The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has released a special report as part of its Topical Fire Report Series to examine the causes and characteristics of electrical fires that occur in residential buildings.

The Residential Building Electrical Fires report was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s USFA. The findings are based on 2003 to 2005 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

The report states that an estimated 28,300 residential building electrical fires occur annually and cause 360 civilian deaths, 1,000 civilian injuries, and $995 million in direct loss. According to the report, 47 percent of the residential building electrical fires (where equipment was involved in the ignition of the fire) are caused by the building’s wiring. Thirty-eight percent of electrical fires occur in functional areas of the home.

“It is important for residents to take necessary and commonly known safety precautions to prevent electrical fires in the home,” says U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “Checking for overloaded circuits, replacing worn electrical cords, and hiring licensed electricians to ensure proper installation of electrical equipment and its components are ways to reduce your chances of having an electrical fire in your home.”

To view the full report, click here.

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