Whether they occur at home or work, few tragedies can impact your life as much as a serious fire — especially when it results in serious burn-related injuries to you or a loved one.
While many people think it will never happen to them, the sad reality is that fires occur far more often than many people know, resulting in countless burn injuries and thousands of deaths every year in the United States. In fact, according to the most recent information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration — a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — there were 3,362 fire deaths in 2015 alone.
Unfortunately, this is merely one of many alarming fire-related statistics. For instance, some of the other surprising fire statistics outlined in the 18th Edition of the Fire in the United States report, which was published earlier this year by the U.S. Fire Administration, include:
- New York had 175 fire deaths in 2014, which was the fourth highest total in the entire nation
- Even though residential fires only accounted for roughly 31 percent of all fires, they were nevertheless the cause of 78 percent of all reported fire-related injuries and 75 percent of all fire fatalities
- Heating problems, appliances and electrical malfunctions were to blame for roughly one-quarter of all residential fires
- Children under the age of 15 accounted for nearly 11 percent of all fire injuries and more than 8 percent of all fire deaths
- Children under the age for 5 face a much higher risk of fire-related injury and death than children of other ages
As these statistics illustrate, fires — particularly residential fires — can be extremely dangerous, not to mention they can impact anyone, young or old.