What is the number one cause of house fires?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, the most common cause of house fires in the United States is cooking equipment. Cooking fires are also responsible for the largest number of fire-related injuries and deaths in the U.S.

Heating equipment holds second place as a cause of residential fires, although fires caused by careless smoking are responsible for more injuries than heating fires. Other common causes of house fires include children playing with fire or matches, faulty electrical equipment or wiring, and candles left unattended. NFPA reports show that 365,000 residential fires in 2012 resulted in 12,875 injuries and 2,380 deaths.