Fire–The Largest Single Cause of Property LossFire is the largest single cause of property loss in the United States.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports $6.7 billion in direct residential property loss from fire in the United States in 2005. Three-quarters of the residential fires took place in one- and two-family dwellings causing $5.7 billion in direct property loss. Most people are surprised to learn that eight out of ten fire deaths occur where they assume they are the safest; at home.

In Scottsdale, AZ, a 15-year study of home fire sprinklers showed that the average loss per sprinklered fire incident was $2,166 compared to more than $45,000 for unsprinklered homes.