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Residential Building Cause-Under-Investigation Fire Trends (2012‑2021)

National estimates

The 2021 national estimates for residential building cause-under-investigation fires and losses show that there were:

  • 5,200 fires.
  • 470 deaths.
  • 575 injuries.
  • $531,300,000 in dollar loss.

Overall trends

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

  • An 11% increase in fires.
  • An 83% increase in deaths.
    In 2019, there were 10 reported multifatality fire incidents, 18 in 2020 and 11 in 2021. These multifatality fire incidents may have contributed to the increase in the estimates of fire deaths.
  • A 41% increase in injuries.
    In 2020, 36 reported multiple injury fire incidents may have contributed to the increase in the estimate of fire injuries.
  • A 12% increase in dollar loss.
    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 cause-under-investigation fires

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Fires4400430045004800520050005000470044005200

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire deaths

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Deaths285275305365405355375470505470

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire injuries

2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Injuries500450375475500500550550650575

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire dollar loss

YearDollar loss
2012430400000
2013508500000
2014411900000
2015448800000
2016499600000
2017507000000
2018518100000
2019476600000
2020447900000
2021531300000