Main content
National estimates
The 2020 national estimates for the leading causes of residential building fire injuries show that there were:
- 3,175 cooking fire injuries.
- 1,800 other unintentional, careless fire injuries.
- 975 electrical malfunction fire injuries.
- 975 open-flame fire injuries.
Overall trends
Overall trends in the leading fire injury causes for the 10-year period of 2011 to 2020 show the following:
- Cooking as the leading cause of residential building fires for the 10-year period.
- A 25% decrease in residential cooking fire injuries.
- A 40% increase in residential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire injuries.
- A 10% decrease in residential electrical malfunction fire injuries.
- A 23% decrease in residential open-flame fire injuries.
Leading causes of residential building fire injuries (2011-2020)
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooking | 3675 | 4425 | 4225 | 4125 | 3775 | 3475 | 3300 | 3100 | 3550 | 3175 |
Other unintentional, careless | 1625 | 1050 | 1075 | 1075 | 1350 | 1325 | 1300 | 1450 | 1650 | 1800 |
Electrical malfunction | 1200 | 900 | 875 | 925 | 850 | 800 | 750 | 825 | 1050 | 975 |
Open flame | 1300 | 1100 | 1150 | 1050 | 975 | 925 | 900 | 975 | 1000 | 975 |
Smoking | 1050 | 800 | 850 | 775 | 675 | 750 | 700 | 700 | 750 | 725 |
Intentional | 850 | 775 | 725 | 625 | 650 | 625 | 700 | 700 | 750 | 725 |