At a Glance
From 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of
34,200
heating fires in residential buildings
were reported to U.S. fire departments each year.
These fires caused an estimated annual average of:
deaths
injuries
in property loss
Heating was the second leading cause of all residential building fires, following cooking.
Residential building heating fires peaked in the early evening hours from 5 to 9 p.m., with the highest peak from 6 to 8 p.m.
Residential building heating fire incidence peaked in January at 20% and declined to the lowest point during the months of June, July and August.
Confined fires, specifically those fires confined to chimneys, flues or fuel burners, accounted for 77% of residential building heating fires.
The heat source was too close to combustibles in 27% of the nonconfined residential building heating fires.
Smoke alarms were present in 56% of nonconfined heating fires in occupied residential buildings.