Home > fires and fire protection, U.S. Fire Administration > US Fire Administration Releases Report on Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings

US Fire Administration Releases Report on Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings

October 4, 2012

US Fire Administration Releases Report on Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings

Source: U.S. Fire Administration

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announces the release of a special report examining the characteristics of portable heater fires in residential buildings. The report, Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

According to the report:

  • An estimated 900 portable heater fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 70 deaths, 150 injuries and $53 million in property loss.
  • Only 2 percent of heating fires in residential buildings involved portable heaters, however, portable heaters were involved in 45 percent of all fatal heating fires in residential buildings.
  • Portable heater fires in residential buildings peaked in January (26 percent).
  • 52 percent of portable heater fires in residential buildings occurred because the heat source was too close to combustibles.
  • 38 percent of portable heater fires in residential buildings originated in bedrooms. In these fires, bedding, such as blankets, sheets and comforters, was the leading item first ignited by portable heaters at 25 percent.
Categories: fires and fire protection, U.S. Fire Administration
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