The
U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the
industrialized world. For 1998, the U.S. fire death
rate was 14.9 deaths per million population.
Between
1994 and 1998, an average of 4,400 Americans lost their
lives and another 25,100 were injured annually as the
result of fire. About 100 firefighters are killed each
year in duty-related incidents.
Each
year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters
combined.
Direct
property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion
annually.
About
2 million fires are reported each year. Many others
go unreported, causing additional injuries and property
loss.
Fire
is the third leading cause of accidental death in the
home; at least 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in
residences.
Causes of Fire and Deaths
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The
U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the
industrialized world. For 1998, the U.S. fire death
rate was 14.9 deaths per million population.
