Number of fatalities from home fires declined in 2001

AORN Journal,  Dec, 2002  

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Deaths occurring from fires in US homes dropped 9.1% in 2001 compared to the previous year, according to a Sept 27, 2002, news release from NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). Of a total of 6,196 fire deaths in 2001, 3,110 fatalities occurred in the home. This corresponds to one home fire death every 170 minutes compared to one home fire death every 153 minutes in 2000. An injury from fire in the home occurred every 34 minutes in 2001 compared to every 23 minutes in 2000. Home fires accounted for 396,500 of the 1,734,500 fires attended by public fire departments throughout the United States, according to NFPA's 2001 annual fire loss report. An estimated $5,643,000,000 in property damage occurred as a result of these fires.

Overall, home fires have declined steadily since 1978 and were down by nearly 50% in 2001. This decline is attributed to increased public safety education and advances in fire safety technology.

Fire Deaths in US Homes Drop More than 9% in 2001 (news release, Quincy, Mass: NFPA, Sept 27, 2002).

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