Topical Fire Report Series Issue Index

The National Fire Data Center's Topical Fire Report Series explores facets of the U.S. fire problem that affect Americans in their daily lives. Primarily based on data collected through USFA's National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), each issue briefly addresses the nature and relevance of the specific fire or fire-related problem, highlights important findings, and suggests other resources to consider for further information. Each topical report also includes recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report.

Listed by Subject

Alcohol Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Minnesota (PDF, 99 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 4 - July 2003)
Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Ontario (PDF, 93 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 5 - July 2003)
Establishing a Relationship Between Alcohol and Casualties of Fire (PDF, 121 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 3 - July 2003)

Arson Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Arson in the United States (PDF, 125 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 8 - December 2001)

Campus/School Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Minnesota (PDF, 99 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 4 - July 2003)
Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Ontario (PDF, 93 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 5 - July 2003)
Dormitory Fires (PDF, 175 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 14 - December 2001)
Establishing a Relationship Between Alcohol and Casualties of Fire (PDF, 121 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 3 - July 2003)
Fraternity and Sorority House Fires (PDF, 115 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 12 - March 2002)
School Fires (PDF, 657 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 1 - August 2007)
School Fires (PDF, 101 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 6 - December 2004)
School Fires (PDF, 138 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 9 - March 2002)

Children Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Child Fire Casualties (PDF, 165 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 17 - December 2001)
Children and Fire (PDF, 115 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 6 - December 2001)
Fire Risk to Children in 2004 (PDF, 302 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 6 - April 2008)
Residential Fires and Child Casualties (PDF, 299 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 2 - April 2005)
The Fire Risk to Children (PDF, 368 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 8 - December 2004)

Civilian Casualties Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Minnesota (PDF, 99 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 4 - July 2003)
Case Study: Contribution of Alcohol to Fire Fatalities in Ontario (PDF, 93 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 5 - July 2003)
Civilian Injuries in Residential Buildings (PDF, 480 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 3 - April 2008)
Establishing a Relationship Between Alcohol and Casualties of Fire (PDF, 121 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 3 - July 2003)
Fatal Fires (PDF, 285 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 1 - March 2005)
Fatal Fires (PDF, 139 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 20 - February 2002)
Fire Risk (PDF, 233 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 7 - December 2004)
Fire Risk in 2004 (PDF, 486 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 5 - April 2008)
Fire Risk to Children in 2004 (PDF, 302 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 6 - April 2008)
Fire Risk to Older Adults in 2004 (PDF, 444 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 7 - April 2008)
Investigation of Fatal Residential Structure Fires with Operational Smoke Alarms (PDF, 571 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 2 - August 2006)
Multiple-Fatality Fires (PDF, 113 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 11 - March 2002)
Older Adults and Fire (PDF, 128 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 5 - December 2001)
Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties (PDF, 395 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 3 - June 2005)
Residential Fires and Child Casualties (PDF, 299 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 2 - April 2005)
Residential Smoking Fires and Casualties (PDF, 285 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 5 - June 2005)
The Fire Risk to Children (PDF, 368 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 8 - December 2004)
The Fire Risk to Older Adults (PDF, 440 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 9 - December 2004)

Cooking Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Grill Fires (PDF, 141 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 3 - March 2002)
Kitchen Fires (PDF, 100 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 4 - October 2004)
Restaurant Fires (PDF, 103 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 3 - October 2004)
Structure Cooking Fires (PDF, 187 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 6 - August 2005)

Electrical/Appliances Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 669 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 1 - January 2007)
Residential Air Conditioning Fires (PDF, 126 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 5 - March 2002)
Residential Building Electrical Fires (PDF, 451 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 2 - March 2008)

Fire Department Run Profiles/Response Times Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Fire Department Fire Run Profile (PDF, 870 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 3 - December 2007)
Fire Department Overall Run Profile (PDF, 1.1 Mb, Volume 7, Issue 4 - December 2007)
Structure Fire Response Times (PDF, 209 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 7 - January 2006)

Firefighter Casualties Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Firefighter Fatalities in 2000 (PDF, 110 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 20 - December 2001)
Firefighter Injuries (PDF, 119 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 1 - March 2002)
Firefighter Injuries in Structures (PDF, 95 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 2 - March 2002)

Heating Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 2.7 Mb, Volume 6, Issue 3 - November 2006)
Heating Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 186 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 9 - December 2001)
Portable Heating Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 161 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 10 - December 2001)

Holiday/Seasonal Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Candle Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 698 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 1 - July 2006)
Candle Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 150 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 12 - December 2001)
Christmas/Christmas Tree Fires (PDF, 99 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 4 - December 2001)
December and Holiday Fires (PDF, 1.1 Mb, Volume 6, Issue 4 - December 2006)
Halloween Fires (PDF, 99 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 1 - December 2001)
New Year's Holiday Fires (PDF, 198 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 5 - November 2004)
Residential Structure Fires During the Winter Holiday Season (PDF, 150 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 2 - December 2002)
Thanksgiving Day - Residential Structure Fires (PDF, 244 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 1 - November 2002)
The Dangers of Fireworks (PDF, 417 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 4 - June 2005)
The Dangers of Fireworks (PDF, 118 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 7 - December 2001)
The Seasonal Nature of Fire Incidents in 2000 (PDF, 123 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 6 - June 2004)
Winter Fires (PDF, 147 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 13 - December 2001)

Lighters/Matches/Candles Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Candle Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 698 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 1 - July 2006)
Fires Ignited by Lighters and Matches (PDF, 145 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 1 - October 2004)
Residential Structure Match- or Lighter-Ignited Fires (PDF, 115 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 2 - October 2004)

Mattress/Bedding Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Mattress and Bedding Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 130 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 17 - February 2002)

Older Adults Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Fire Risk to Older Adults in 2004 (PDF, 444 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 7 - April 2008)
Older Adults and Fire (PDF, 128 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 5 - December 2001)
Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties (PDF, 395 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 3 - June 2005)
The Fire Risk to Older Adults (PDF, 440 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 9 - December 2004)

Outdoor Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Landfill Fires (PDF, 192 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 18 - December 2001)
Lightning Fires (PDF, 119 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 6 - March 2002)
Outdoor Fires (PDF, 113 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 19 - January 2002)

Risk Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Fire Risk (PDF, 233 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 7 - December 2004)
Fire Risk in 2004 (PDF, 486 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 5 - April 2008)
Fire Risk to Children in 2004 (PDF, 302 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 6 - April 2008)
Fire Risk to Older Adults in 2004 (PDF, 444 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 7 - April 2008)
The Fire Risk to Children (PDF, 368 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 8 - December 2004)
The Fire Risk to Older Adults (PDF, 440 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 9 - December 2004)

Smoke Alarms Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Investigation of Fatal Residential Structure Fires with Operational Smoke Alarms (PDF, 571 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 2 - August 2006)
Smoke Alarm Performance in Residential Structure Fires (PDF, 181 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 15 - December 2001)

Smoking Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Residential Smoking Fires and Casualties (PDF, 285 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 5 - June 2005)

Structure Fires Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

All Structure Fires in 2000 (PDF, 103 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 8 - June 2004)
Firefighter Injuries in Structures (PDF, 95 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 2 - March 2002)
Fires and Exposures (PDF, 792 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 2 - September 2007)
Investigation of Confined Structure Fires (PDF, 489 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 8 - February 2006)
Kitchen Fires (PDF, 100 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 4 - October 2004)
Structure Cooking Fires (PDF, 187 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 6 - August 2005)
Structure Fire Response Times (PDF, 209 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 7 - January 2006)

Residential Structure Fires

Candle Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 698 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 1 - July 2006)
Candle Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 150 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 12 - December 2001)
Civilian Injuries in Residential Buildings (PDF, 480 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 3 - April 2008)
Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 669 Kb, Volume 7, Issue 1 - January 2007)
Dormitory Fires (PDF, 175 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 14 - December 2001)
Fraternity and Sorority House Fires (PDF, 115 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 12 - March 2002)
Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 2.7 Mb, Volume 6, Issue 3 - November 2006)
Heating Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 186 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 9 - December 2001)
Highrise Fires (PDF, 153 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 18 - January 2002)
Investigation of Fatal Residential Structure Fires with Operational Smoke Alarms (PDF, 571 Kb, Volume 6, Issue 2 - August 2006)
Mattress and Bedding Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 130 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 17 - February 2002)
Portable Heating Fires in Residential Structures (PDF, 161 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 10 - December 2001)
Residential Air Conditioning Fires (PDF, 126 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 5 - March 2002)
Residential Building Electrical Fires (PDF, 451 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 2 - March 2008)
Residential Fires and Child Casualties (PDF, 299 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 2 - April 2005)
Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties (PDF, 395 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 3 - June 2005)
Residential Smoking Fires and Casualties (PDF, 285 Kb, Volume 5, Issue 5 - June 2005)
Residential Structure Fires During the Winter Holiday Season (PDF, 150 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 2 - December 2002)
Residential Structure Fires in 2000 (PDF, 104 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 9 - December 2002)
Residential Structure Fires on Agricultural Properties (PDF, 171 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 16 - December 2001)
Residential Structure Match- or Lighter-Ignited Fires (PDF, 115 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 2 - October 2004)
Smoke Alarm Performance in Residential Structure Fires (PDF, 181 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 15 - December 2001)
Thanksgiving Day - Residential Structure Fires (PDF, 244 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 1 - November 2002)

Non-Residential Structure Fires

Agricultural Fires (PDF, 132 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 10 - March 2002)
Agricultural Storage Fires (PDF, 147 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 11 - December 2001)
Church Fires (PDF, 125 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 7 - March 2002)
Construction Site Fires (PDF, 123 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 14 - March 2002)
Day Care Center Fires (PDF, 129 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 15 - March 2002)
Fire Station Fires (PDF, 113 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 19 - December 2001)
Medical Facilities Fires (PDF, 132 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 8 - March 2002)
Nightclub Fires in 2000 (PDF, 86 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 7 - June 2004)
Non-Residential Structure Fires in 2000 (PDF, 107 Kb, Volume 3, Issue 10 - June 2004)
Rail Terminal Fires (PDF, 116 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 13 - February 2002)
Restaurant Fires (PDF, 103 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 3 - October 2004)
School Fires (PDF, 657 Kb, Volume 8, Issue 1 - August 2007)
School Fires (PDF, 101 Kb, Volume 4, Issue 6 - December 2004)
School Fires (PDF, 138 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 9 - March 2002)

Vehicles Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

Highway Vehicle Fires (PDF, 841 Kb, Volume 9, Issue 1 – October 2008)
Highway Vehicle Fires (PDF, 121 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 4 - March 2002)

Wildland Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help

2000 Wildland Fire Season (PDF, 106 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 2 - December 2001)
Fires in the Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) (PDF, 106 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 16 - March 2002)
Lightning Fires (PDF, 119 Kb, Volume 2, Issue 6 - March 2002)
Wildland Fires: A Historical Perspective (PDF, 118 Kb, Volume 1, Issue 3 - December 2001)