Statistics help the Raleigh Fire Department focus its efforts on geographical areas that may have a specific public safety need. Stats also help the department keep track of resources needed to mitigate hazards.
During the first quarter of 2025, the number of fires stayed almost steady. There were 352 fires, compared to 359 in the fourth quarter of 2024. “This is typical for that time of the year as you still have the cold weather and typically drier conditions, which tend to contribute to fires both in the home from heating and outdoors due to dry conditions,” says Capt. James Pearce of the Raleigh Fire Department. “It’s also typical to see a decline in cooking-related fires as we moved away from the major holiday season.”
Number of Cooking Fires Down
Fires related to the leading cause – unattended cooking – went down. There were 48 fires compared to the fourth quarter’s 52 fires (an 8-percent decrease). “The fourth quarter includes the holiday season, which means more people are cooking and the number of cooking fires is normally at its peak,” says Pearce.
The number of emergency medical services calls that the Raleigh Fire Department responded to increased slightly. RFD responded to 9,032 calls, compared to 8,897 EMS calls during the fourth quarter. Sixty percent of all RFD responses were medical calls.
Financial losses stemming from fires decreased significantly – the total was $3.4 million, compared to $4.3 million in the previous quarter.
| 2025 Quarter 1 | Statistics |
|---|---|
| All Fires (All fire responses including brush fires, vehicle fires, dumpster fires, etc., along with residential and commercial property fires) | 352 |
| -Building Fires | 103 |
| -Cooking Fires | 48 (47 percent of fires in buildings) |
| Approximate Dollar Loss Due to Fire | $3.4 million |
| Fires Extinguished by a Sprinkler System | 3 |
| Fire Department EMS Responses | 9,032 (60 percent of all responses) |
