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National estimates
The 2020 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire dollar loss show that there was:
- $1,675,800,000 loss from other unintentional, careless fires.
- $1,135,900,000 loss from electrical malfunction fires.
- $902,700,000 loss from intentional fires.
Overall trends
Overall trends in the leading fire dollar loss causes for the 10-year period of 2011 to 2020 show the following:
- Other unintentional, careless was the leading cause of residential fire dollar loss for the 10-year period.
- A 45% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire dollar loss.*
In 2018, 2019 and 2020, there were 33, 30 and 24 incidents, respectively, with a reported dollar loss of $1,000,000 or more, which may have contributed to the continued increase in fire dollar loss. - An 18% increase in residential electrical malfunction fire dollar loss.*
In 2018 and 2019, there were 32 and 14 incidents, respectively, with a reported dollar loss of $1,000,000 or more, which may have contributed to the continued increase in fire dollar loss. The 2019 high-dollar-loss fires included a $26,400,000 hotel fire in New Orleans, Louisiana. - A 39% increase in residential intentional fire dollar loss.*
An $80,000,000 under-construction apartment and hotel complex fire in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to the 2020 dollar-loss peak. - The spike in the 2016 residential exposure fire dollar loss is attributed in part to the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, wildfires.
Leading causes of residential building fire dollar loss (2011-2020)
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other unintentional, careless | 1240.7 | 1261.7 | 1156.5 | 1200.5 | 1357.9 | 1264.9 | 1458.9 | 1629.0 | 1590.3 | 1675.8 |
Electrical malfunction | 1175.1 | 918.1 | 1027.0 | 1016.0 | 1036.5 | 978.1 | 1116.9 | 1265.1 | 1223.2 | 1135.9 |
Open flame | 695.5 | 711.9 | 624.3 | 672.6 | 672.6 | 573.8 | 668.6 | 745.6 | 653.3 | 726.3 |
Other heat | 563.3 | 656.3 | 492.9 | 512.6 | 724.6 | 432.5 | 552.4 | 651.3 | 530.9 | 671.9 |
Natural | 559.5 | 707.1 | 414.4 | 529.6 | 494.5 | 505.6 | 494.5 | 533.3 | 523.4 | 446.5 |
Intentional | 554.0 | 600.6 | 525.3 | 422.4 | 429.2 | 437.1 | 779.8 | 573.5 | 445.9 | 902.7 |
Exposure | 407.2 | 336.0 | 613.2 | 431.3 | 469.0 | 1255.9 | 541.8 | 322.7 | 414.9 | 397.4 |