Campus Fire Safety

Fire Facts

In 2001, there were an estimated 31,200 smoking-material fires in structures, 830 civilian deaths, 1,770 civilian injuries and $386 million in property damage. Of the fire deaths, 770 occurred in the home.

Source: NFPA's The Smoking-Material Fire Problem, November 2004, by John R. Hall, Jr.

Campus Fire Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the number of reported fires in the dormitory occupancy group increased 3% from 3,200 in 1980 to 3,300 in 2005. In comparison, structure fires of all types declined 52% from 1980 to 2005.

Safety Tips

NFPA Facts & Figures

In 2002-2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,300 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks. These fires caused an annual average of 7 civilian deaths, 46 civilian fire injuries, and $25 million in direct property damage. Note: Dormitories include school, college and university dormitories; fraternity and sorority houses; monasteries; bunk houses; barracks; and nurses’ quarters.
Between 2002-2005, cooking equipment was involved in 72% of the reported dormitory fires; this includes confined or contained fires. Heating equipment was listed as the equipment involved in 2% of theses fires; an additional 2% were confined heating equipment fires.
Structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks are more common during the evening hours between 5-11 p.m., as well as on weekends.