- Author
- Ahrens, M.
- Title
- U.S. Vehicle Fire Trends and Patterns.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Keywords
- fire statistics | automobile fires | vehicles | truck fires | railroads | passenger vehicles | trucks | tank trucks | aircraft fires | transportaiton | NFIRS | highways
- Identifiers
- overview of the vehicle fire problem; highway vehicle fires; how national estimates are calculated
- Abstract
- Cars, trucks and other highway vehicles dominate the vehicle fire problem. Based on data from the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA's) annual fire department experience survey, NFPA estimates that an average of 325,100 such vehicle fires were reported to U.S. fire departments annually in 1999-2003. These fires caused an average of 440 civilian deaths, 1,500 civilian injuries, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage. Mechanical or electrical failures caused almost three-quarters of the highway vehicle fires, but only 9% of the deaths. Collisions or overturns were factors contributing to the ignition in only 3% of the fires, but fires resulting from these incidents caused 58% of these vehicle fire deaths. Two-thirds (65%) of the highway vehicle fires began in the engine, running gear, or wheel area. Only 2% of the highway vehicle fires started in the fuel tank or fuel line area, but these fires caused 17% of the associated deaths. Older teens and young adults are the age groups at highest risk of highway vehicle fire death and injuries. One-third of non-fatal highway vehicle fires injuries occurred when civilians attempted to fight the fire themselves.