In 2005, there were 1,602,000 fires reported in the United States (down 3% from 2004). These fires caused 3,675 civilian deaths, 17,925 civilian injuries, 87 firefighter deaths, and $10.7 billion in property damage.
Download a free, reproducible fact sheet on fire in the U.S. in 2005. (PDF, 252 KB)


511,000 were structure fires (down 3% from 2004), causing 3,105 civilian deaths, 15,325 civilian injuries, and $9.2 billion in property damage.

290,000 were vehicle fires (down 2% from 2004), causing 520 civilian fire deaths, 1,650 civilian fire injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage.

801,000 were outside and other fires (up 10% from 2004), causing 50 civilian fire deaths, 950 civilian fire injuries, and $0.2 billion in property damage.

The 2005 U.S. fire loss clock

Download a free, reproducible fact sheet on the U.S. fire loss clock in 2005. (PDF, 304 KB)


A fire department responded to a fire every 20 seconds.
One structure fire was reported every 62 seconds.
One home structure fire was reported every 83 seconds
One civilian fire injury was reported every 29 minutes.
One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 23 minutes.
One outside fire was reported every 39 seconds.
One vehicle fire was reported every 109 seconds.
See more detailed trend information about the U.S. fire problem on the pages below.