Fire-related Fatalities and Injuries

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that in the United States:

  • A fire department responds to a fire every 21 seconds
  • One home structure fire was reported every 88 seconds
  • One home fire-related injury occurs every 53 minutes
  • One home fire-related death occurs every 3 hours and 14 minutes

In 2022, 1,504,500 fires resulted in 3,790 civilian deaths and 13,250 injuries. In addition, there were 96 on-duty firefighter deaths. This fatal injury count is higher than recent years and the highest since 2013, when 98 on-duty deaths were reported. This increase is largely due to the inclusion of deaths occurring within 24 hours of duty. These deaths were previously not counted unless there was a specific physical complaint while on duty.

Although the number of fire-related deaths has decreased by 42% since 1980, 2022 marks a 33% increase from the record low number of deaths recorded by NFPA in 2012 (2,855). The 2022 civilian fire death toll of 3,790 is only slightly down from the 3,800 total in 2021. The graph below shows the vast majority of these deaths resulted from home fires.

  • Chart
  • Data Table

One- and two-family home fires account for 59.1% of civilian deaths and 54.3% of injuries. Apartment structure fires account for 12.4% of deaths and 20.8% of injuries. For overall home fires, the 2022 rate of 7.5 deaths per 1,000 reported home fires was 6% higher than the rate of 7.1 in 1980, but a decrease of 5% from 2021.

  • Chart
  • Data Table

Source: Hall, S. (November 2023). Fire loss in the United States During 2022. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.

Fahy, R.F., & Petrillo, J.T. (June 2023). Firefighter Fatalities in the US in 2022. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.