America’s Fire Safety Report Card

By the Mercury Team

Each year, more than 350,000 house fires occur in the U.S.—many of them preventable.

From unattended stovetops to missing or disabled smoke alarms, simple oversights can quickly turn dangerous. Yet despite the risks, fire safety isn’t a regular part of most Americans’ daily routines.

We surveyed more than 2,000 Americans from 46 states, across every generation, to uncover how fire-safe the nation really is.

Key Findings

• 49% of respondents do not feel confident in their ability to extinguish a grease fire, but 63% feel confident they could recognize one.
• 32% of respondents do not have a fire extinguisher at home, and 47.6% reported not having a carbon monoxide detector.
• 1 in 3 respondents reported accidentally starting a fire in their home, with grease being the most commonly cited cause.
• Overall, respondents scored 60 out of 100 (a B+* see methodology below) in fire safety knowledge, but received worse grades for fire-safe habits (40/100) and overall fire preparedness (36/100).
• According to the survey’s scoring system, Maine and New Hampshire are the states that are the best at fire safety, while Iowa is the worst.

Americans Struggle with Everyday Fire Safety Practices

Fire safety may seem like common sense, but our survey data reveals that many Americans aren’t taking even the most basic precautions to protect their homes and families.

According to our survey, fire safety often takes a backseat to everyday activities. Among the risky habits we found surprising:

• 1 in 4 say they leave kitchen appliances unattended while in use.
• 1 in 5 let candles burn without supervision.
• 1 in 6 leave space heaters running overnight.
• 1 in 10 admitted to permanently removing the batteries from their smoke alarms.

These everyday behaviors suggest that fire prevention is far from top of mind for many Americans — and that lack of preparedness could come at a dangerous cost.

America Gets a C in Fire Preparedness

If fire safety were a school subject, most Americans would be skating by with an average grade*. According to our national survey, the country received a collective grade of C in fire preparedness. We asked respondents a range of questions that tested their knowledge of fire safety, how prepared they would be if a fire broke out, and whether their daily habits support fire prevention. Each area was scored on a scale of 100 points.

While Americans scored 60 out of 100 (a B+) in fire safety knowledge, their performance dropped significantly when it came to real-world action. The national average for fire-safe habits was 40/100 (a C), and fire preparedness was just 36/100 (a C-).*

• Gen Z scored the lowest among all age groups in fire safety knowledge and preparedness. Meanwhile, Baby Boomers scored the highest across all categories.
• Women, on average, scored slightly lower than men in overall fire safety responses.

While 80% of Americans claim to regularly clean grease from their stovetops and ovens, only 51% know how to properly extinguish a grease fire, one of the most common types of household fires.

When it comes to fire-fighting tools, the numbers are mixed:

• 67% own a fire extinguisher, but 36% don’t know how to use it.
• 83% have smoke alarms, but only 14% own fire blankets.

Preventive maintenance is also lacking. Many respondents report rarely cleaning out chimneys, fireplaces, or gutters, and more than 29% fail to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat and cause fires if not handled correctly.

Which States Are Best When it Comes to Fire Safety?

Based on our survey results, Maine and New Hampshire ranked highest in the nation, each earning a B– for overall fire safety preparedness. Meanwhile, the majority of states fell in the average range, with 21 states receiving a C+ and another 21 landing at a C.

At the bottom of the list? Iowa, which scored the lowest in the nation with a C–.

1 in 3 Americans Have Accidentally Started a Fire at Home

Next, we looked at how unsafe habits can lead to house fires. One in three Americans have started fires in their home, and nearly two in five of those are grease fires. Unattended stoves, outdoor grills, faulty wiring, and bonfires were also common culprits.

Out of all the states we surveyed, Georgia, Washington, and Alabama lead the way in terms of the most house fires, while respondents in New Hampshire, Idaho, and Vermont reported starting the fewest.

When every second counts, safety comes first — but we also asked Americans what they’d try to save in the event of a house fire.

32% said they’d prioritize important documents like passports, birth certificates, and wills. Just over 16% said they’d take nothing, focusing solely on getting out safely. Phones were the second most commonly saved item, followed by laptops, external hard drives, and family photos.

State by state, priorities shift. Californians and Floridians are most likely to grab documents, Oklahoma and Oregon residents say they’d take cash, and people in Ohio, Louisiana, and Texas prioritize family photos.

Explore the map below to see what residents in your state would try to save.

A Safer Home Starts with You

The survey revealed that while many Americans are familiar with basic fire safety concepts, a significant number still lack in-depth knowledge and are underprepared to handle fire-related emergencies at home. Mercury offers homeowners insurance designed to help safeguard your home and personal belongings, as well as several resources for tips on fire safety in the home. From replacing smoke alarm batteries to establishing clear escape routes and keeping gutters clean, even small proactive steps can make a significant impact in reducing fire risk and protecting the people and property you care about most.

*Methodology

Respondents completed a quiz that demonstrated how much they know about fire safety, how fire-safe their daily habits are, and how prepared they are if a fire were to break out. In each section, respondents could score 100 points, combining to a total of 300 points. We then calculated each respondent’s total score by dividing their total number of points earned by 300. For our grading system, earning 74-100% of points earned an A+, 68-73% was an A, 64-67% was an A-, 60-63% was a B+, 54-59% was a B, 50-53% was a B-, 46-49% was a C+, 40-45% was a C, 36-39% was a C-, 32-35% was a D+, 26-31% was a D, 23-26% was a D-, and 0-22% was an F.

The survey was completed by 2,257 Americans: 13% were baby boomers, 31% were Gen X, 40% were millennials, and 16% were Gen Z. Additionally, 33% were men, 64% were women, and 3% preferred not to disclose their gender. Sample sizes of residents from Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming were not large enough to be included in our analysis.