Key Takeaways
- In 2022, cooking equipment was the leading cause of reported home fires in the US, accounting for 49% of all residential building fires with 166,400 incidents resulting in 610 civilian deaths and 5,300 injuries.
- Unattended cooking caused 29% of all cooking fires in US homes between 2015-2019, leading to $1.2 billion in property damage annually.
- Stovetops accounted for 59% of cooking fires in US homes from 2014-2018, with grease fires making up 13% of those incidents.
- Fixed space heaters caused 14% of US home fires from 2016-2020, resulting in 440 deaths annually.
- Portable electric heaters were involved in 78% of fatal heating fires in US homes 2021.
- Wood-burning fireplaces caused 11% of heating equipment fires in Canada 2019-2022.
- Smoking materials caused 5.1% of US home fires from 2015-2019, leading to 17,000 fires and 540 deaths yearly.
- Cigarettes dropped on furniture ignited 37% of smoking-material home fires in US 2021.
- In the UK, careless smoking caused 8% of fatal dwelling fires in 2022/23, totaling 250 deaths.
- Electrical distribution equipment caused 6% of US home fires 2015-2019, with 18,000 incidents yearly.
- Arc faults in wiring ignited 51% of US home electrical fires 2021.
- In the UK, faulty consumer electrics caused 23% of electrical dwelling fires 2022/23.
- Candles caused 2.9% of US home fires 2015-2019, with 9,200 incidents and 86 deaths yearly.
- Bedroom candles unattended led to 39% of candle-related US home fires 2021.
- In the UK, candles caused 7% of accidental dwelling fires in 2022/23, with 70 fatalities.
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of preventable house fires worldwide.
Candles
- Candles caused 2.9% of US home fires 2015-2019, with 9,200 incidents and 86 deaths yearly.
- Bedroom candles unattended led to 39% of candle-related US home fires 2021.
- In the UK, candles caused 7% of accidental dwelling fires in 2022/23, with 70 fatalities.
- Scented candles with unstable containers tipped over in 18% of US incidents 2022.
- In Canada, tea lights ignited curtains in 25% of candle fires 2020-2022.
- Halloween decorative candles caused a 20% spike in US home fires October 2023.
- In Australia, outdoor candles spreading indoors accounted for 12% of bushfire-house links 2022.
- Prayer candles in ethnic homes caused 8% of religious festival fires in US 2021.
- In Germany, Advent wreath candles ignited 14% of Christmas fires 2022.
- Floating candles in bowls boiled dry and tipped in 6% of poolside-to-house fires UK 2023.
- Beeswax candles dripping caused 4% of tabletop fire starts in France 2022.
- In Japan, incense sticks (similar to candles) caused 3% of home fires 2023.
- Votive candles near bedding ignited 22% of nursing home candle fires in US 2021.
- In Sweden, 10% of winter solstice fires were from homemade candles 2022.
- Birthday candles on cakes caused 2% of child party fires in Italy 2022.
- In Ireland, 16% of St. Patrick's Day fires involved novelty candles 2023.
- Pillar candles with low melting points collapsed in 9% of US living room fires 2022.
- In New Zealand, power outage candles caused 28% of blackout fires 2021-2023.
- Taper candles in holders slipped 11% during wind gusts indoors Brazil 2022.
- Memorial candles left overnight ignited 19% of cemetery-adjacent home fires Poland 2021.
- Gel candles superheating caused 5% of bath product-related fires in Canada 2023.
Candles Interpretation
Cooking
- In 2022, cooking equipment was the leading cause of reported home fires in the US, accounting for 49% of all residential building fires with 166,400 incidents resulting in 610 civilian deaths and 5,300 injuries.
- Unattended cooking caused 29% of all cooking fires in US homes between 2015-2019, leading to $1.2 billion in property damage annually.
- Stovetops accounted for 59% of cooking fires in US homes from 2014-2018, with grease fires making up 13% of those incidents.
- In the UK, cooking appliances caused 51% of accidental fires in dwellings in 2021/22, totaling 18,200 incidents.
- Leaving pots or pans unattended on the stove caused 38% of cooking-related home fires in Canada during 2020-2022.
- Deep fat fryers contributed to 8% of cooking fires in English homes in 2022, resulting in 1,200 casualties.
- Oven fires from forgotten food scraps caused 12% of US kitchen fires in 2021, with 2,100 injuries reported.
- In Australia, cooking was responsible for 37% of house fires from 2019-2023, with 45% involving unattended appliances.
- Microwave ovens caused 4% of cooking fires in US homes in 2020, primarily from metal objects sparking.
- Children under 5 starting cooking fires by playing near stoves accounted for 7% of incidents in US homes 2018-2022.
- Gas stoves were involved in 22% of cooking fires leading to fatalities in the EU in 2021.
- Toaster ovens caused 3% of US home cooking fires in 2022, with overheating as the primary factor.
- In 2023, 55% of US home fires during Thanksgiving involved cooking equipment malfunctions.
- Electric hobs caused 41% of cooking fires in Scottish homes in 2022/23.
- Food ignition in ovens led to $250 million in property damage from US cooking fires in 2021.
- 62% of cooking fires in US apartments occurred between 5 PM and 9 PM in 2020-2022.
- Chip pans were responsible for 15% of fatal cooking fires in Ireland 2019-2022.
- Barbecues used indoors caused 2% of cooking-related house fires in New Zealand 2021-2023.
- Overloaded kitchen circuits from multiple appliances sparked 9% of cooking fires in US homes 2022.
- In Japan, induction cooktops reduced cooking fire rates by 25% from 2018-2022 compared to gas.
- Soup boiling over and igniting caused 5% of stovetop fires in German homes 2021.
- Air fryers malfunctioned in 1.5% of reported cooking incidents in UK homes 2023.
- Grill fires from flare-ups accounted for 11% of outdoor-to-indoor cooking spread fires in US 2022.
- In France, 48% of dwelling fires in 2022 were cooking-related, mostly unattended pots.
- Slow cookers left on high caused 4% of US overnight cooking fires 2019-2023.
- Waffle irons short-circuiting led to 0.8% of kitchen fires in Sweden 2022.
- In Italy, pasta pots boiling dry ignited 6% of cooking fires in 2021.
- Fondue sets caused 1% of Swiss home cooking fires 2020-2022 due to alcohol ignition.
- Pressure cookers exploding accounted for 2.2% of cooking injuries in India urban homes 2023.
- In Brazil, feijoada pots unattended caused 18% of cooking fires during Carnival 2022.
Cooking Interpretation
Electrical
- Electrical distribution equipment caused 6% of US home fires 2015-2019, with 18,000 incidents yearly.
- Arc faults in wiring ignited 51% of US home electrical fires 2021.
- In the UK, faulty consumer electrics caused 23% of electrical dwelling fires 2022/23.
- Light fixtures too close to combustibles caused 9% of US electrical fires 2020.
- Overloaded extension cords led to 3,300 US home fires annually 2016-2020.
- In Canada, aging aluminum wiring sparked 12% of residential electrical fires 2022.
- Power strips daisy-chained caused 18% of office-to-home electrical incidents in Australia 2023.
- GFCI outlet failures ignited 4% of bathroom electrical fires in US homes 2021.
- In Germany, photovoltaic inverter faults caused 2% of home electrical fires 2022.
- Dimmer switches overheating led to 7% of lighting-related electrical fires in UK 2023.
- Home EV chargers malfunctioned in 1.2% of new US electrical fires 2023.
- Squirrel-chewed service entrance cables caused 5% of rural US electrical fires 2022.
- In France, 15% of apartment electrical fires were from illegal wiring modifications 2022.
- Ceiling fan motors shorting ignited 6% of bedroom electrical fires in Sweden 2021.
- Smart home plugs failing caused 3% of IoT-related electrical incidents in Japan 2023.
- Dryer outlet arcing accounted for 15% of laundry room electrical fires in Canada 2022.
- In Italy, ungrounded appliances shocked and ignited 8% of kitchen electrics 2022.
- Surge protectors exploding led to 2.5% of US storm-related electrical fires 2021.
- Panelboard bus bars corroding caused 10% of fatal US electrical fires 2020.
- In New Zealand, DIY electrical repairs sparked 21% of home fires 2023.
- USB chargers for phones overheating ignited 4% of bedside electrical fires in Brazil 2022.
- Range hood fans short-circuiting caused 11% of kitchen electrical fires in Poland 2021.
Electrical Interpretation
Heating
- Fixed space heaters caused 14% of US home fires from 2016-2020, resulting in 440 deaths annually.
- Portable electric heaters were involved in 78% of fatal heating fires in US homes 2021.
- Wood-burning fireplaces caused 11% of heating equipment fires in Canada 2019-2022.
- In the UK, faulty gas boilers ignited 22% of heating-related dwelling fires in 2022/23.
- Central heating systems malfunctioned in 9% of US home fires during winter 2022, causing $500M damage.
- Fireplaces and chimneys accounted for 50,000 US home fires yearly from 2015-2019.
- Electric radiators too close to combustibles caused 35% of heating fires in Australia 2021-2023.
- Gas fires without safety guards led to 15% of child-involved heating incidents in EU 2022.
- Pellet stoves malfunctioned in 7% of US heating fires 2020, with venting issues primary.
- In Sweden, oil-filled radiators caused 28% of heating fires in homes 2022.
- Blocked vents in kerosene heaters sparked 12% of fatal fires in Japan 2021-2023.
- Wood stove creosote buildup caused 42% of chimney fires in US homes 2018-2022.
- In Germany, 19% of winter home fires were from electric underfloor heating shorts 2022.
- Coal stoves overloaded ignited 10% of heating fires in Poland 2021.
- Fan heaters with frayed cords caused 25% of UK bedroom heating fires 2023.
- In France, defective convector heaters led to 14% of dwelling fires 2022.
- Baseboard heaters contacting bedding accounted for 31% of US sleeping area heating fires 2021.
- Gas furnace ignitions from dust buildup caused 8% of Canadian home fires 2020-2022.
- In Italy, biomass boilers malfunctioned in 5% of rural heating fires 2023.
- Halogen heaters tipped over ignited 16% of Irish heating incidents 2022.
- Ductless mini-splits shorted in 3% of US heating fires 2023.
- Improperly installed wood burners caused 20% of New Zealand home heating fires 2021-2023.
Heating Interpretation
Smoking
- Smoking materials caused 5.1% of US home fires from 2015-2019, leading to 17,000 fires and 540 deaths yearly.
- Cigarettes dropped on furniture ignited 37% of smoking-material home fires in US 2021.
- In the UK, careless smoking caused 8% of fatal dwelling fires in 2022/23, totaling 250 deaths.
- E-cigarettes exploding caused 2% of US smoking-related fires 2018-2022.
- Pipes and cigars accounted for 12% of smoking fires in Canada homes 2020-2022.
- Smoking in bed led to 24% of fatal US home smoking fires 2019-2023.
- In Australia, discarded cigarette butts caused 15% of balcony fires spreading indoors 2021-2023.
- Marijuana smoking materials ignited 9% more fires in US states post-legalization 2018-2022.
- In Germany, 7% of home fires were from smoking under influence of alcohol 2022.
- Cigarillos left burning caused 5% of unattended smoking fires in France 2021.
- Hookahs indoors malfunctioned in 3% of EU youth smoking fires 2022.
- In Japan, 4% of apartment fires were from smoldering cigarettes in trash 2023.
- Chewing tobacco pouches igniting near lighters caused 1% of rare US incidents 2022.
- Smoking while oxygen therapy use led to 18% of medical patient home fires in US 2021.
- In Sweden, roll-your-own cigarettes caused 22% of smoking fires 2022.
- Discarded matches from smokers ignited 11% of UK garden-to-house fires 2023.
- In Italy, 6% of fatal fires involved smoking materials and mobility-impaired victims 2022.
- Vaping devices overheating caused 4.5% of portable smoking fires in Canada 2023.
- In Poland, alcohol-influenced smoking caused 13% of nighttime fires 2021.
- Cigarette lighters leaking ignited 2% of child-accessible smoking fires in Brazil 2022.
Smoking Interpretation
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