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Deaths from fires in the UK have risen for the first time since 1979, bucking the trend over the last 29 years, according to the latest government figures. Fatalities increased by 8% to 500 in the 12-month period to 31 March 2008, compared to 464 in the previous 12 months, at the same time as the number of fires actually declined.
Primary fires fell by 10% to 141,000. Dwelling fires are at their lowest since 1977 (52,000, down 5%). Fires in ‘other ‘buildings – including workplaces and areas where people gather – are down by 11% to 30,000.
Attendances at false alarms decreased by 5% to 417,000, showing a 13% fall (29,000) in malicious false alarms and a 5% (270,000) drop in false alarms due to apparatus.
Fire and rescue services in the UK attended 799,000 fire and false alarm incidents in the period, an 8% reduction on the previous 12 months.
The figures for deaths are still subject to revision as causes of deaths are confirmed but are thought unlikely to change significantly.