According to a new report from the U.S. Fire Administration someone was injured in a residential building fire every 40 minutes.
These figures are from a new report on Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings from 2009 – 2011. The report states that every year approximately 360,900 residential building fires cause 13,250 injuries.
Additional Report Findings From USFA:
- Seventy-six percent of all civilian fire injuries occurred as a result of fires in residential buildings.
- Residential building fires resulting in injuries occurred most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening hours.
- January had the highest incidence of residential building fires resulting in injuries (11 percent).
- “Cooking” (30 percent) was the primary cause for residential building fires that resulted in injuries.
- Thirty-four percent of civilian fire injuries in residential buildings resulted from trying to control a fire followed by attempting to escape (25 percent).
- Seventy-nine percent of injuries resulting from residential building fires involved smoke inhalation and thermal burns.
- The leading human factor contributing to injuries in residential building fires was being “asleep” (56 percent).
- Bedrooms (35 percent) were the leading specific location where civilian injuries occurred in residential building fires.