USFA NFIRS Public-data reference. FEMA datasets

Intentional (Arson) Fires

Intentional (Arson) tracks near the corpus middle on both fire share (8%) and death share (8%).

USFA National Fire Statistics and NFPA Home Structure Fires reports supply the 8% / 8% pair shown above. Verify with USFA (FEMA) · Methodology.

8% of fires · ranks #5 of 10

Intentional (Arson) fires account for 8% of US residential fires, the #5 of 10 most frequent cause tracked here and 8% of fire deaths (a 1.0x fatality index). Source: USFA/NFPA national fire statistics.

  • Frequency rank #5 of 10 of tracked causes
  • Fatality-index rank #4 of 10 of tracked causes
  • 1.0x death-to-fire ratio
  • 16% of Cooking fire share

Intentionally set fires (arson) account for a notable percentage of structure fires.

8%
of residential fires
8%
of fire deaths
1.0x
death-to-fire ratio
Mid fatality-index band: Intentional (Arson) death share (8%) tracks near the middle of this cause corpus relative to its 8% fire share.

Intentional (Arson) Fire Prevention Tips

  • Report suspicious activity near empty buildings or dumpsters
  • Maintain outdoor lighting to eliminate dark areas near your property
  • Secure vacant buildings and keep debris cleared
  • Install security cameras visible to deter arsonists
  • Contact local fire investigation unit for high-risk areas

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prevent intentional (arson) fires?

Report suspicious activity near empty buildings or dumpsters Maintain outdoor lighting to eliminate dark areas near your property Secure vacant buildings and keep debris cleared

What percentage of US fires are caused by intentional (arson)?

Intentional (Arson) fires account for approximately 8% of residential fires in the US (#5 of 10 by frequency in this table), and 8% of fire deaths. Source: USFA national fire statistics.

How serious are intentional (arson) fires?

While intentional (arson) fires represent 8% of residential fires, they account for 8% of fire deaths (1.0x death-to-fire ratio), meaning they are often caught earlier or have lower fatality potential per incident.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData