fire safety statistics

Fire Safety Facts & Statistics

Fire is one of the most dangerous things to children. They often end up trapped and helpless when fires break out in their home, and young children make up a disproportionate number of fire-related deaths. In addition, the allure of fire often leads kids to play with matches or lighters, and they end up starting the fire that kills them. Here are some alarming facts every family should know:

1. There are around 380,000 residential structure fires each year.

2. Between 500 and 700 children lose their lives annually in house fires.

3. Children playing with fire account for about 25 of every 1000 fires.

4. Having smoke detectors in your home cut your chances of dying in a fire in half.

5. Ionization smoke detectors are present in 90% of U.S. homes. Yet photo-electric detectors sense smoke better, catching fires that ionization smoke detectors don't. Up to a third of the more than 3,000 people a year who dies in fires might have escaped if they had a photoelectric smoke detector. Newer models have both types of sensors. Which ones are in your house?

6. The leading cause of fire-related death is smoke inhalation.

7. Nearly 1,000 people die every year in residential fires caused by a careless smoker.

8. Smokers are responsible for around 1,000 fire deaths in the United States each year.

9. Candles are responsible for around 18,000 home fires every year.

10. Household grills cause around 1,000 structural fires and 3,400 outdoor fires each year.

More than just statistics . . .

*Children left unattended start fatal house fire
A fire that was started by kids playing with matches, raced through a three story row house, killing 5 children, who ranged in ages from three to seven. ...
www.truechildsafety.com/childsafetyarticle13.html

*Child playing with matches dies
Fire investigators believe that little John Rex Caesar was playing with a lighter. Thirty-one people were living in the house, and were all left homeless ...

References:

1) U.S. Fire Administration
2) U.S. Fire Administration “Children & Fire in the US.” 1994 - 1997
3) U.S. Fire Administration “Children & Fire in the US.” 1994 - 1997
4) U.S. Fire Administration
5) Joseph Fleming, Deputy Chief of Boston Fire Department & Smoke detector specialist
6) U.S. Fire Administration
7) U.S. Fire Administration; Seaman, Andrew, "States push fire-safe cigarettes by passing their own legislation," USA Today, 1-2-08, p. 1A

8. Andrew Seaman, "States push fire-safe cigarettes by passing their own legislation." USA Today, 1-2-08, p. lA
9. National Fire Protection Association
10. National Fire Protection Association

Welcome to Our Facts & Statistics Center!

Please select a safety topic from the list below:

General Child
Safety Facts

Childhood Health

Child Abduction & Murder

Child Abuse Facts

Fire Safety

Safety Around the Home

Auto and Pedestrian Safety

School Safety

Recreation Related Safety

Teen Risks

Child Poverty

Wildlife & Animal Attacks

Weather & Natural Disasters

Parent: Keep up to date on important child safety issues on our
child safety blog

+... Read about the stories behind the
statistics. Visit
True Child Safety
for real life stories regarding child safety
and health.