During 2008, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 236,000 fires involving
vehicles of all types, including highway and other non-road vehicles such as water vessels,
aircraft, construction, yard, and agricultural vehicles. These fires caused an estimated 365
civilian deaths, 1,065 civilian injuries, and $1.5 billion in direct property damage. Vehicle
fires, as well as civilian deaths and injuries caused directly by these fires, were at their
lowest point in 2008 since NFPA began tracking vehicle fires and losses with its current
methods.
In 2008, an estimated 207,000 highway vehicle fires caused 350 civilian fire deaths, 850
civilian fire injuries, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage. From 1980 to 2008, these
fires fell a cumulative 55%, and have been hitting new lows every year since 2002.
Civilian deaths from highway vehicle fires fell 4% from 365 in 2007 to 350 in 2008, two
consecutive years of record lows. Civilian injuries in highway vehicle fires fell 43% from
1,500 in 2007 to 850 in 2008. From 1980 to 2008, these injuries fell a cumulative 70%.
Direct property damage, adjusted for inflation, rose 4%.
