In 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to the U.S. fire departments.  These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million direct property damage.  Cooking caused 44% of reported home fires, 16% of home fire deaths, 40% of home fire injuries, and 15% of direct property damage in 2010.

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​Facts & figures

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Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires.

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Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fire started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

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Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted 14% of the cooking fire deaths.

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Ranges accounted for the largest share (58%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.

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Three of every five (58%) reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.

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Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.

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Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires

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​​​​More information is available through the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org​​​​​

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