for this age group over the 10-year period.
| Year | Number of Fire Deaths Age 75-84 | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 446 | 13,166,857 | 33.9 | 3.1 |
| 2012 | 415 | 13,273,784 | 31.3 | 3.1 |
| 2013 | 492 | 13,444,136 | 36.6 | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 456 | 13,672,321 | 33.4 | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 474 | 13,904,556 | 34.1 | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 449 | 14,232,344 | 31.5 | 2.9 |
| 2017 | 477 | 14,682,479 | 32.5 | 2.9 |
| 2018 | 526 | 15,371,573 | 34.2 | 2.9 |
| 2019 | 475 | 15,965,924 | 29.8 | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 491 | 15,821,149 | 31.0 | 2.7 |
| 10-Year Trend (%) | -8.5% |
Ages 85 and over
From 2011 to 2020 the trend in the fire death rate per million population for older adults ages 85 and over declined 4% over the 10-year period. Older adults of this age group, however, had the highest fire death rates among the general population as a whole and, as a result, were at the highest risk of dying in a fire. In 2020, individuals ages 85 and over were 4.0 times more likely to die in a fire than the general population, while those adults ages 65 to 74 were only 2.2 times more likely to suffer fire-related deaths.
| Year | Number of Fire Deaths Ages 85 and Older | Population | Fire Death Rate (per million population) | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 281 | 5,697,459 | 49.3 | 4.5 |
| 2012 | 239 | 5,865,164 | 40.7 | 4.1 |
| 2013 | 237 | 5,993,714 | 39.5 | 3.6 |
| 2014 | 273 | 6,133,246 | 44.5 | 4.1 |
| 2015 | 248 | 6,263,096 | 39.6 | 3.8 |
| 2016 | 238 | 6,383,008 | 37.3 | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 278 | 6,468,926 | 43.0 | 3.8 |
| 2018 | 293 | 6,538,026 | 44.8 | 3.8 |
| 2019 | 251 | 6,599,467 | 38.0 | 3.6 |
| 2020 | 276 | 6,020,152 | 45.8 | 4.0 |
| 10-Year Trend (%) | -3.9% |
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.