The short answer is yes. Fires are pretty common in New York.
In fact, the state has strict regulations surrounding fire, ranging from annual brush burning bans to year-round open burning prohibitions. In New York City and Long Island, debris burning has been illegal for more than 40 years now.
There are also places in the Empire State that are designated as “fire towns,” where you’ll have to get a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to legally do open burning. Otherwise, you’ll face a fine of at least $500 for your first offense and criminal and civil enforcement actions.
As for the rest of the state, there is a brush burning ban that runs from March 16 to May 14. This annual prohibition has been in place since 2009 to protect New York communities from wildfires.
Structural Fires in New York
In 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported more than 1.5 million fires in the country. Nearly a quarter (24.3%) of these affected residential structures.
Structural fires are a major hazard in New York, especially for those living in congested urban spaces and/or occupying older buildings. One report pointed out that from 2017 to 2019, New York had the highest number of residential fire deaths. In 2022 alone, the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) reported that for every 1,000 fires in New York, the residential structure fire casualties were 1.1 deaths and 15.6 injuries.
Top Causes of Residential Fires in New York
Several things can spark a blaze in the state. The top reasons for residential or structural fires in the Empire State include its huge population, lack of smoke alarms (installed or working), and heating.
1. A Big Population Leads to Overcrowding
Population plays a key role in the proliferation and size of structural fires. One study found that housing overcrowding and fire feeds each other in a vicious cycle.
“Because the more people per square mile and per room the greater the incidence and size of the structural fires, the destruction of housing by fire and fire-related building abandonment creates fertile ground for even greater fire damage due to the crowding of the refugees into the remaining housing stock,” the study’s authors explain.
They have even described structural fire as an “urban parasite.” For example, the New York City Fire Department’s data shows structural fires have consistently gone beyond the 20,000 mark from 2019 to 2023. So, it’s a prevalent and recurring problem for the city.
New York state’s population is around the 20 million mark. With a land area of over 47 million square miles (around 121 million square kilometers), this means population density is at about 410 people per square mile. However, in New York City, population density ranges from over 8,000 to over 71,000 people per square mile!
2. Lack of Smoke Alarms
New York state law requires a working smoke detector with an audible alarm in each sleeping area of one- and two-family residences, although local codes might implement stricter regulations. Houses without smoke alarms installed or working are at a greater risk of a fire.
Unfortunately, many residences still don’t have one installed or have one that’s not operating.
With around half (49%) of all fire deaths in residential buildings occurring during the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., according to a U.S. Fire Administration report, a smoke alarm can save your life when a fire does break out in your house.
“FASNY consistently educates the public that smoke alarms are a critical component of home safety, and it is important to ensure they are always in working order,” said Eugene Perry, President of Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), in a press release.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the death rate per 1,000 home structure fires is around 60% lower in residences with working smoke alarms than in those without an alarm or one that did not function.
3. Space Heater Problem
Temperatures during winter in New York can dip really low. However, some buildings might not offer enough heat to warm you through the cold weather either because the main heating system is unavailable or inadequate. Some residents might just want to save on electricity too as central heating can be costly to install and operate.
As a result, many New Yorkers use space heaters to bring in some heat into their homes during winter. Space heaters are small, portable heating devices that can increase the ambient temperature in a small to medium room. You can bring it with you wherever you go in the house.
However, space heaters can cause devastating fires, if you’re not careful. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that these devices are involved in about 1,100 fires per year. A separate report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that space heaters have led to 88% of home heating fire deaths in the country.
Non-Structural Fires in New York
Non-structural fires are fires that occur outside of a house, building, or structure. It can include liquid fires, rubbish and brush fires, wildfires, and vehicle fires.
In New York City, non-structural fires have consistently hit beyond the 10,000 mark from 2019 to 2023. According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), there were 13,577 non-structural fires in 2022 and 12,594 in 2023, a 7% increase.
Wildfires
Wildfires are a special concern in New York as the state owns 18.9 million acres (around 7.6 million hectares) of non-federal forested lands out of its 30.9 million acre (about 12.50 million hectare) area.
Also known as forest fires, wildfires are frequent occurrences in the wetlands on the western part of the state and New York City. These blazes can burn intensely and threaten nearby neighborhoods, becoming wildland-urban interface fires in the process.
There are several causes for wildfires in New York. Most wildfires are the result of human activities (95%), according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). This is followed by debris burning (33%) and smoking, equipment, railroads, and miscellaneous causes (25%). The rest are caused by incendiary fires (16%), campfires (16%), lightning (5%) and children (4%).