NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Profile of Fire in the United States, 1992-2001. Thirteenth Edition.
- File
- PB2005108374.pdf
- Source
- October 2004, 24 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- FEMA/FA-293-ED13
- Abstract
- Each year, fire departments respond to nearly 2 million fires that result in thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars in property loss. There are huge indirect costs of fire as welltemporary lodging, lost business, medical expenses, psychological damage, pets killed, and others. These indirect costs may be as much as 8 to 10 times higher than the direct costs of fires. Compared to other industrialized nations, the U.S. fire problem is severe. In fact, combined losses from all natural disasters: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes represent just a fraction of the losses from fires. Over the past two decades, the number of fires and fire casualties and the economic losses have decreased steadily. Nevertheless, on an average day in 2001, fire departments responded to more than 4,750 fires, 10 people died, and 56 citizens were injured. An average of 113 firefighters were injured each day responding to or fighting these fires. This report serves to inform and remind the populace, media, and public officials of the magnitude and seriousness of the fire problem to individuals and their families, to communities, and to the nation.
- Keywords
- National Incident Reporting System (NFIRS); Tables (Data); United States; Graphs (Charts); Fires; Reporting; Occurrence; Residential buildings; Statistics