According to a new report published in the NFPA Journal, there were an estimated 511,000 structure fires in 2005, a decrease of 3% from 2004 and the lowest number since 2000. Residential fires accounted for more than three-quarters of the structure fires that occurred in 2005 and for 83% of the 3,675 civilian fire deaths for the year.

The report, based on data the NFPA received from fire departments responding to its 2005 National Fire Experience Survey, also says that public fire departments responded to just over 1.6 million fires in the United States, an increase of 3.3% from 2004.

The report also provides statistics on civilian fire deaths, civilian fire injuries and property loss. Civilian fire deaths in 2005 were down 5.8% compared to 2004. Civilian fire injuries were virtually unchanged, increasing only 0.3% from 2004 to 2005. Property loss increased by 9%.

Based on the data collected, NFPA also estimates there were 31,500 intentionally set structure fires in 2005, a significant decrease of almost 14% compared to the year prior. It should be noted that the survey is based on the newly revised NFIRS 5.0 system. This new system has an “intentionally set” category, which is equivalent to the old “incendiary” category; there is no new equivalent to the old "suspicious” category, which has been eliminated.

These intentionally set structure fires resulted in an estimated 315 civilian deaths, a slight decrease of 1.6%. They also resulted in $664 million in property loss, a decrease of 7%.

In addition, in 2005 there were an estimated 21,000 intentionally set vehicle fires, a significant decrease of almost 42% compared to 2004. These set vehicle fires resulted in $113 million, a decrease of more than 31%. More information on the report is available at the NFPA Web site.