Structure Fires in Dormitories, Fraternities, Sororities and Barracks
STRUCTURE FIRES IN DORMITORIES, FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES AND BARRACKS Jennifer D. Flynn August 2009 National Fire Protection Association Fire Analysis and Research Division STRUCTURE FIRES IN DORMITORIES, FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES AND BARRACKS Jennifer D. Flynn August 2009 National Fire Protection Association Fire Analysis and Research Division Abstract In 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3,570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks. These fires caused an annual average of 7 civilian deaths, 54 civilian fire injuries, and $29.4 million in direct property damage. Fires in these properties accounted for 0.7% 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. Cooking equipment was involved in 75% of reported structure fires. Only 5% of fires in these properties began in the bedroom, but these fires accounted for 62% of the civilian deaths and 26% of civilian fire injuries. Fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks are more common during the evening hours, between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., and on weekends. Keywords: fire statistics, dormitory fires, fraternity fires, sorority fires, barrack fires Acknowledgements The National Fire Protection Association thanks all the fire departments and state fire authorities who participate in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the annual NFPA fire experience survey. These firefighters are the original sources of the detailed data that make this analysis possible.
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