The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency issued three special reports Thursday, as part of its Topical Fire Research Series, examining the incidence of structure fires in 2000. The fires resulted in $8.5 billion in property loss and 3,500 fatalities.

“These special reports allow fire and government officials to take a serious look at the toll of structure fires in the U.S., in order to determine ways that fire occurrence, property damage and deaths can be reduced,” said Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “This is important information to study and to use to make positive change.”

The three reports, “All Structure Fires in 2000,” “Residential Structure Fires in 2000,” and “Non-Residential Structure Fires in 2000,” were developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration. The reports examine overall structure fires, residential structure fires and fires in non-residential buildings, and use data from 2000 as it was the most recent year with complete information.

According to the reports, 75% of structure fires occur in residences, with kitchens being the leading area of fire origin. The reports also show that structure fires take place most often in winter and that in the majority of structure fires, smoke alarms are either not present or inoperable. The data also reflected that the highest percentage of non-residential structure fires occurred in storage structures, including parking garages.

“These reports underscore the importance of our National Fire Incident Reporting System, which allows us to compile and analyze data to determine the true ‘picture of fire’ in the nation,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “It’s imperative that we study what these reports say and take appropriate action.”

Copies of the full reports can be downloaded from: www.usfa.fema.gov/inside-usfa/nfdc/pubs/tfrs.shtm.