NFCC responds to Home Office fire statistics

The statistics cover the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. The decrease in fires is driven by a fall in secondary fires, with primary fires also decreasing.

NFCC chair Roy Wilsher commented, “It is pleasing to see a reduction in both the number of incidents and fires attended by fire and rescue services.

“However it is important we do not become complacent about these figures; at the end of March 2018 the statistics were showing an increase in incidents for the year.

“It is important we are looking at risks and are continuing to review and focus on these, while ensuring services are resourced to deal with these. It is vital that our communities have confidence in their emergency services to respond effectively.

“There are additional pressures on fire services which is likely to further increase. These include recommendations set out in the independent Hackitt Review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and outcomes of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which need to be appropriately funded.

“We have seen the number of fulltime firefighters reduce by 23 per cent since 2010/2011, which needs to be considered when future funding for fire services is being considered.”

Between July 1st 2017 to June 30th 2018:

• FRSs attended 556,884 incidents. A three per cent decrease (576,545)
• FRSs attended 159,685 fires; a nine per cent decrease (176,054)
• 226,466 fire false alarms were attended; less than one per cent increase (225,899)
• FRSs attended 170,733 non-fire incidents. This was a two per cent decrease (174,592)
• Fires accounted for 29 per cent and non-fire incidents 31 per cent. The remaining 41 per cent were fire false alarms, which continued to be the largest incident type
• 247 fire-related fatalities compared with 344 (including 71 from the Grenfell Tower fire) in the previous year (a decrease of 28 per cent)