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 fourth quarter of 2024, the number of fires jumped up by 36 percent. There were 359 fires, compared to 263 in the third quarter. Capt. James Pearce of the Raleigh Fire Department says that can be primarily attributed to the dry conditions that occur in the late fall and winter. “Typically, during that time of year, we see more outside fires, which causes the bulk number of fires to rise,” he says. “We have also been abnormally dry in this part of North Carolina for quite a while now.”
Number of Cooking Fires Increased
Fires related to the leading cause – unattended cooking – increased, too. There were 52 fires compared to the third quarter’s 45 fires (a 15-percent increase). “This is not at all a surprising trend,” says Pearce. “The fourth quarter includes the holiday season, which means more people are cooking. It’s typical to see a rise in the number of cooking fires during this time of the year, simply because there are more people in the kitchen.”
The number of emergency medical services calls that the Raleigh Fire Department responded to decreased by 3 percent. RFD responded to 8,897 calls, compared to 9,171 EMS calls during the third quarter. Sixty percent of all RFD responses were medical calls.
Financial losses stemming from fires stayed steady at $4.3 million.
| 2024 Quarter 4 | Statistics |
|---|---|
| All Fires (All fire responses including brush fires, vehicle fires, dumpster fires, etc., along with residential and commercial property fires) | 359 |
| -Building Fires | 103 |
| -Cooking Fires | 52 (50.5 percent of fires in buildings) |
| Approximate Dollar Loss Due to Fire | $4.3 million |
| Fires Extinguished by a Sprinkler System | None |
| Fire Department EMS Responses | 8,897 (60 percent of all responses) |
