The NFPA has published a report that found problematic trends in home structure fires, showcasing the importance of home fire safety.
A recent report published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), titled Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, has revealed some concerning statistics. In particular, information regarding home structure fires has proven to be worrying for fire safety professionals. While the fire protection community works on strategies to improve fire safety in all aspects of our lives, these recent statistics showcase why everyone should stay on top of their personal safety when it comes to the risk of a home fire.
The Overall Impact
According to the NFPA report, U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 1.35 million fires. This means that fire departments responded to a fire every 23 seconds, which is around 3,700 fires per day. The overall amount of fires and their impact is on the decline, but home structure fires have some secondary statistics to consider that paint a worrying picture.
There are some significant improvements noted in the NFPA report.
- “The 2021 overall estimate for total fire incidents was 55 percent lower than in 1980.”
- “The 2021 estimate of total fire deaths was 42 percent lower than in 1980.”
Home Structure Fires
Unfortunately, most of the more alarming statistics were found in conjunction with home structure fires. Most notably, home fires only accounted for 25% of all reported fires, but they caused 75% of fire-related deaths and 76% of fire-related injuries. This is problematic because it shows that home structure fires are responsible for a disproportionate amount of fire-related deaths and injuries.
Home structure fire deaths, especially in one- and two-family homes, were significantly higher than they were in 1980—35% higher. This points to a troublesome trend where home fire safety is actually on the decline, and more work is needed to make these fires less deadly.
Personal Fire Safety
Ultimately, fire protection standards can only do so much to protect individuals. It is up to everyone to take their own fire safety seriously and make sure they are practicing safe habits, ensuring their fire safety systems are updated and operable, getting fire extinguisher training, and running fire evacuation drills in their home to ensure they have a plan to get out in case of an emergency. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to respond appropriately if you do happen to experience a home fire.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting
people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.