- Author
- Flynn, J.
- Title
- U.S. Structure Fires in Eating and Drinking Establishments.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Keywords
- building fires | structures | fire statistics | fire departments | fire fighting | fire suppression | damage | heat sources | ignition | NFIRS | nightclubs | nightclubs
- Identifiers
- National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS); restaurants; cafeterias; diners; night clubs; dinner theaters; taverns; lunchrooms; snack bars; fast food facilities; Station Nightclub (Concert), West Warwick, Rhode Island (RI), February 20, 2003
- Abstract
- Eating and drinking establishments include restaurants, cafeterias or diners, nightclubs or dinner theaters, taverns, and lunchrooms, snack bars, or fast food facilities excluding delicatessens. In 2000-2004, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 8,520 structure fires in these properties. These fires caused an annual average of 3 civilian deaths, 113 civilian fire injuries, and $190 million in direct property damage. The 2003 Rhode Island Station nightclub fire that claimed 100 lives is not included in these statistics . Fires in these properties accounted for 1.6% of all reported structure fires within the same time period. 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. Not surprisingly, cooking was the leading cause of these structure fires and half of the fires in these establishments began in kitchens or cooking areas. Cooking materials, including foods, accounted for 15% of the direct property damage in these properties, and fires starting in structural members or framing accounted for 14%. The potential life safety hazard is high for these properties, a fact that was brought to light with the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire.