According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires and civilian fire deaths have generally been declining over the past two decades. According to estimates derived from NFPA's annual fire department survey, U.S. fire departments responded to 1,708,000 in 2000, a 6% decrease from the previous year and a 43% decrease since 1980. Civilian fire deaths in 2000 increased 13% from a record low in 1999 to 4,045, still a 38% reduction from 1980.

The leading causes of home fires and civilian fire injuries between 1994-1998, according to the NFPA, was cooking equipment. Smoking materials ranked first among the causes of home fire deaths and incendiary or suspicious fires caused the largest share of direct property damage. Other leading causes of home fires, injuries and deaths include:

• Heating equipment
• Electrical distribution
• Appliance, tool or air conditioning
• Open flame, ember or torch (ie: candles)
• Children playing

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