Fire statistics database and analysis represent the basis for the fire risk identification, analysis and assessment. Temporal analyses of timber structural fire incidents occurring from 2010 to 2014 in rural settlements in Serbia (Žabalj, Žitište) and in Novi Sad urban area from 2011 to 2013 are carried out. The aim of the study is to gather and analyse data on various causes of fires in order to determine the extent to which existing data can be used in fire risk assessment. This research illustrates how the patterns of timber structural fire incidents vary in urban and rural areas, with the time of the day, the day of the week, and the month of the year. It is shown that significant differences exist with respect to fire causation over time and the types of buildings and settlements.