Fire Safety
Fire is still a very real and present danger. In 2018, fire departments in the U.S. responded to a fire every 24 seconds. That same year, firefighters responded to more than 1.31 million fires that resulted in 3,655 civilian fire fatalities and an estimated $25 billion in property damage, including $12 billion in losses from wildfires.1Source: Fire loss in the United States during 2018. Learn More.
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Fire Safety
- Fire Safety Overview
- Fire Safety Tips
- Fire Safety Codes and Standards
- Fire Safety Overview
Flame Retardants Protect Our Most Vulnerable Populations
Flame retardants add an integral layer of protection for children, seniors, and their families by reducing the risk of fires or slowing their spread.
Children
Fire statistics show that children are more susceptible to injury or death from fire than the average person.
Fires and burns have been found to be the third leading cause of unintentional death among children 14 and under.
2020 Overview of the U.S. Fire Experience*
1,400,000
Fires responded to by fire departments
23 seconds
Frequency Firefighters Responded to Fires
3,500
Civilian Fire Deaths
73%
Structure Fires That Were Home Fires
$21.9 b
Property Damage From Fires
74%
Civilian Fire Deaths in Home
490,500
Structure Fires
Senior Citizens
Fire safety is also a critical issue for senior citizens. Older adults continue to experience a disproportionate share of fire deaths.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, more than 20 percent of U.S. residents are projected to be aged 65 and over, compared with 13 percent in 2010 and 9.8 percent in 1970.
In an analysis of data collected under the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFRIRS), USFA concluded the following
- Older adults continue to experience a disproportionate share of fire deaths. In 2010, older adults (age 65 or older) represented 13 percent of the United States population but suffered 35 percent of all fire deaths.
- The relative risk of individuals age 65 or over dying in a fire was 2.7 times greater than that of the general population.
- Older males were 62 percent more likely to die in fires than older females.
- Older adults continue to experience a disproportionate share of fire deaths. In 2010, older adults (age 65 or older) represented 13 percent of the United States population but suffered 35 percent of all fire deaths.
- The relative risk of individuals age 65 or over dying in a fire was 2.7 times greater than that of the general population.
- Older males were 62 percent more likely to die in fires than older females.
Low-Income Populations
Low-income populations are prone to fire injury or death due to substandard housing that may lack fire-safety measures such as working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
Comprehensive fire safety measures, including those that ensure fires do not start in these homes, help keep people safe.
Low-income groups are one of the groups at higher risk from dying in a fire than the rest of the population. Socioeconomic studies show an inverse relationship between fire risk and income.
Children in low-income populations are exposed to the greatest risk. Substandard housing, crowded conditions, and the increased likelihood of children left alone, compared to affluent households, contribute to this risk.10 Flame retardants add an integral layer of protection for all populations by reducing the risk of fires or slowing their spread.
Product Recalls
Fires are a safety issue the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) considers when evaluating product safety.11 The CPSC issued over 70 recalls for fire hazards covering nearly 10 million units of consumer products in 2018.
The changing nature of consumer products with the use of more flammable materials has increased the risk of fire safety, particularly with the proliferation of electronics and electrical equipment.
Fire safety standards have been developed to ensure public safety. Flame retardants are an important tool to help reduce fire risk.
