46,652
home electrical structure fires each year
Local fire departments responded to this estimated annual average from 2020 through 2024.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-2024U.S. Reference Data
Home electrical fire statistics.
Current national figures on home electrical fires, deaths, injuries, damage, timing, and equipment involved. Last updated September 9, 2026.
At a glance
Recent national figures for home electrical fires.
These figures summarize the National Fire Protection Association's most recently published analysis of U.S. home electrical structure fires. Unless noted otherwise, each figure is an estimated annual average for 2020 through 2024.
The report includes fires where electrical failure or malfunction contributed to ignition, or where electrical distribution, lighting, or power-transfer equipment was involved in ignition.
Citable statistics
The numbers.
527
civilian deaths each year
This is the estimated annual average attributed to home electrical structure fires in the same reporting period.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-20241,580
civilian injuries each year
The estimate covers injuries from home electrical structure fires between 2020 and 2024.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-2024$2.4B
in direct property damage each year
The reported estimate is annual direct property damage from home electrical structure fires.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-202452%
of civilian deaths occurred from midnight to 8 a.m.
That period accounted for 22% of home electrical fires, showing that the share of deaths was disproportionately high overnight.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-202447%
of fires involved electrical distribution, lighting, or power-transfer equipment
Those fires accounted for an estimated 60% of civilian deaths and injuries from home electrical fires.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-202464%
of fires involved arcing from operating equipment
Operating equipment was the heat source in an estimated 90% of home electrical fires.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-202436%
of fires first ignited cable, wire, or cable insulation
This was the largest share of first-ignited items in the NFPA analysis.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-202428%
of fires occurred in January, December, and February
Together, those winter months accounted for 39% of civilian deaths from home electrical fires.
NFPA, Home Electrical Fires, published May 2026, annual averages for 2020-2024What the figures show
Electrical safety is a whole-home concern.
The national data points to risks that can begin in living spaces, kitchens, bedrooms, attics, walls, equipment, wiring, and connections. The right response depends on what is happening in the home, but recurring breaker trips, unusual heat, burning odors, buzzing, damaged equipment, and persistent flickering deserve professional attention.
For practical homeowner guidance, read Mister Volts' guide to signs an electrical panel may need attention. For service in Macon and Middle Georgia, contact Mister Volts.
Methodology and sources
How to use this page.
This page reports figures from the National Fire Protection Association's Home Electrical Fires report, published in May 2026. The NFPA bases its estimates on data from participating fire departments, state fire authorities, the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and its annual fire experience survey.
Figures are national estimates, not a diagnosis of an individual home or a local incident count. The source reporting period for the statistics above is 2020 through 2024. This page will be reviewed when the NFPA publishes a newer report.
Cite this page
Mister Volts. “Home Electrical Fire Statistics.” Updated September 9, 2026. https://mistervoltsusa.com/home-electrical-fire-statistics