MEC&F Expert Engineers : RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE FATALITIES AND FIRE INJURIES (2010–2012)

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE FATALITIES AND FIRE INJURIES (2010–2012)



RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE FATALITIES AND FIRE INJURIES (2010–2012)





Residential fires are of great national importance, as they account for the vast majority of civilian casualties. National estimates for 2010-2012 show that 82 percent of all fire deaths and 78 percent of all fire injuries occurred in residential buildings.
Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (findings)
  • Bedrooms, at 51 percent, were the leading specific location where civilian fire fatalities occurred in residential buildings.
  • The time period from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. accounted for 52 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings. This period also accounted for 49 percent of fatal fires in residential buildings.
  • At the time of their deaths, 37 percent of fire victims in residential buildings were trying to escape; an additional 33 percent were sleeping.
  • “Other unintentional, careless” actions (15 percent) and “smoking” (15 percent) were the leading reported causes of fatal fires in residential buildings.
  • Males accounted for 57 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings; females accounted for 43 percent of the fatalities.
Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings (findings)
  • Civilian fire injuries that occurred in residential buildings accounted for 78 percent of all fire injuries.
  • Residential building fires resulting in injuries occurred most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening hours.
  • January, at 10 percent, had the highest incidence of residential building fires resulting in injuries.
  • Cooking, by far, was the leading reported cause for residential building fires that resulted in injuries.
  • Of the civilian fire injuries that occurred in residential buildings, 35 percent resulted from trying to control a fire; an additional 26 percent occurred while the victim was attempting to escape.