Cooking Fires
Cooking dominates the fire count (49% of residential fires) while contributing a smaller death share (21%).
Incidence share (49%) is the primary USFA National Fire Statistics signal for this cause. Verify with USFA (FEMA) · Methodology.
Cooking fires account for 49% of US residential fires, the #1 of 10 most frequent cause tracked here and 21% of fire deaths (a 0.4x fatality index). Source: USFA/NFPA national fire statistics.
- Frequency rank #1 of 10 of tracked causes
- Fatality-index rank #9 of 10 of tracked causes
- 0.4x death-to-fire ratio
- 100% of Cooking fire share
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, accounting for nearly half of all residential fires.
Cooking Fire Prevention Tips
- ✓ Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food
- ✓ Keep flammable materials away from the stovetop
- ✓ Install a smoke alarm near (but not inside) the kitchen
- ✓ Keep a fire extinguisher accessible in the kitchen
- ✓ Never leave cooking food unattended
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of US fires are caused by cooking?
Cooking fires account for approximately 49% of residential fires in the US (#1 of 10 by frequency in this table), and 21% of fire deaths. Source: USFA national fire statistics.
How serious are cooking fires?
While cooking fires represent 49% of residential fires, they account for 21% of fire deaths (0.4x death-to-fire ratio), meaning they are often caught earlier or have lower fatality potential per incident.
How can I prevent cooking fires?
Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food Keep flammable materials away from the stovetop Install a smoke alarm near (but not inside) the kitchen
Nearest frequency peers to Cooking
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.