According to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), home fires cause billions of dollars in damage annually, primarily due to cooking and heating equipment. Children under five are at the highest risk of death, while juvenile firesetters fall into different categories based on age and motivation.
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‍Home Fire Statistics

‍Frequency: An average of 350,800 home structure fires were reported annually between 2016 and 2020.

‍Total damage cost: In 2023, estimated property damage losses exceeded $23 billion.

‍Leading cause: Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, responsible for 49% of all incidents. This is often due to unattended cooking.
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‍Main cause of death: Smoke inhalation causes most home fire deaths, not the flames themselves. While cooking causes the most fires, smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths.

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‍Children and Home Fires

Child Fatalities: Children aged 14 and under account for hundreds of fire deaths each year.

‍Vulnerability: Children under five are at the highest risk of home fire death and injury, with a death rate nearly double the national average. A high percentage of fire deaths among young children happen while they are asleep.

‍Firestarting: Fires started by children are a significant issue.
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‍Leading cause of death for preschoolers: Child-playing fires are the leading cause of death for preschoolers.

‍Common location and material: The bedroom is the most common place for fires started by children, often involving mattresses or bedding.
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‍Ignition source: Lighters are the most common heat source in fires started by children.

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‍Juvenile Arson Arrests

‍Over half of all arson arrests involve children under 18.

Nearly half of the arrested juvenile fire setters are 15 or younger.

Juvenile firesetters are categorized by age and motivation:

‍Ages 8–12: Often set fires intentionally due to psychosocial conflict.

‍Ages 13–18: May engage in criminal arson with a history of firesetting.

‍Under 8: Usually start fires accidentally or out of curiosity.

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‍Geographic Hotspots and Areas of Highest Risk

States with highest fire fatality and injury rates: A 2024 study identified several high-risk states based on fire safety scores:

‍Highest death rate: Alaska has the highest death rate from residential fires (25.5 per 1,000 fires).

‍Highest injury rate: Alaska also has the highest injury rate (64.4 per 1,000 fires).

‍Other high-risk states: Ohio, Tennessee, North Dakota, and South Dakota also ranked poorly.

‍Cities with highest fire risk: A 2017 index from The Hartford identified the cities with the highest home fire risk:
Detroit, Michigan
Shreveport, Louisiana
Boston, Massachusetts
Flint, Michigan
Richmond, Virginia

‍Wildfire risk: Wildfires put homes in certain areas at high risk. In 2023, California had nearly 1.3 million homes in areas with extreme wildfire risk, and Colorado had over 330,000.
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