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Residential Building Cause-Under-Investigation Fire Trends (2011‑2020)

National estimates

The 2020 national estimates for residential building cause-under-investigation fires and losses show that there were:

  • 4,400 fires.
  • 505 deaths.
  • 650 injuries.
  • $427,800,000 in dollar loss.

Overall trends

Overall trends for residential building cause-under-investigation fires and losses for the 10-year period of 2011 to 2020 show the following:

  • A 17% increase in fires.
  • A 67% increase in deaths.
    In 2019 and 2020, 10 and 18 reported multifatality fire incidents (resulting in 2, 3 or 4 deaths), respectively, may have contributed to the increase in the estimate of fire deaths.
  • A 44% increase in injuries.
    In 2020, 36 reported multiple injury fire incidents (resulting in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 injuries), may have contributed to the increase in the estimate of fire injuries.
  • A 10% increase in dollar loss.
    This overall constant dollar-loss trend takes inflation into account by adjusting each year's dollar loss to its equivalent 2020 value.

Fires, deaths, injuries and dollar loss

Residential building cause-under-investigation fires

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Fires3800440043004500480052005000500047004400

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire deaths

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Deaths350285275305365405355375470505

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire injuries

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Injuries425500450375475500500550550650

Residential building cause-under-investigation fire dollar loss

YearDollar loss
2011418100000
2012411000000
2013485700000
2014393400000
2015428700000
2016477200000
2017484200000
2018494900000
2019455200000
2020427800000