Accidental house fires at record low in Scotland
New figures from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) reveal that firefighters responded to over 3,800 accidental house fires across Scotland last year, the lowest number recorded since 2010.
This marks an 18% decrease over the past decade, as reported by the SFRS.
Despite this reduction, more than a quarter of the affected homes did not have smoke detectors installed.
SFRS Deputy Chief Officer (DCO) Andy Watt expressed concern, noting the importance of smoke alarms in early fire detection.
He stated: “Smoke alarms are the best way of providing early detection of a fire and I’d strongly encourage everyone to have interlinked smoke alarms installed within their home.”
SFRS home fire safety efforts highlighted
The SFRS attributes the decrease in accidental fires to its focus on fire prevention initiatives, including its Home Fire Safety Visit programme.
According to DCO Watt, over half a million homes have been visited since 2013 to assess and mitigate fire risks.
DCO Watt commented: “Prevention is at the core of what we do, and our staff work tirelessly to share life-saving knowledge and guidance with communities to help prevent fire from occurring.”
SFRS firefighters attended more than 80,000 emergency incidents last year.
Additionally, 42 fire-related deaths were recorded, which represents a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure of 43.
While these figures remain stable, the SFRS is focused on supporting vulnerable community members who are at greater risk.
SFRS prioritises support for vulnerable groups
DCO Watt emphasised the SFRS’s dedication to assisting at-risk groups, including older individuals and those with specific health conditions.
He stated: “We’re working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable members of our communities, but it’s true that people of a certain age or who live with certain health conditions remain more at risk of fire.”
In addition to fire incidents, Scottish firefighters responded to over 16,000 non-fire incidents last year, covering emergencies such as flooding and road traffic collisions.
This represents the second-highest number of non-fire incidents on record for the service.
Decline in unwanted fire alarm signals and deliberate fire-setting
Deliberate fire-setting incidents across Scotland have also dropped to their lowest levels on record, although these still account for 55% of the 24,000 fires attended by SFRS crews last year.
Another key change was in unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS), which nearly halved over the year.
A policy shift in July 2023 means firefighters now respond only to automatic alarm activations in commercial buildings where there is an evident risk of fire, thus reducing non-emergency callouts.
DCO Watt noted: “Countless hours were spent responding to avoidable alarm activations, often caused by human error or faulty equipment.
“It’s very pleasing to see the number of UFAS incidents reduce so significantly, and we remain committed to continuing to work with our communities and businesses on this area.”
Accidental house fires in Scotland reach lowest level in over a decade, according to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Summary
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has reported a notable reduction in accidental house fires, with figures indicating the lowest level since 2010.
Firefighters responded to over 3,800 accidental fires in homes across Scotland last year, an 18% decrease over the past decade.
Despite this improvement, a significant number of affected homes lacked smoke alarms, underscoring the importance of fire detection devices in homes.
The SFRS has focused on preventive efforts, such as its Home Fire Safety Visit programme, to reduce risks.
Additionally, unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS) have dropped by almost half following a policy change.
The SFRS continues to work with communities and businesses to sustain these gains, particularly supporting vulnerable groups who are more susceptible to fire-related incidents.