A study by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) found that there are approximately 4,800 construction site fires every year in the United States. Each construction site fire causes about $35 million in property loss, according to the USFA study. In addition, arson and open flame cause the majority of the construction site fires, 71 percent to be exact.
The construction site fires cause not only millions in property loss but also cause on average 30 burn injuries and 10 deaths. Fires at construction sites are less likely to kill or injure civilians but they tend to cause more damage because there are no smoke alarms or sprinklers at work sites. March and July are peak months for construction site fires. Firefighters injured in construction site fires are twice as likely to be hit or struck by debris and other objects than firefighters at other fire sites.
The study found that incidences of construction site fires increase over the course of the workday. However, if arson is the cause, the fire generally occurs after hours. In general, incidents of arson occur at night. Like all fires, construction site fires are preventable.
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