Home Home insurance Disasters What is the chance that a U.S. home owner will file an insurance claim for fire? What is the chance that a U.S. home owner will file an insurance claim for fire? By Barbara Marquand | Posted on August 4, 2011 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. The chance that a home will suffer a fire depends on a variety of factors, such as whether it’s located in an area at risk for wildfire, how it’s constructed and whether the home owner takes precautions to prevent fire. U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 373,900 home fires per year from 2005 to 2009, according to research released in June 2011 by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). During the five-year period, one in every 310 households reported a home fire, and one of every 114,000 U.S. residents died in a home fire each year. Cooking fires were the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries, and smoking materials were the leading cause of home fire deaths, the NFPA says. Fire prevention tips from the NFPA To prevent fires, the NFPA offers the following tips: Watch while you cook. Don’t leave the kitchen when you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.Don’t allow smoking inside.Replace damaged electrical cords.Keep matches and lighters away from children.Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep, and keep them at least a foot away from anything that can burn.Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.Install smoke alarms in every sleeping area, and connect them so when one goes off, the others go off. Test them and replace batteries at least once a year.Install fire sprinklers when building or remodeling a home. Standard home insurance covers fire damage to the home’s structure and to personal belongings. Renters insurance covers personal belongings damaged by fire. Home and renters insurance also cover water damage from firefighting efforts. For more about cooking fire dangers, see Deep-fried turkey fiascos can spoil Thanksgiving. QuickTake How to hire a public insurance adjuster after a disaster Does homeowners insurance cover a total loss to your house? Is earthquake insurance worth it? Wildfires and home insurance: What you need to know How climate change is increasing your insurance rates The 10 costliest wildfires Fracked! Are you covered for man-made earthquakes? How to reduce the impact of tornadoes Hurricanes and home insurance: 14 key questions answered How to prepare for a hurricane Earthquake insurance basics What is hurricane insurance? When will FEMA buy your damaged home? 5 things you should know about FEMA's Individual Assistance Program Why won't Californians buy earthquake insurance? See more > In case you missed it What is HO-6 insurance? Average home insurance cost in 2023 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Renters insurance quotes: Compare rates Hurricanes and home insurance: 14 key questions answered Replacement cost policies for your home: Getting what you pay for How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost? Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance of 2021: Guide How much flood insurance do I need? How to bundle home and auto insurance policies to save money The largest home insurance companies by market share Home Insurance Discounts Guide to dog liability insurance: cost and coverage Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles What is HO-6 insurance? By Shivani Gite Are landlords responsible for tree damage to your car? By Casey Bond Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? By Nupur Gambhir Does homeowners insurance cover car damage? By Nupur Gambhir Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? By Laura Longero Are drones covered by homeowners insurance? By Geoff Williams