Structure Fires in Schools

Report: NFPA's "Structure Fires in Schools"
Author: Richard Campbell
Issued: September 2020

Report and tables

Structure Fires in Schools

Educational properties include day-care centers; nursery, elementary, middle, junior, and high schools; and college classroom buildings and adult education centers.

Download the report.

Tables

The tables in this document are a companion to the Structure Fires in Schools report.

Download the tables.

Report highlights

• In 2014–2018, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,230 structure fires in schools each year.
• These fires caused annual averages of one civilian death, 39 civilian injuries, and $37 million in direct property damage.
• Fires that were intentionally set were the leading cause of school fires, accounting for almost two of every five fires.
• School fires most often originated in a lavatory or locker room.
• Two-thirds of school fires occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

More information

• Building and Life Safety Issues for Safely Reopening Schools (PDF)
• Table - U.S. school fires, grades K-12, with 10 or more deaths

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