Electrical & Lighting Fires
Electrical & Lighting is mid-frequency (9% of fires) with elevated fatality intensity (2.00x; 18% of deaths).
Death share (18%) outruns fire share here; read both columns in the USFA/NFPA cause table. Verify with USFA (FEMA) · Methodology.
Electrical & Lighting fires account for 9% of US residential fires, the #4 of 10 most frequent cause tracked here and 18% of fire deaths (a 2.0x fatality index). Source: USFA/NFPA national fire statistics.
- Frequency rank #4 of 10 of tracked causes
- Fatality-index rank #2 of 10 of tracked causes
- 2.0x death-to-fire ratio
- 18% of Cooking fire share
Electrical and lighting equipment failures cause a significant portion of structure fires.
Electrical & Lighting Fire Prevention Tips
- ✓ Never overload electrical outlets or extension cords
- ✓ Replace any frayed or damaged wiring immediately
- ✓ Have your home electrical system inspected every 10 years
- ✓ Avoid using multi-plug adapters without surge protection
- ✓ Turn off high-wattage appliances when not in use
Frequently Asked Questions
How serious are electrical & lighting fires?
Electrical & Lighting fires carry elevated fatality risk: they account for 18% of fire deaths despite representing only 9% of total fires (2.0x death-to-fire ratio).
What percentage of US fires are caused by electrical & lighting?
Electrical & Lighting fires account for approximately 9% of residential fires in the US (#4 of 10 by frequency in this table), and 18% of fire deaths. Source: USFA national fire statistics.
How can I prevent electrical & lighting fires?
Never overload electrical outlets or extension cords Replace any frayed or damaged wiring immediately Have your home electrical system inspected every 10 years
Nearest fatality-index peers to Electrical & Lighting
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.