City fires cut in half through decades of improved safety measures in the US
Iain Hoey
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City fires cut in half across the US
According to an analysis published by VOX, deadly city fires in the United States have declined by about two-thirds since 1980.
Author Bryan Walsh wrote that while fires remain a major risk, particularly in older buildings, the overall number of incidents, deaths and injuries has dropped dramatically.
He noted that total reported fires are now roughly half what they were in 1980, with civilian fire deaths falling from 28.6 per million people to around 11 per million in 2023.
Walsh attributed these improvements to decades of steady regulatory progress and small safety innovations rather than any single breakthrough.
He also referenced the long history of urban fires, from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to the burning of the Bronx in the 1970s, to illustrate the scale of change over time.
Fire safety advances shaping safer homes
In the VOX article, Walsh identified several key contributors to the reduction in fire deaths, beginning with the widespread installation of smoke alarms.
He wrote that fewer than one in four US homes had smoke alarms in 1977, but today the devices are found in most households.
According to Walsh, homes with functioning smoke alarms have a death rate about 60% lower than those without, with hardwired models that include battery backups offering the most reliable protection.
Automatic sprinkler systems were also cited as a major factor, reducing per-fire death rates by about 90% when present.
Walsh said most new apartment and multifamily buildings in the US now require sprinklers under modern codes.
He added that furniture standards introduced in 2021 made upholstery less prone to ignition, further reducing the risk of small fires spreading into full structural incidents.
The role of habits, technology and building codes
VOX highlighted how behavioural shifts have reinforced safety gains.
Walsh pointed to a steep decline in smoking-related fires, from nearly 71,000 in 1980 to around 16,500 by 2016, following the introduction of “fire-safe” cigarettes and a nationwide fall in tobacco use.
He also noted that advances in electrical and heating safety, such as arc-fault circuit interrupters and automatic shut-offs, have reduced heating-related fires by roughly one-third since 2010.
According to Walsh, these improvements came from a combination of regulation, product standards and persistent public information campaigns.
He wrote that this “boring but important work” of enforcement and education has collectively saved thousands of lives.
However, he added that most US fire deaths still occur in homes, especially among older adults, people with disabilities and those in lower-income housing with outdated alarms or unsafe heaters.
Future risks and continuing challenges
Walsh cautioned that progress has not eliminated risk, particularly as wildfires increasingly reach urban areas.
He observed that high-profile fires in Los Angeles and New York highlight how older buildings and creative spaces remain vulnerable.
The article concluded that while the threat of fire will always exist, the US experience demonstrates how persistent, incremental measures can produce lasting safety improvements.
Readers can view the full article on VOX’s website.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The VOX analysis highlights the measurable effect of long-term fire prevention measures that are central to modern regulation.
For fire protection engineers, the data underscore the effectiveness of smoke alarms, sprinklers and electrical safeguards in reducing civilian fatalities.
Code officials and inspectors may find the discussion relevant to enforcement of interconnected alarm systems and updated heating appliance standards.
Housing authorities and local governments can also draw insight from the continuing disparity in fire risk across income and age groups, which affects policy on retrofits and public education.
Wildfire and urban response planners may note the rising overlap between structural and landscape fire risks, as cities expand into previously rural areas.
