Home Departments Fire & EMS Public Education Fire Safety Facts Fire Safety Facts U.S. Fire Facts Facts provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.The Overall PictureFire facts: The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates, per capita, in the industrialized world. Approximately 5,700 people die in fires in this country annually, and another 29,000 civilians are injured. Approximately 100 firefighters die each year in duty-related incidents. Each year, fire usually kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the home; at least 70% of all fire deaths occur in residences. More than 2 million fires are reported each year; many others go unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.5 billion annually. Who is Most at RiskRisk facts: Senior citizens are at the highest risk of being killed in a fire - more than double the average population. The southeastern U.S. has the highest fire death rate per capita. Nearly 80% of all fatalities occur in the home. Of those, approximately 67% occur in single-family homes and duplexes. At least 785 fire deaths occur in apartments each year. About 80 people die in hotel / motel fires annually, with careless smoking as the leading cause of these deaths. People under the age of 19 account for 25% of the annual fire deaths. Children under age 5 are at serious risk of being killed in a fire - nearly double the average population. About 25% of the fires that kill young children are started by children playing with fire. Fire deaths and injuries for men are nearly double those for women. Careless smoking is the leading cause of residential fire deaths. Smoke detectors and smolder-resistant bedding and upholstered furniture are significant fire deterrents. Arson is the second leading cause of residential fires and residential fire deaths; in commercial properties, arson is the major cause of deaths, injuries, and dollar loss. Heating is the third leading cause of residential fire deaths. Heater fires are the leading cause of fire deaths in the southeastern U.S.; wood stoves are a serious problem in the northern U.S. Cooking is the leading cause of apartment fires and the second most frequent cause of single-family residential fires. These fires often result from unattended cooking and human error, rather than mechanical failures of stoves or ovens. What Saves LivesFire prevention facts: A working smoke detector doubles a person's chance of surviving a fire. Approximately 90% of U.S. homes have at least one smoke detector. Nearly half the residential fires and three fifths of the residential fatalities occur in homes with no smoke detectors. Residential sprinklers have become more cost-effective and can usually be installed for $.75 to $1.50 per square foot. Areas of OriginTop five places fires start: Kitchen - 29% Bedroom - 13% Living Room / Den - 8% Chimney - 8% Laundry Area - 4%