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One civilian fire death occurs every 2 hours and 41 minutes. The odds of a U.S. resident dying from exposure to fire, flames or smoke is 1 in 1442.
The Midwest region of the United States has the highest rate of fires in the country, at 5.4 per 1,000 people. The Midwest civilian fire death rate is 11.1 per million people, with an injury rate of 64.5 per million people. Particularly alarming is an injury rate of 60 people per 1,000 fires for fires occurring at apartment complexes, which is significantly higher than any other region.
Only 13% of the U.S. population is 65 or older, but roughly 30% of fatal home fire victims are at least 65 years of age.
Annually, there are approximately 40,000 hospitalizations related to burn injury. Statistics from 2005-2014 indicate the following:
Survival Rate: 96.8%
Gender: 68% Male, 32% Female
Ethnicity: 59% Caucasian, 20% African-American, 14% Hispanic, 7% Other
Admission Cause: 43% Fire/Flame, 34% Scald, 9% Contact, 4% Electrical, 3% Chemical, 7% Other
Place of Occurrence: 73% Home, 8% Occupational, 5% Street/Highway, 5% Recreational/Sport, 9% Other
Construction materials and building design can have a large impact on the characteristics of a fire. The following video link from NBC shows the differences between residential fires that occurred 30-years ago, and those that occur today. The segment is both dramatic and impressive.
Closing doors before going to sleep is a simple yet critical step in enhancing fire safety. A closed door can significantly slow the spread of smoke, heat, and flames, providing valuable time for escape and reducing the risk of injury. This small action helps contain a fire to its point of origin, limiting damage and allowing firefighters a better chance to control the incident. Practicing this habit nightly can greatly improve your chances of survival in the event of a house fire. Click on the video below to learn more.