States With the Deadliest Fires

Special Report

Published: August 7, 2022 4:00 pm

Wildfires pose a rising threat to public safety in the United States. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that they have grown larger, more common, and more intense in recent decades. As wildfires are becoming more destructive, fires of all types – wild or otherwise – are getting deadlier. (Here is a look at the 30 most destructive wildfires in the U.S. this century.)

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the trend in fire death rates has risen steadily in the last decade, from 10.7 deaths per million people in 2010 to 11.1 per million in 2019, the most recent year of available data. A total of 3,515 people were killed by fires that year, making it the third deadliest year for fires in the United States since 2010.

The risk of dying in a fire varies considerably by geography, however, and in some parts of the country, Americans are more than twice as likely to be killed by a fire than average.

Using data from the U.S. Fire Administration, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most people are killed by fire. Fire deaths include all those in which exposure to a fire or explosion resulted in a fatality. States are ranked by the number of fire deaths per million people in 2019.

Regionally, Americans living in the Midwest and the South are at the highest relative risk of dying in a fire. From a demographic standpoint, men are at higher risk than women, and older Americans – particularly those age 85 and up – are at increased risk.

States most susceptible to wildfire damage are not necessarily those with the highest fire fatality rates. Each year, accidental fires in homes and urban areas, as well as cases of arson, in which private homes, vehicles, or other structures are set on fire deliberately, also contribute to fire deaths. (Here is a look at the states with the most arson.)

Click here to see the states where the most people are killed by fire.

Click here to read our detailed methodology.

Wyoming National Guard by The National Guard

Wyoming National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

50. Wyoming
> Fire deaths; 2019: Fewer than 10
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 34,040 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 0

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House Fire (CC BY 2.0) by sf-dvs

49. Vermont
> Fire deaths; 2019: Fewer than 10
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 1

24/7 Wall St.
30 Most Destructive Wildfires in the US This Century

North Dakota National Guard by The National Guard

North Dakota National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

48. North Dakota
> Fire deaths; 2019: Fewer than 10
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 9

Dagsboro Vol. Fire Department,... by Lee Cannon

Dagsboro Vol. Fire Department,... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Lee Cannon

47. Delaware
> Fire deaths; 2019: Fewer than 10
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 8

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Source: danlogan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

46. New Hampshire
> Fire deaths; 2019: Fewer than 10
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Avg. number of acres burned annually: None – the fewest
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 39

1988 Ford C8000/ involved in 9... by Charles

1988 Ford C8000/ involved in 9... (CC BY 2.0) by Charles

45. New Jersey
> Fire deaths; 2019: 5.2 per 1M people (46 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 8,182 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 83

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Source: kali9 / E+ via Getty Images

44. Florida
> Fire deaths; 2019: 6.0 per 1M people (128 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 22,965 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 780

ALSO READ: These Are the Places Most Likely to Have Wildfires

Source: Kara Capaldo / iStock via Getty Images

43. California
> Fire deaths; 2019: 6.5 per 1M people (255 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 259,419 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 413

Source: Nickbeer / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

42. Massachusetts
> Fire deaths; 2019: 7.1 per 1M people (49 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 2

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Source: joshuaraineyphotography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

41. Hawaii
> Fire deaths; 2019: 7.1 per 1M people (10 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 13,445 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 0

Source: THEPALMER / E+ via Getty Images

40. Utah
> Fire deaths; 2019: 7.5 per 1M people (24 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 79,806 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 45

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Federal Heights (Colorado) Fir... by Jeffrey Beall

Federal Heights (Colorado) Fir... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Jeffrey Beall

39. Colorado
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.0 per 1M people (46 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 32,704 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 68

24/7 Wall St.
States With the Most Arson

Source: Onfokus / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

38. Nevada
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.1 per 1M people (25 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 70,327 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 134

Source: SDI Productions / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

37. Texas
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.5 per 1M people (247 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 95,958 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 752

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New York City Fire Department ... by Jazz Guy

New York City Fire Department ... (CC BY 2.0) by Jazz Guy

36. New York
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.5 per 1M people (165 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 102

Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

35. Arizona
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.5 per 1M people (62 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 348,403 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 12

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Source: Sakkawokkie / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

34. Minnesota
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.9 per 1M people (50 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 1,293 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 5

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Flintstone, MD Volunteer Fire ... by Lee Cannon

Flintstone, MD Volunteer Fire ... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Lee Cannon

33. Maryland
> Fire deaths; 2019: 8.9 per 1M people (54 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 216

Concrete Washington Fire Depar... by JOHN LLOYD

Concrete Washington Fire Depar... (CC BY 2.0) by JOHN LLOYD

32. Washington
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.1 per 1M people (69 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 147,970 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 125

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Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

31. Montana
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.3 per 1M people (10 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 43,309 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 1

Source: CHBD / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

30. Connecticut
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.3 per 1M people (33 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 4

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Source: CowlickCreative / E+ via Getty Images

29. Rhode Island
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.5 per 1M people (10 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 26

ALSO READ: How Many Bombings Your State Had Last Year

Source: Vershinin / iStock via Getty Images

28. Idaho
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.5 per 1M people (17 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 263,978 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 5

city of grant fire department by Bradley Gordon

city of grant fire department (CC BY 2.0) by Bradley Gordon

27. Nebraska
> Fire deaths; 2019: 9.8 per 1M people (19 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 7,587 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 3

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Fire (CC BY 2.0) by @USArmy

26. Virginia
> Fire deaths; 2019: 10.1 per 1M people (86 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 769 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 145

Source: nifc / Flickr

25. New Mexico
> Fire deaths; 2019: 11.0 per 1M people (23 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 66,652 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 22

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Source: BasSlabbers / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

24. Pennsylvania
> Fire deaths; 2019: 11.5 per 1M people (147 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 42

24/7 Wall St.
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Source: ventdusud / iStock via Getty Images

23. Illinois
> Fire deaths; 2019: 11.5 per 1M people (146 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 1,010

Source: Lumigraphics / iStock via Getty Images

22. Michigan
> Fire deaths; 2019: 11.7 per 1M people (117 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 46

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Source: Pgiam / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

21. South Carolina
> Fire deaths; 2019: 11.8 per 1M people (61 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 3,406 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 89

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

20. North Carolina
> Fire deaths; 2019: 12.6 per 1M people (132 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 76

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Twinsburg Ohio Fire Department... by Raymond Wambsgans

Twinsburg Ohio Fire Department... (CC BY 2.0) by Raymond Wambsgans

19. Ohio
> Fire deaths; 2019: 12.8 per 1M people (150 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 380

24/7 Wall St.
These Are the Places Most Likely to Have Wildfires

Source: filo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

18. Wisconsin
> Fire deaths; 2019: 12.9 per 1M people (75 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 46

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

17. Georgia
> Fire deaths; 2019: 13.3 per 1M people (141 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 2,277 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 347

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Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

16. Indiana
> Fire deaths; 2019: 13.4 per 1M people (90 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 289

Source: zhudifeng / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

15. Oregon
> Fire deaths; 2019: 14.2 per 1M people (60 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 61,223 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 13

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Source: usairforce / Flickr

14. South Dakota
> Fire deaths; 2019: 15.8 per 1M people (14 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 2

ALSO READ: States With the Most Arson

Engine & Truck 46 in Quarters by Tyler Silvest

Engine & Truck 46 in Quarters (CC BY 2.0) by Tyler Silvest

13. Kansas
> Fire deaths; 2019: 16.1 per 1M people (47 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 20,713 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 268

Richmond, MO FD Truck 10 by Tyler Silvest

Richmond, MO FD Truck 10 (CC BY 2.0) by Tyler Silvest

12. Missouri
> Fire deaths; 2019: 16.9 per 1M people (104 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 3,276 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 454

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Source: Huntstock / DisabilityImages via Getty Images

11. Maine
> Fire deaths; 2019: 17.1 per 1M people (23 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 1

Source: mixmotive / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

10. Louisiana
> Fire deaths; 2019: 17.2 per 1M people (80 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 13,717 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 62

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Osceola, IA Volunteer Fire Dep... by Tyler Silvest

Osceola, IA Volunteer Fire Dep... (CC BY 2.0) by Tyler Silvest

9. Iowa
> Fire deaths; 2019: 17.7 per 1M people (56 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 22

ALSO READ: America’s Most Dangerous States

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

8. Kentucky
> Fire deaths; 2019: 17.9 per 1M people (80 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 1,900 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 165

Source: Matt277 / iStock via Getty Images

7. Arkansas
> Fire deaths; 2019: 18.9 per 1M people (57 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 16

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Source: weaver1234 / iStock via Getty Images

6. West Virginia
> Fire deaths; 2019: 19.5 per 1M people (35 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 1,327 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 200

Ridgetop Fire Department (CC BY 2.0) by Lisa Zins

5. Tennessee
> Fire deaths; 2019: 20.5 per 1M people (140 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 108

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Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

4. Alabama
> Fire deaths; 2019: 21.2 per 1M people (104 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 3,618 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 37

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Warr Acres, OK FD NEW Engine 2... by Tyler Silvest

Warr Acres, OK FD NEW Engine 2... (CC BY 2.0) by Tyler Silvest

3. Oklahoma
> Fire deaths; 2019: 22.2 per 1M people (88 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 21,211 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 9

Source: capcase / Flickr

2. Mississippi
> Fire deaths; 2019: 22.8 per 1M people (68 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: None reported
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 9

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Source: lippyjr / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

1. Alaska
> Fire deaths; 2019: 27.3 per 1M people (20 total)
> Land area burned in wildfires; 2019: 2,559,307 acres
> Cases of reported arson; 2019: 0

Methodology

To identify the states where the most people per capita are killed by fire, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data compiled by the U.S. Fire Administration. States are ranked by the number of people who were killed in a fire for every million state residents. Data is for 2019 and is adjusted using population data from the U.S. Census Bureau from July 1, 2019. The fire death rate – or the number of deaths caused by fire per 1 million people – was not computed for states which reported fewer than 10 fire deaths.

We also reviewed supplementary data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the total land area burned by wildfires in 2019.

Supplementary data on reported cases of arson in 2019 are from the United States Bomb Data Center, a division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is important to note that arson data compiled by the ATF is dependent on real-time reported incidents and likely undercounts the actual number of arson cases.

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