Quebec fire statistics: the official numbers

Quebec fire statistics show an average of 16,689 reported fires per year, according to the statistics on fires reported in 2021 and 2022 (Statistiques sur les incendies déclarés en 2021 et en 2022), the most recent published by the government. These fires caused an average of 41 deaths and 308 injuries per year. Fire departments (services de sécurité incendie, SSI) reported 16,907 fires in 2021 and 16,471 in 2022.

Where these numbers come from

The Fire Safety Act requires municipalities and insurers to report fires to the minister. The report on 2021 and 2022 was published in October 2025 under the name of the ministère de la Sécurité publique. Québec.ca now lists it under the ministère de la Sécurité intérieure. Deaths come from the reports of the Bureau du coroner. As of October 19, 2026, Québec.ca offers no more recent report on reported fires.

Fires in Quebec in 2021 and 2022

The number of fires fell 2.6% from 2021 to 2022, mostly among outdoor fires. The report links this drop to heavier than normal rainfall in 2022. The 16,689 fires per year give a rate of 1.94 fires per 1,000 residents, compared with 2.04 in 2019 and 2020.

How many fires per day

At 16,689 fires per year, Quebec has more than 45 reported fires per day on average. For residential buildings alone, the report counts 4,951 damaged buildings per year, or 13.6 per day.

The trend over several years

• Fire departments reported 18,367 fires in 2020, the busiest year from 2014 to 2022
• From 2014 to 2022, the average exceeds 16,800 reported fires per year
• Quebec recorded an average of 45 deaths per year from 2014 to 2022, and the number of deaths fell 52.6% since 2014
• The number of people injured fell 30.6% since 2014

The state of fire safety report (état des lieux) published in April 2025 goes further back. The number of reported fires rises from 14,531 in 2003 to 18,390 in 2020. For 2020, the two official documents therefore give 18,367 and 18,390.

Who dies in fires

Of the 81 people who died in a fire in 2021 and 2022, 72% were men and 67% were 60 or older. People 60 and over have a death rate of 1.13 per 100,000 residents.

Probable causes

Human error is the leading cause of building fires with losses. It includes the misuse of equipment or of a heat source.

In residential buildings, human error rises to 48.7% of cases.

The kitchen, first place of origin

In 2021 and 2022, 47.2% of residential building fires started in a living area. The kitchen alone is the place of origin for 24.1% of damaged residential buildings. Balconies and exterior walls follow with 13.2%, then yards and patios with 11.4%.

Smoke alarms

Of the 13,304 buildings damaged in 2021 and 2022, 22.7% had no smoke alarm. Only 35.4% had a smoke alarm in place that worked. In residential buildings, the share without a smoke alarm is 17.2%.

Property losses

Fire departments estimate property losses in damaged buildings at $553.78 million per year in 2021 and 2022, including $306.68 million for residential buildings. From 2016 to 2022, total estimated losses exceed $3.4 billion.

Firefighters and fire departments

According to the April 2025 report, Quebec had 20,394 firefighters in 2022. There were 5,607 full-time firefighters, 6,948 part-time and 7,839 volunteers. In April 2024, Quebec had 610 municipal and regional fire departments, including 34 intermunicipal boards (régies intermunicipales).

Further reading

• Smoke detector: what the law requires in Quebec
• Fire extinguisher
• Insurance claim after a fire

Frequently asked questions

How many fires are there per year in Quebec?

Fire departments reported an average of 16,689 fires per year in 2021 and 2022. The total was 16,907 in 2021 and 16,471 in 2022. That is more than 45 fires per day.

How many people die in fires each year in Quebec?

The Bureau du coroner recorded 45 deaths in 2021 and 36 in 2022, excluding vehicle fires. From 2014 to 2022, the average is 45 deaths per year. The number of deaths fell 52.6% since 2014.

What is the main cause of fires?

Human error, meaning the misuse of equipment or of a heat source. It accounts for 44.4% of building fires with losses in 2021 and 2022, and 48.7% in residential buildings. Mechanical or electrical failure comes second.

In which room of the house do most fires start?

The kitchen. It is the place of origin for 24.1% of residential buildings damaged by fire in 2021 and 2022.

Is the number of fires rising in Quebec?

The number of reported fires has trended upward since 2014, with a peak of 18,367 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 residents has trended downward instead, and 2022 had the lowest rate of the period. Deaths and injuries are also down.

How many firefighters are there in Quebec?

Quebec had 20,394 firefighters in 2022, including 5,114 officers. More than a third were volunteer firefighters (7,839).

Which region has the most fires in Quebec?

In 2021 and 2022, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean had the highest rate, with 2.78 fires per 1,000 residents. Abitibi-Témiscamingue follows with 2.58. Among large cities, Saguenay comes first with 2.96.

Sources

• Ministère de la Sécurité publique, Statistiques sur les incendies déclarés en 2021 et en 2022, October 2025, accessed October 19, 2026
• Ministère de la Sécurité publique, La sécurité incendie au Québec, état des lieux, April 2025, accessed October 19, 2026
• Gouvernement du Québec, Statistiques en sécurité incendie, ministère de la Sécurité intérieure, accessed October 19, 2026
• LégisQuébec, Fire Safety Act, chapter S-3.4, accessed October 19, 2026