On average, 54,400 residential fires related to heating occur in the United States every year, according to reports released last week from the U.S. Fire Administration. These fires are estimated to cause 190 civilian deaths, 625 civilian injuries and $286 million in property loss.
Although portable heaters were responsible for only 3,800 home heating fires, they were the deadliest, claiming an estimated 115 lives. Half of these resulted from portable heaters being placed too close to combustibles.
The reports, Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (.pdf file) and Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (.pdf file), are based on USFA data collected from 2005 to 2007.
