In 2025, Bangladesh experienced a total of 27,059 fire incidents, averaging more than 75 fires per day, according to the annual report of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department. These incidents resulted in 85 fatalities and 267 injuries, highlighting the persistent fire-related risks across the country.
Analysis by the Fire Service reveals that electrical faults were the leading cause of fires, followed by cigarette or bidi disposal, cooking stoves, leaking gas cylinders, utility line failures, and chemical accidents. Despite property losses amounting to approximately BDT 569.98 crore, fire suppression efforts successfully safeguarded assets worth nearly BDT 3,263.62 crore.
Leading Causes of Fire Incidents in 2025
| Cause | Number of Incidents | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical faults | 9,392 | 34.71 |
| Cigarette/Bidi | 4,269 | 15.78 |
| Cooking stoves | 2,909 | 10.75 |
| Leaking gas cylinders | 920 | 3.40 |
| Utility line failures | 562 | 2.08 |
| Gas cylinder explosions | 121 | 0.45 |
| Chemical accidents | 38 | 0.14 |
| Children playing | 608 | 2.25 |
| Hot ash | 356 | 1.32 |
| Coal | 493 | 1.82 |
| Fireworks (Fanoos/Crackers) | 109 | 0.40 |
Locations Most Affected by Fires
| Location | Number of Incidents |
|---|---|
| Residential buildings | 8,705 |
| Straw/paddy stacks | 3,922 |
| Shops | 1,800 |
| Markets | 1,067 |
| Shopping malls | 617 |
| Garment factories | 665 |
| Other factories | 615 |
| Gas cylinder shops | 483 |
Transport-related fires accounted for 386 incidents, including 153 bus fires, 216 in other vehicles, 10 in trains, 4 in launches, 2 in ships, and 1 in a training aircraft.
The months with the highest fire frequency were December (2,724 incidents), January (2,708), February (2,885), and March (3,522), averaging 123 fires per day. Men constituted the majority of casualties, with 197 of 267 injured and 46 of 85 deceased being male.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence conducted 10,140 rescue operations, saving 10,333 injured individuals, recovering 1,756 bodies, and rescuing 551 animals. Safety inspections of 10,533 buildings classified 3,316 as at risk, 622 as highly at risk, and 6,595 as satisfactory. Additionally, 192 mobile courts imposed fines on 179 establishments and took legal action against 8 facilities.
These alarming statistics serve as a critical reminder for Bangladesh to strengthen fire safety measures, raise public awareness, and enhance emergency preparedness to prevent future tragedies.