U.S. Fire Administration Fire Estimates
Fire Estimate Summaries present basic data on the size and status of the fire problem in the United States as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each Fire Estimate Summary addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related issue and highlights important trends in the data.1
Residential Building Estimates
Definition of Residential Building
A structure is a constructed item of which a building is one type. The term residential structure commonly refers to buildings where people live. To coincide with this concept, the definition of a residential structure fire includes only those fires confined to an enclosed building or fixed portable or mobile structure with a residential property use. Such fires are referred to as residential buildings to distinguish these buildings from other structures on residential properties that may include fences, sheds, and other uninhabitable structures. Residential buildings include, but are not limited to one- or two-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, manufactured housing, boarding houses or residential hotels, commercial hotels, college dormitories, and sorority/fraternity houses.
Fire Estimate Summaries of Residential Building Fire Trends and Causes (2010)
Residential Building Fires (2006-2010)
Year |
Fires |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Dollar Loss |
2006 |
392,700 |
2,490 |
12,550 |
7,188,000,000 |
2007 |
390,300 |
2,765 |
13,525 |
7,527,000,000 |
2008 |
378,200 |
2,650 |
13,100 |
8,124,100,000 |
2009 |
356,200 |
2,480 |
12,600 |
7,378,800,000 |
2010 |
362,100 |
2,555 |
13,275 |
6,646,900,000 |
Residential Building National Estimates (2003-2010)
Nonresidential Building Estimates
Definition of Nonresidential Building
Nonresidential buildings are a subset of nonresidential structures and refer to buildings on nonresidential properties. Buildings include enclosed structures, subway terminals, underground buildings, and fixed portable or mobile structures. The term nonresidential buildings refers to those nonresidential structures that are enclosed. Nonresidential buildings include assembly, eating and drinking establishments, educational facilities, stores, offices, basic industry, manufacturing, storage, detached garages, outside properties, and other nonpermanent residential buildings. The term nonresidential also includes institutional properties such as prisons, nursing homes, juvenile care facilities, and hospitals, though many people may reside there for short (or long) durations of time.
Fire Estimate Summaries of Nonresidential Building Fire Trends and Causes (2010)
Nonresidential Building Fires (2006-2010)
Year |
Fires |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Dollar Loss |
2006 |
98,900 |
75 |
1,350 |
2,536,100,000 |
2007 |
103,000 |
90 |
1,275 |
3,015,900,000 |
2008 |
97,100 |
100 |
1,250 |
3,496,300,000 |
2009 |
89,200 |
90 |
1,500 |
2,804,700,000 |
2010 |
84,900 |
80 |
1,375 |
2,400,700,000 |
Nonresidential Building National Estimates (2003-2010)
National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and Losses
1 Fire Estimate Summaries are based on the USFA's National Estimates Methodology for Building Fires and Losses (PDF, 264 Kb) using native version 5.0 data from NFIRS and structure fire loss estimates from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual surveys of fire loss. The USFA is committed to providing the best and most current information on the United States' fire problem and, as a result, continually examines its data and methodology. Because of this commitment, changes to data collection strategies and estimate methodologies occur, causing estimates to change slightly over time. Previous estimates on specific issues (or similar issues) may have been a result of different methodologies or data definitions used and may not be directly comparable to current estimates.
Related Content
Links of Interest