Annual Probability of Home Electrical Fire

Electrical malfunctions are one of the leading causes of home fires in the United States. Approximately 46,700 home structure fires of electrical origin occur each year, resulting in about 390 deaths, 1,330 injuries, and $1.5 billion in direct property damage. Electrical fires account for about 13% of all home structure fires.

The most common causes of home electrical fires include faulty or worn wiring (the leading cause, particularly in older homes), overloaded circuits and extension cords, malfunctioning electrical appliances, light fixtures and lamps (especially with incorrect wattage bulbs), and space heaters plugged into extension cords. Homes built before 1970 with original wiring are at significantly higher risk, as older wiring may not meet current electrical code requirements and may have degraded insulation.

Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), required in most habitable rooms in new construction since 2014, can detect dangerous electrical arcing that causes many fires. Upgrading older homes with AFCI breakers costs $30-$50 per breaker. Other prevention measures include never overloading outlets, replacing damaged cords immediately, using the correct wattage bulbs, having an electrician inspect older wiring, and keeping space heaters at least 3 feet from flammable materials.