- Author
- Flynn, J.
- Title
- U.S. Structure Fires in Religious and Funeral Properties.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Keywords
- building fires | structures | fire statistics | fire departments | fire fighting | fire suppression | damage | heat sources | ignition | NFIRS
- Identifiers
- National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS); churches; emples; mosques; religious education facilities; funeral parlors
- Abstract
- Religious and funeral properties include churches, temples, mosques, religious education facilities, funeral parlors and related properties. During 2000-2004, an estimated average of 1,810 structure fires were reported in these properties, causing an annual average of 2 civilian deaths, 16 civilian fire injuries, and $98 million in direct property damage. Fires in these properties accounted for 0.3% of all structure fires for 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. The leading area of origin was in the kitchen and the leading item first ignited was cooking materials, including foods, when combined with confined cooking fires. Thirty-three percent of the direct property damage resulted from the ignition of structural members or framing.