Confined Structure Fires
Confined Structure FiresConfined structure fires are small fire incidents that are limited in scope, are generally confined to noncombustible containers, rarely result in serious injury or large content losses, and are expected to have no accompanying property losses due to flame damage. This report analyzes the characteristics of small fires that occur in structures that are contained or confined as recorded by fire department personnel completing the basic module of the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data collection report.
This is the first time that the U.S. Fire Administration has published an analysis on confined structure fires. While a great deal of data have been evaluated for this report and many questions have been addressed, much more remains to be learned about the widespread occurrence of small fires and how they are contained, or not contained.
When fire personnel record all fire incidents using a consistent methodology, they collect data that will affect their decision making about staffing and equipment, as well as their response mechanisms. Budget decisions are affected as well. Widespread cooperation from fire department personnel across the country has resulted in a clearer picture of such small fires than has ever been available in the past. Although this view is not yet transparent, it is helping to define new public education opportunities.
As studies of the unreported fire problem indicate that unreported fires tend to be small, low-loss, confined or contained fires, this investigation into similar fires - confined structure fires - may shed light on the characteristics of unreported fires as well.
Last Reviewed: December 28, 2006
U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727
(301) 447-1000 Fax: (301) 447-1346 Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1441