When recent fires show up in the news or on our social media feeds, the details we’re given are somewhat generic: “A fire broke out at Building A. The building sustained some damages and X number of people were injured.” Usually, we don’t hear the specifics about the fires, so we don’t really see the big picture of the impact that fires have across our nation. Fortunately, we don’t see major fires every day, thanks to the prevalence of fire prevention measures (including flameproofing) and fire safety education. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at some actual numbers and statistics that paint a more accurate picture of the fire situation in America.

Thanks to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), we have lots of pertinent information pertaining to the statistics regarding fires in the U.S., covering all sorts of trends. This particular report from 2017 highlights certain details of fire loss in America.

Over the course of 2017, 1.3 million fires occurred and were responded to by firefighters all over the nation. Somewhere in America, every 24 seconds, fire stations got the call that there was a fire and set out to respond. Every 63 seconds, a building went ablaze, and a home was impacted by flames every 88 seconds.

A fire in a home was the cause of most of the injuries and deaths that stemmed from fires. In total, 77% of the loss of life happened from home fires, and 72% of fire injuries were obtained from home fires. Those are serious figures when you take into account that most fires are accidental. 

Property damage was also indicated in this report. Overall, $23 billion in property damage was incurred because of fires. Small or large, most fires incur some level of property damage that needs to be accounted for. Sadly, 22,500 fires were due to arson, with an increase of 13% from 2016, which only makes the loss of property more tragic.

As both homeowners and business owners, it is wise to be aware of the occurrences of fires and the damages they can cause. Both loss of life and loss of property are serious considerations, realizing that no one is fully immune to an accidental fire. 

At Certified Flameproofing, we know just how devastating a fire can be. As a flameproofing company, we provide an extra layer of protection so that, in the event of a fire, the spread and severity of a fire is minimized.

If you are in the Metro NYC area, including all 5 boroughs, New Jersey, Westchester, Connecticut, or Long Island, we would be happy to serve you and provide you with fire protection through our flameproofing services.

Please call to today so we can discuss your needs and provide a free, no-obligation estimate:800-590-5530