The latest fire statistics from the OPDM show that the trend for fewer fires and deaths from fire continues.
The provisional number of fire deaths in the UK fell from 593 to 532 in 2004 – the lowest figure since 1960. Of these, 326 deaths were from accidental fires in dwellings, compared to 395 a year earlier.
Injuries from fire fell by 7% to 14,400, and of these 9,900 were in accidental dwelling fires.
The UK fire and rescue service attended over 890,000 fires or false alarms in 2004 – 19% fewer than in the previous year. The total number of fires were 44,200 (down by 29%) and there were 448,800 false alarms, (down 5%). These were split into malicious false alarms, which fell by 16% to 49,300, and false alarms due to equipment, down 2% to 286,200.
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Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
