Latest ODPM Fire Stats

2004 fire statistics

Statistics released by the UK Government (DCLG) demonstrate a further reduction in deaths and injury from house fires. 
This ties-in with greater use of domestic smoke and heat alarms – particularly hard-wired - but manufacturers such as Kidde Fyrnetics believe that still more can be done to save lives.

The ODPM(now DCLG) figures show that there were 47, 800 accidental fires in UK dwellings in 2004 - the lowest level recorded since the 1970’s.  327 deaths occurred in accidental dwelling fires, which compares with 395 deaths recorded in 2003 and there were 10, 000 non-fatal casualties in dwelling fires, continuing the downward trend since 1997. Worryingly,
Scotland had more than twice as many fire deaths per head of population than any other part of the UK in 2004 with 19 per million compared with just seven per million people in England and eight per million in both Northern Ireland and Wales.

The research shows that while smoke alarm ownership increased rapidly from 8% in 1988 to 70% in 1994, this has slowed in recent years to around 80%.
Also, 24% of alarms in 2004 failed to operate, the main reason being missing or flat batteries, highlighting the importance of hard-wired smoke alarms with backup power.
In over 3, 000 fires, the smoke alarm operated but did not raise the alarm - often because a person did so first. But in a quarter of cases there was no person within
earshot of the alarm, reinforcing the need for more alarms or other interconnected sounding devices, particularly within bedrooms.
Kidde has been campaigning for this requirement for some time and the latest draft Part B of the Building Regulations would go some way to improving audibility.

Gerald Jones of Kidde Fyrnetics, part of the world’s leading manufacturer of fire detection and suppression systems, said:
“While overall figures are encouraging there remains a strong case to have more smoke alarms - and in every home, particularly in
existing social housing not governed by the Building Regulations. In addition, there should be a heat alarm in every kitchen,
which is where most fires start, and Living Room as well as smoke alarms in circulation areas or preferably all bedrooms – and with all alarms interconnected.”