NFPA: U.S. fire losses on the decline
Fire deaths in the United States in 1998 were 4,035, the lowest number in 20 years, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This is the second consecutive year in which the death toll has dropped. The report also shows that fire loss rates have dropped modestly across the board.
Even though the figures might be encouraging, Dr. John Hall, NFPA assistant vice president of fire analysis and research, says “next year`s findings will be most telling because it takes a minimum of three consecutive years of declines or increases to establish any true trend.”
The report found declines also in the following areas:
Home fire deaths (80 percent of all U.S. fire deaths) dropped by 4.2 percent over the previous year.
Fires attended by public fire departments (1,755,500) decreased 2.2 percent over 1997.
Civilian injuries declined 2.7 percent to 23,100 (these injuries are underreported to the fire service).
Incendiary and suspicious structure fires fell 3.2 percent.
Increases were reflected in the following areas, however:
Property damage caused by all fires rose 1.2 percent, to $8.6 billion from the previous year, though this figure represented a loss when adjusted for inflation.
Some 545 people died in highway vehicle fires, a substantial increase of 21.1 percent over 1997.
