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Topical Fire Report Series December 2021 | Volume 21, Issue 11

Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2017‑2019)

This report describes the characteristics of all portable heater fires in residential buildings reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System for 2017‑2019. While portable heater fires in residential buildings were only 3% of all heating fires in residential buildings, their consequences were substantial, accounting for 41% of fatal heating fires in residential buildings. Many of these fires were preventable, as human error was a contributing factor to the fire.

Download the full 13-page report

At a Glance

From 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of
1,100
portable heater 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

3% of heating fires in residential buildings involved portable heaters. However, portable heaters were involved in 41% of fatal heating fires in residential buildings.

Portable heater fires in residential buildings peaked in January (25%).

radiator with an object on fire next to it and 48% overlaid

The leading reported factor contributing to ignition was placing a heat source too close to combustible objects (48%).

Portable heater fires in residential buildings most often started in bedrooms (34%).

Smoke alarms were present in 41% of portable heater fires in occupied residential buildings.

Full or partial automatic extinguishing systems (AESs), including residential sprinklers, were present in only 2% of portable heater fires in occupied residential buildings.