Highway Vehicle Fires (2008-2010)

There were approximately 194,000 vehicle fires in the United States during 2008 to 2010. Approximately one in seven fires responded to by fire departments in the U.S. was a highway vehicle fire. This report analyzed data from the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Incident Reporting System. Findings include: (1) 86% of highway vehicle fires occurred in passenger vehicles; (2) 61% of highway vehicle fires and 35% of fatal highway vehicle fires originated in the engine, running gear or wheel area of the vehicle; (3) Insulation around electrical wiring (28%) and flammable liquids in the engine area (18%) were the most common items first ignited in highway vehicle fires; (4) Mechanical failure is the leading factor contributing to the ignition of highway vehicle fires (44%); (5) Unintentional action (32%) was the leading cause of highway vehicle fires; and (6) 57% of fatal vehicle fires were the result of a collision.

• Record URL:
  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v13i11.pdf
• 
• Publication Date: 2013-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 8p
• Serial:
  • Topical Fire Report Series
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: United States Fire Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash characteristics; Fatalities; Fire causes; Highways; Passenger vehicles; Traffic crashes; Vehicle fires
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01483485
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 5 2013 9:48AM