Friday, August 10, 2007


Aug. 9, 2007 (M2 Communications Ltd. delivered by Newstex) --

The latest national fire statistics covering the 12-month period up to 30 September 2006 continue to show a fall in the total number of primary fires - down 5% and now at their lowest total since 1985.

The Fire Statistics Monitor is published quarterly by Communities and Local Government and includes provisional figures on fires, fire deaths and injuries, and false alarm calls.

Key statistics in today's monitor include:

* The United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Services attended 876,300 fire and false alarm incidents in the 12 months to 30 September 2006 - a slight increase on the previous 12 months.

* There were 482 fire deaths in this period - down 1% on the previous 12 months. Dwelling fire deaths fell by 9% to 342, the lowest total since records began. However, all fire death figures for 2006 should be treated with caution as they are still provisional and subject to change.

* Primary fires fell by 5% to 162,000. This is the lowest total since 1985. Within this dwelling fires hit a 25 year low (56,400, down 2%), fires in other buildings - including workplaces and areas where people gather - are at their lowest since 1963 (down 7% to 33,200) and road vehicle fires again fell (by 9% to 60,600) to their lowest total since 1990.

* Secondary fires rose by 6% to 267,100 as there was a large increase in grassland fires (37%). These fires are closely linked to temperature, with July 2006 being the hottest July on record.

* Attendances at false alarms dropped by 1% to 436,500. Within this there was a 15% fall in malicious false alarms and a slight decrease in false alarms due to apparatus.

The Fire Statistics Monitor is available on the Communities and Local Government website ( http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1124925). Also on the website is the latest annual statistical bulletin, Fire Statistics United Kingdom, 2005, which contains trends and analysis for the years 1995-2005.

1. The figures in the quarterly 'Fire Statistics Monitor' publication are compiled from reports submitted to Communities and Local Government on fires and false fire alarms attended by the fire and rescue service throughout the UK.

2. Detailed information is collected on all fires in buildings, vehicles and outdoor structures and any fires involving casualties or rescues (i.e.'primary' fires). Less detailed aggregated information is collected on 'secondary' and chimney fires; so subsequent analysis of them is limited.

3. 'Primary' fires include all fires in buildings, vehicles and outdoor structures or any fire involving casualties, rescues, or fires attended by five or more appliances. 'Secondary' fires are the majority of outdoor fires including grassland and refuse fires unless they involve casualties or rescues, property loss or five or more appliances attend. They include fires in single derelict buildings.

Chimney fires are any fires in occupied buildings where the fire was confined within the chimney structure (and did not involve casualties or rescues or attendance by five or more appliances).

4. A person whose death is attributed to a fire is counted as a fatality even if death occurred weeks or months later. However, it is not always the case that fire was the cause of death. The latest figures for fatalities are provisional and subject to revision as information supplied by the fire and rescue service needs to be cross-checked against the cause of death that appears on the death certificate. The main area of uncertainty is whether fire was the cause of death in road accident fatalities.

5. Fire Statistics are part of the National Statistics series which are produced to high professional standards, as set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. For more information on National Statistics see  http://www.statistics.gov.uk

Public Enquiries, Central Office of Information
Tel: +44 (0)20 7944 4400
e-mail:  press.office@communities.gsi.gov.uk
WWW:  http://www.communities.gov.uk

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