Fewer fires but more people killed - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 4 days ago 

More people were killed in fires last year despite fewer blazes occurring, new figures show.

The total number of fires in Scotland for 2011-12 was 32,304, down 17% on 2010-11, according to provisional statistics.

But fire fatalities increased by 10% to 57 (38 men and 19 women), which is still the third lowest number in 10 years. A total of 51 people were killed in house fires, of which 47 were at those which started accidentally.

Almost half of these accidental fires (45%) where someone was killed were caused by smokers' materials and matches while 14 people died and 292 people were injured in accidental house fires in which alcohol or drugs are thought to have contributed.

Of all house fires that began by accident, alcohol is thought to have been involved in around one in six of them (17%), or 860 cases, the Scottish Government figures show.

Community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "Once again, alcohol and or drugs were suspected to have been a factor in at least one in six accidental house fires. Although other key figures in this publication indicate an improving awareness of the danger of fire in our homes, this underlines that a link remains between alcohol, drug use and fire.

"The most important message we can give is not to be complacent and always be on your guard. We also urge you to get a smoke alarm and check it regularly to ensure it is in working order. Alarms really do save lives."

Ten of the fire deaths last year happened in homes which had no smoke alarm and 376 people were injured in fires where the house had no alarm. Overall, about a third of house fires (34%) were in a property that did not have a smoke alarm and around one in every eight house fires (13%) featured a smoke alarm that did not work.

Last year 1,398 people were injured in fires, 539 of whom were overcome by smoke, gas or fumes. Of the total, 978 were hurt in accidental house fires. Cooking appliances were the most common cause of house fires which started by accident, accounting for 567 cases. The number of accidental house fires reached a 10-year low in 2011-12, at 5,116.

Ms Cunningham said: "Our campaigns are raising awareness of the risks of fire, be it alcohol consumption, smoking, misuse of electrical appliances or the overloading of electrical sockets. But more can and will be done to encourage everyone to take fire safety seriously."

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