U.S. Vehicle Fire Trends and Patterns

In 2002-2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 306,800 vehicle fires per year. These fires caused an average of 520 civilian deaths, 1,640 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage. Cars, trucks and other highway vehicles (meaning a vehicle designed for highway use, not that the fire occurred on a highway) accounted for 90% of the vehicle fires and 94% of the vehicle fire deaths. Data from the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual fire department experience survey are used to provide details about the types of vehicles involved in fire and the circumstances of highway vehicle fires. Mechanical or electrical failures caused roughly three-quarters of the highway vehicle fires, but only 11% of the deaths. Collisions and overturns were factors contributing to the ignition in only 3% of the fires, but fires resulting from these incidents caused 57% of these vehicle fire deaths. Older teens and young adults are the age groups at highest risk of highway vehicle fire death and injuries. One-third (36%) of non-fatal highway vehicle fires injuries occurred when civilians attempted to fight the fire themselves.