How are fire statistics collected?
Incident recording system (IRS)
* enables data on all incidents attended by the UK Fire and Rescue Service to be collected
* improving timeliness, accuracy and efficiency
Why has there been a decrease in fires over the years?
- fire alarms
- got healthier as a nation - less chip/fat pan fires
- society changes
- reduction of smokers
- more vaping
- reduction in drug and alcohol use
- improved safety standards
- preventative work and education
What has caused an increase in fires?
- aging population
- overcrowding/higher occupancy
- arson
What are the different types of fires?
- primary fire
- secondary fire
- deliberate fire
- accidental fire
What is a primary fire?
Includes all fires in buildings, vehicles and outdoor structures; or any fires involving casualties or rescues; or fires attended by five or more appliances
What is a secondary fire?
Majority of outdoor fires including grassland and refuse fires unless they involve casualties or rescues, property loss or five or more appliances attend, also include derelict buildings
What are deliberate fires?
Those where deliberate ignition was merely suspected and recorded by the fire and rescue service as “doubtful”
* reasonable suspicion for investigation
What is an accidental fire?
Started accidentally, the cause was recorded as “not known” are grouped with these in the statistics
How do the seasons affect the likelihood of a fire?
- wet spring = increase in plant growth = more dead plant growth eventually = more fuel to burn
- more chimney fires in winter
- hot summer = more fires in grasslands
