- In 2000, a total of 102 firefighters were fatally injured while on duty. Of these, 57 were volunteer, 28 were career, and 17 were non-municipal (not employed by local, public fire departments). Heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of fatal on-duty injury to U.S. firefighters.
- Cooking equipment fires remain the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries.
- Lightning caused an estimated 34,990 fires per year from 1994 to 1998.
- Christmas trees were the items first ignited in 400 home fires, resulting in 14 civilian deaths, 79 civilian injuries, and $17.5 million in direct property damage, per year in 1993-97.
- U.S. fire department medical aid responses nearly doubled from 10,819,000 in 1980 to 19,667,000 in 1999.
- Clothes dryers were involved in an estimated 14,800 U.S. home structure fires and $75.2 million in direct property damage, annually, from 1993-1997. The leading cause of clothes dryer fires was lack of maintenance.
- Fireworks injuries reported to U.S. hospital emergency rooms jumped by 29% in 2000, from 8,500 in 1999 to 11,000 in 2000.
- The first firehouse pole was installed in New York City on April 21, 1878.
- From 1994-1998, fires in eldercare facilities killed an average of 12 people per year and injured 241 people a year. Two of every five deaths involved smoking materials.
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- In 1999, for the fifth straight year, juvenile fire setters accounted for half or more of those arrested for arson in the United States. Their share in 1999 was 54% of all arrests.
- Smoke inhalation accounts for most fire deaths. In 1998, 73% of all fire deaths coded by medical authorities on death certificates were caused by smoke inhalation.
- In 1999, United States fire departments responded to 2,039,000 false alarms.
- On average during 1999, a U.S. fire department responded to a fire every 17 seconds and fire caused an average of one death every 2-1/2 hours.
- Sprinklers typically cut the average loss per fire by one half to two-thirds.
- Gas grills were involved in an estimated 4,400 outdoor home barbecue grill fires during 1993-1997, accounting for three-quarters of the outdoor grill fires.
- From 1994-1998, candles in the home caused an annual average of 9,930 fires, 119 civilian deaths, and $144.5 million in estimated direct property damage. Almost half (44%) of the home candle fires started in the bedroom.
- A battery-operated smoke alarm for the home retails for less than $10. In 1994, home fires caused $481,000 in damage every hour.
- For more alarming fire facts, visit the National Fire Protection Association web site at www.nfpa.org
Source: NFPA, Fire Analysis and Research Division
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