Washington, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report that explores the causes and characteristics of school fires. The report, developed by the National Fire Data Center under FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration, is part of the Topical Fire Research Series and is based on 2002 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The report looks at all school fires including those occurring outdoors on school property and compares such characteristics with those of school structure fires.
“Prevention and awareness are the key factors in mitigating school fires,” said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I recognize the importance of school safety in our commitment to a safer homeland.”
According to the report, there were approximately 6,000 school structure fires in the United States during 2002. Thirty-seven percent of all school structure fires and 52 percent of middle and high school structure fires are caused by incendiary or suspicious activity.
“With the data we are able to analyze from NFIRS, we can assist local fire leadership in identifying areas of major concern to the nation’s fire service,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “School fires are largely preventable through increased community prevention, outreach and student supervision.”
A copy of the full report can be downloaded from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/reports/pubs/tfrs.shtm.
