Special Report

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Solid Fuel Facts

1989

Solid fuel-related fires in that year accounted for 11.2 percent of all residential fires and 51 percent of all fires attributable to heating equipment problems.

In 1989,  - 57,500 residential fires in the 50 states were related to solid fuel appliances and equipment.

The cost of property loss in fixed heater fires was $100.4 million in 1989.

Chimneys were cited as the cause of 28 percent (15,900) of all solid fuel-related fires in 1989, and estimated property loss were $63.3 million.

Chimney connectors were reported as the cause of 5 percent (3,000) of all solid fuel-related fires in 1989.

Fireplaces accounted for 17 percent (9,600) of all solid fuel-related fires.

Property damage loss caused by fires originating in chimney and chimney connectors in 1989 and total property loss was set at $81.6 million.

In all, 100 people died and 330 people were injured as a result of solid fuel-related fires in 1989 and total property loss was set at $249.2 million.

In addition, 6,000 residential fires were attributed to chimneys and chimney connectors serving heating systems burning liquid and other fuels. These fires caused $24.9 million in property damage.

These statistics do not reflect carbon-monoxide-induced deaths or illness caused by blocked, damage or deteriorated chimney systems.

The data contained in this report has been excerpted from a memorandum released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on January 8, 1992. The subject of the memorandum is "1989" Residential Fire Loss Estimates."