Deaths rising, wildfire above averageUpdated 4 October 2026
Trend summary
- The US had about 1.39 million fires in 2024 and 3,920 civilian fire deaths, 16% more than in 2015.
- Homes are where most people die. Building fires are rarer but produce the biggest single losses.
- Wildfire area in 2026 is running at 147% of the ten-year average, after a 2025 in which Los Angeles lost about 16,000 structures.
Deaths risingHome fires
Fewer fires, more deaths: 3,920 civilian fire deaths in 2024, up 16% in a decade.
SteadyBuilding fires
About 112,000 non-residential building fires a year, and a few very large losses.
Above averageWildfires
9 million acres burned in 2026 so far, 147% of the ten-year average.
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases linked above; where agencies publish preliminary numbers we say so, because they are revised. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.