Chimney & Fireplace Fires
Chimney & Fireplace is a lower-share ignition path (3% of residential fires) with a contained death-to-fire ratio (0.67x) in the USFA/NFPA cause table.
USFA National Fire Statistics and NFPA Home Structure Fires reports supply the 3% / 2% pair shown above. Verify with USFA (FEMA) · Methodology.
Chimney & Fireplace fires account for 3% of US residential fires, the #10 of 10 most frequent cause tracked here and 2% of fire deaths (a 0.7x fatality index). Source: USFA/NFPA national fire statistics.
- Frequency rank #10 of 10 of tracked causes
- Fatality-index rank #7 of 10 of tracked causes
- 0.7x death-to-fire ratio
- 6% of Cooking fire share
Chimney and fireplace fires from inadequate cleaning or malfunctioning equipment.
Chimney & Fireplace Fire Prevention Tips
- ✓ Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected annually
- ✓ Only burn dry, seasoned hardwood, never trash, cardboard, or treated wood
- ✓ Install a chimney cap to keep animals and debris out
- ✓ Use a fireplace screen to contain sparks
- ✓ Ensure the damper is open before starting a fire
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I prevent chimney & fireplace fires?
Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected annually Only burn dry, seasoned hardwood, never trash, cardboard, or treated wood Install a chimney cap to keep animals and debris out
What percentage of US fires are caused by chimney & fireplace?
Chimney & Fireplace fires account for approximately 3% of residential fires in the US (#10 of 10 by frequency in this table), and 2% of fire deaths. Source: USFA national fire statistics.
How serious are chimney & fireplace fires?
While chimney & fireplace fires represent 3% of residential fires, they account for 2% of fire deaths (0.7x death-to-fire ratio), meaning they are often caught earlier or have lower fatality potential per incident.
Closest contained-risk peers to Chimney & Fireplace
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.