Non-Residential Structures

Much of the effort in fire prevention, both public and private, has gone into protecting non-residential structures, and the results have been highly effective, especially when compared to the residential fire problem.

Nonresidential structures include educational, institutional, public assembly, stores and offices, industry, utility, defense, storage in structures, and special structures.

The following table shows the number of fires, deaths, injuries and dollar loss that occurred in non-residential properties from 1997 to 2006.

Non-Residential Structures
Year	Fires	Deaths	Injuries	Direct Dollar Loss In Millions
1997	145,500	120	2,600	$2,502
1998	136,000	170	2,250	$2,326
1999	140,000	120	2,100	$3,398
2000	126,000	90	2,200	$2,827
2001¹	125,000	80	1,650	$3,231
2002	118,000	80	1,550	$2,687
2003²	117,500	220	1,525	$2,604
2004	115,500	80	1,350	$2,366
2005	115,000	50	1,500	$2,318
2006	111,500	85	1,425	$2,646

¹ For non-residential properties in 2001, there were an additional 2,451 civilian deaths and 800 civilian injuries that occurred as a result of the events of September 11, 2001. The total property loss due to September 11, 2001 was $33,440,000,000.

² In 2003, the estimate for fire deaths includes 100 fire deaths in the Station Nightclub Fire in Rhode Island, and 31 deaths in two nursing home fires in Connecticut and Tennessee.

Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2006.