- Author
- Flynn, J. D.
- Title
- U.S. Structure Fires in Stores and Other Mercantile Properties.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Report
- NFPA No. USS121, October 2009, 33 p.
- Keywords
- building fires | structures | fire statistics | fire departments | death | injuries | damage | kitchens | cooking | NFIRS | surveys | methodology
- Identifiers
- National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS); 'leading cause' tables; mercantile; business; non-residential
- Abstract
- In 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 17,100 structure fires in stores or other mercantile properties. These fires caused an annual average of 10 civilian deaths, 240 civilian fire injuries, and $646 million in direct property damage, per year. Fires in these properties accounted for 3.3% of all reported structure fires within the same time period. Kitchen or cooking area was the leading area of origin for these fires, 18% of structure fires began in the area. Sixty-one percent of fires in these properties were reported between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. These estimates are based on data from the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) annual fire department experience survey.