The USFA has issued a special report focusing on the causes and characteristics of fires in college and university residential buildings that include dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses. The report, "University Housing Fires (2007–2009)," was developed by the National Fire Data Center and is a part of the USFA's Topical Fire Report Series.

An estimated average of 3,800 university housing fires occur each year. Annually, these fires are responsible for 25 injuries and $9 million in property loss.

According to the report:

• 95% of university housing fires occur in dormitories or dormitory-type residences, and 5% occur in fraternity and sorority houses.
• University housing fires occur most frequently in the late summer and fall — peaking in September — and mainly in the early evening hours between 5 and 10 p.m., when students prepare snacks or cook meals.
• Cooking accounts for 88% of all university housing fires and is the leading cause.
• Confined cooking fires, those confined to the container, account for 81% of all university housing fires.