Causes. While twice as many fires occur outdoors than in indoors, many of these fires do not cause much damage. In contrast, 70-80% of civilian deaths and injuries in 1996 stemmed from residential fires. Residential fires account for 82% of fire deaths and 76% of injuries to civilians. Thus, it is important to understand what caused theses fires.
|
Percentage of Fires |
Percentage of Deaths |
Comments | |
| Arson/Suspicious | 29.2 | 18.8 | Leading cause of property loss |
| Children Playing | 5.0 | 5.9 | |
| Smoking | 6.3 | 22.9 | Leading cause of death, and still going up. |
| Heating | 6.6 | 14.5 | Heating fires has decreased by more than 50% |
| Cooking | 10.1 | 8.9 | Leading cause of injuries |
| Electrical Distribution | 8.3 | 9.3 | |
| Appliances | 3.8 | 3.5 | |
| Open Flame | 13.5 | 7.1 | |
| Other Heat | 5.5 | 3.2 | |
| Other Equipment | 4.5 | 3.2 | |
| Natural | 2.6 | .08 | |
| Exposure | 4.7 | 2.0 | |
| Unknown | 46.7 | 43.6 | The unknown's were apportioned among the above causes. |
Where do fires occur in the home?
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