USFA: Outdoor Fires Topical Report

Monday, April 6, 2009

USFA: Outdoor Fires Topical Report

USFA Releases Outdoor Fires Topical Report

WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has issued a special report examining the causes and characteristics of outdoor fires. The report, Outdoor Fires, was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of the USFA. This report is based on 2004 to 2006 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The report, part of the USFA’s Topical Fire Report Series, shows an estimated 655,200 outdoor fires occur annually in the U.S. resulting in 50 civilian deaths, 875 civilian injuries, and $154 million in property loss.

According to the report, outdoor fires peak in March, April, and July and account for 41 percent of all fires in the U.S. Together, trash or rubbish fires (47 percent) and natural vegetation fires (44 percent) account for 91 percent of outdoor fires. In 73 percent of outdoor fires, organic materials such as crops, grass, and trees are the items first ignited. Fires that are started unintentionally are the leading cause of outdoor fires.

The short topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context.

A copy of the report can be downloaded at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/reports/index.shtm

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Monday, April 6, 2009