mark handler
SAWHORSE
Topical Fire Report Series
January 2010
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v10i4.pdf
?? An estimated 3,900 hotel and motel fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year
and cause an estimated 15 deaths, 150 injuries, and $76 million in property loss.
?? Hotel and motel fires are considered part of the residential fire problem. However, they
comprise only approximately 1 percent of residential building fires.
?? Half of hotel and motel fires are small, confined fires.
?? Cooking is the leading cause of hotel and motel fires (46 percent). Almost all hotel and motel
cooking fires are small, confined fires (97 percent).
?? Eighteen percent of nonconfined hotel and motel fires extend beyond the room of origin. The
leading causes of these larger fires are electrical malfunctions (24 percent), intentionally set
fires (15 percent), and fires caused by open flames (12 percent). In contrast, 42 percent of all
nonconfined residential building fires extend beyond the room of origin.
?? While bedrooms are the primary origin of nonconfined fires (23 percent), when confined
cooking fires are considered, the kitchen or other cooking area is the most prevalent area of
fire origin.
?? Hotel and motel fires are more prevalent in the cooler months due to increases in heating
fires and peak in February (9 percent).
January 2010
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v10i4.pdf
?? An estimated 3,900 hotel and motel fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year
and cause an estimated 15 deaths, 150 injuries, and $76 million in property loss.
?? Hotel and motel fires are considered part of the residential fire problem. However, they
comprise only approximately 1 percent of residential building fires.
?? Half of hotel and motel fires are small, confined fires.
?? Cooking is the leading cause of hotel and motel fires (46 percent). Almost all hotel and motel
cooking fires are small, confined fires (97 percent).
?? Eighteen percent of nonconfined hotel and motel fires extend beyond the room of origin. The
leading causes of these larger fires are electrical malfunctions (24 percent), intentionally set
fires (15 percent), and fires caused by open flames (12 percent). In contrast, 42 percent of all
nonconfined residential building fires extend beyond the room of origin.
?? While bedrooms are the primary origin of nonconfined fires (23 percent), when confined
cooking fires are considered, the kitchen or other cooking area is the most prevalent area of
fire origin.
?? Hotel and motel fires are more prevalent in the cooler months due to increases in heating
fires and peak in February (9 percent).
