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Residential Building Electrical Malfunction Fire Trends (2012‑2021)

National estimates

The 2021 national estimates for residential building electrical malfunction fires and losses show that there were:

  • 24,200 fires.
  • 295 deaths.
  • 900 injuries.
  • $1,201,500,000 in dollar loss.

Overall trends

Overall trends for residential building electrical malfunction fires and losses for the 10-year period of 2012 to 2021 show the following:

  • An 11% increase in fires.
  • A 17% decrease in deaths.
  • An 8% increase in injuries.
  • A 27% increase in dollar loss.*
    In 2018, there were 32 incidents with a reported dollar loss of $1,000,000 or more, 14 in 2019, 13 in 2020 and 23 in 2021. These incidents 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.
*This overall constant dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting each year’s dollar loss to its equivalent 2021 value.

Fires, deaths, injuries and dollar loss

Residential building electrical malfunction fires

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Fires20200231002390024500235002410025700242002340024200

Residential building electrical malfunction fire deaths

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Deaths210335325290310200255225200295

Residential building electrical malfunction fire injuries

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Injuries9008759258508007508251050975900

Residential building electrical malfunction fire dollar loss

YearDollar loss
2012961200000
20131075200000
20141063800000
20151085200000
20161024100000
20171169400000
20181324500000
20191280700000
20201189300000
20211201500000