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How fires start

Causes of 3,935,799 fires

Cumulative incidents by cause, unified across NFIRS structure-fire investigations and the FPA FOD wildfire occurrence database (1992–2020).

Undetermined 1,490,571
5,920 deaths 34 years tracked
Arson 668,580
526 deaths 34 years tracked
Debris Burning 535,851
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Equipment Vehicle 481,681
345 deaths 34 years tracked
Natural Lightning 391,614
11 deaths 34 years tracked
Recreation Ceremony 99,473
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Misuse By Minor 66,280
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Smoking 63,783
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Other 46,689
37 deaths 34 years tracked
Railroad 37,292
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Power Generation 32,652
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Fireworks 18,599
0 deaths 29 years tracked
Firearms Explosives 2,734
0 deaths 28 years tracked