Assessment of the fire situation in the world

Introduction. A number of articles provide an assessment of the total number of fires, fire deaths and fire injuries in the world at the beginning of the 21st century. In accordance with these estimates, the average number of fires in the world was estimated at 10–12 million fires per year, the number of fire deaths of 100–120 thousand and the number of fire injuries in 300–350 thousand. Currently, information has appeared that allows you to revise and clarify the assessments presented above.

Purpose and objectives. The target of this study is a modern assessment of the main parameters of fires in the world on the basis of the latest data of the Fire Statistics Center of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CPS CTIF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Analytical part. In accordance with the new assessments in number of fires, fire deaths and fire injuries for the period 2018–2022, it was found that the average number of fires in the world can be estimated
at 6–7 million, the number of fire deaths in 70–75 thousand, the number of fire injuries in 250–300 thousand. These estimates are almost 1.5 times lower than the assessments given earlier.
The dynamics of assessment of the WHO by mortality in the world is given as a result of the effects of fire, heat and hot substances for 20 years (2000–2020).
The article provides data on the distribution of fires by objects and by fire causes in various countries of the world in 2022. The main fire objects are: bushes, grass 26.5 % and residential buildings 23.1 %. The main fire causes are: careless handling of fire — 27 %, improper installation and operation of furnaces and fireplaces — 18 %.
The distributions of mortality and injury to people in fires by fire objects in the countries of the world in 2022 are given. The main objects where people are dying and injured in fires are residential buildings of 83 and 69.4 %, respectively.

Conclusions. After a quarter of the XXI century, the main parameters of the situation with fires can be estimated by the following numbers: the total number of fires in the world can be estimated at 6–7 million per year; the total number of fire deaths is 70–75 thousand per year; the total number of fire injured is 250–300 thousand per year.

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