Fire and Rescue Statistics, Scotland, 2013-14

4. Commentary

The 2013-14 figures in this publication are provisional and are subject to revision in line with our revisions policy (see section 6.3.1). Casualty figures are particularly vulnerable to revision as a result of pending investigations into fires.

Revised figures for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are provided here and supersede those in previous editions of this publication. Further details on revisions made in this publication are available in section 6.3.

This publication is accompanied by 28 data reference tables, published as a downloadable workbook. In response to our 2014 user consultation, many users expressed a desire for more fire and rescue data to be made available for use in further analysis. As a consequence, additional tables have been added to those published alongside this bulletin, providing further detail on non-fatal casualties, accidental and deliberate fires and smoke alarms. To avoid the publication itself becoming impracticably long, only Tables 1 to 9a have been provided in the final section of this publication, with a full list of all accompanying tables at the start of section 7.

For all tables at Scotland level, the figures provided cover a minimum of ten years. Local Authority level tables are provided for 2013-14 only. As the Local Authority tables cover only a single year, it is not possible to make general assertions about trends in different Local Authorities. For example, a Local Authority may have the highest rate per 100,000 population, but without comparable data from previous years we cannot tell whether the rate is generally decreasing, increasing or fluctuating from year to year. An additional dataset containing Local Authority level data from 2009-10 to 2013-14 will be released following the publication of this report. This will allow a clearer understanding of the trends in fire and rescue incident data in different Local Authorities.

4.1 Fires

In this publication, fires are classed as Primary, Secondary or Chimney fires.

Primary fires include all fires in buildings, vehicles and most outdoor structures, or any fire involving casualties or rescues, or fires attended by five or more appliances. This publication commonly splits primary fires into 4 sub-categories or 'locations'. These are Dwellings, Other Buildings, Road Vehicles and Others.

Secondary fires are the majority of outdoor fires. They include grassland and refuse fires unless they involve casualties or rescues, property loss or are attended by five or more appliances.

Chimney fires are fires in buildings where the fire was contained within the chimney structure and did not involve casualties, rescues or the attendance of five or more appliances.

4.1.1 Total number of fires (Tables 1 and 1a, Chart 1)

In 2013-14, the SFRS attended 27,979 fires in Scotland, an increase of 5 per cent compared to the previous year (26,719). Whilst the number of primary and chimney fires attended decreased, the overall increase reflected a 15 per cent rise in the number of secondary fires (from 14,276 in 2012-13 to 16,359 in 2013-14).

Despite the increase in the total number of fires attended in comparison to the previous year, the 2013-14 figure was still the second lowest in the last decade. The number of secondary fires attended was also the second lowest in the last decade.

Chart 1 - Fires by type, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

4.1.2 Fires by type and location (Tables 1, 1a and 1b, Charts 2 and 21)

Fires accounted for one third of all incidents attended by the SFRS in 2013-14 (Chart 21). Of those attended, the majority (58 per cent) were secondary fires, 38 per cent were primary fires, and 4 per cent were chimney fires.

The SFRS attended 10,529 primary fires in 2013-14, a decrease of 5 per cent compared to the previous year and the lowest in the last ten years. Around half of all primary fires were in dwellings (51 per cent), 22 per cent were in other buildings and 18 per cent were in road vehicles.

The total number of secondary outdoor fires in Scotland increased by 15 per cent compared to the previous year (from 14,276 in 2012-13 to 16,359 in 2013-14). The largest contributing factor to this increase was a 75 per cent rise in the number of grassland fires, from 3,476 in 2012-13 to 6,087 in 2013-14. The number of secondary fires has fallen over the last ten years although there has been some fluctuation during this period.

The number of secondary fires in England^[1] and Wales^[2] also increased between 2012-13 and 2013-14 (by 27 per cent and 32 per cent respectively), suggesting the increase may be related to changes in weather across Great Britain. It is not yet possible to tell whether the increase in 2013-14 is a fluctuation or part of an upward trend.

The number of chimney fires decreased by 21 per cent compared to the previous year, from 1,375 in 2012-13 to 1,091 in 2013-14. There has not been a consistent trend to the change in the number of chimney fires over the last ten years, although this year's figure is 26 per cent lower than that in 2004-05 (1,474).

Chart 2 - Fires by location, Scotland 2004-05 to 2013-14 ¹

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

The Local Authorities with the highest rates of fires per 100,000 population were West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Glasgow City, East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire. Over 700 fires per 100,000 population occurred in each of these Local Authorities, compared to the national average of 525. The Local Authorities with the lowest rates of fires per 100,000 population were Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and Perth and Kinross, each with less than 300 fires per 100,000 population.

4.1.3 Building fires (Tables 3b, 8 and 8a)

'Building fires' are primary fires which take place in dwellings or 'other buildings'. They exclude any fires in buildings which were derelict.

The SFRS attended 5,330 dwelling fires in 2013-14, a decrease of 9 per cent compared to the previous year and the lowest figure in the last 10 years. The number of dwelling fires is of particular importance as they are the biggest cause of fire casualties (87 per cent in the last ten years).

The SFRS attended 2,350 'other building' fires in 2013-14, a decrease of 2 per cent compared to the previous year. Of these, the highest proportion (19 per cent) were in 'other residential' buildings, 15 per cent were in 'private garages, sheds, etc.' and around 10 per cent were in each of 'industrial' and 'retail' buildings.

The rate of dwelling fires per 100,000 dwellings^[3] has been used to compare dwelling fire numbers across Local Authorities. The Local Authority with the highest rate of dwelling fires per 100,000 dwellings was Renfrewshire (314 per 100,000 dwellings), closely followed by Glasgow City (304 per 100,000 dwellings). Across Scotland there were 211 dwelling fires per 100,000 dwellings.

4.1.4 Outdoor fires (Tables 9 and 9a, Charts 3 and 4)

Outdoor fires accounted for almost 70 per cent of all fires in Scotland in 2013-14. An outdoor fire is a secondary fire unless it involves casualties, rescues, loss of property, or if it is attended by five or more appliances, in which case it is primary. Of the total 19,208 outdoor fires in Scotland in 2013-14, the majority were secondary (16,359 or 85 per cent).

The total number of secondary outdoor fires in Scotland increased by 15 per cent compared to the previous year (from 14,276 in 2012-13 to 16,359 in 2013-14). The largest contributing factor to this was a 75 per cent rise in the number of grassland fires, from 3,476 in 2012-13 to 6,087 in 2013-14. Whilst grassland fires accounted for 24 per cent of secondary outdoor fires in 2012-13, this rose to 37 per cent in 2013-14 (Chart 3).

Chart 3 - Secondary fires by location¹, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Notes:

1 - There has been a change in the recording of secondary fires - see section 6.5.3 iii for details

2 - Ten year trend data for secondary fires has been affected by changes in the recording as a result of the introduction of the IRS (see section 6.5.3).

As in each of the last five years, refuse fires accounted for the largest proportion of secondary outdoor fires (46 per cent or 7,555 fires). The number of refuse fires in 2013-14 was 5 per cent lower than the previous year (7,946), continuing the downward trend of the last five years (Chart 4). Of the total refuse fires, over 90 per cent were 'small rubbish container' or 'loose refuse' fires and the remaining 9 per cent were 'large rubbish container' fires (e.g. skips and communal bin areas).

Part of the decreasing trend in refuse fires is likely to be a result of fire prevention activity undertaken by the SFRS and the 8 predecessor FRSs. Prevention activity aimed at reducing the risk of refuse fires includes running campaigns to raise awareness and working in partnership with Local Authorities to ensure the uplift of unsafe waste material.

The Local Authority with the highest rate of secondary outdoor fires was East Ayrshire, with 566 secondary fires per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 307. The only other Local Authorities to have over 500 secondary outdoor fires per 100,000 population were Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire. In each of these Local Authorities the rate of grassland fires was almost or more than twice the national average (219 grassland fires per 100,000 population or higher, compared to the national average of 114 per 100,000 population).

Chart 4 shows secondary fires by month over the last five years.

Chart 4 - Secondary fires by month, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - This is taken from 'Additional Datasets - Trends -Monthly trend data' published alongside this publication .

In April 2013 there were 3,468 secondary fires, one fifth of all fires in 2013-14 and the second highest monthly total in the last five years (the highest being 4,275 in April 2009). Of the total secondary fires in April 2013, over two thirds (68 per cent or 2,357 fires) were grassland fires, compared to 34 per cent (577 fires) in April 2012.

Across the last five years, there have tended to be more grassland fires in April than in any other month. Grassland fires include 'muirburn', the controlled burning of moorland for agricultural purposes, permitted between October and April each year. Muirburn activity can increase in the run up to the April deadline, particularly if conditions have been unusually wet in the preceding weeks/months. Met Office data^[4] shows that February and March 2013 were relatively dry compared to previous years, so it is possible that there was sufficient dry fuel for more grassland fires to get out of control. Further analysis would be required to fully understand the high number of grassland fires in April 2013.

Primary outdoor fires accounted for one in ten fires attended by the SFRS in 2013-14. There was almost no change in the number of primary outdoor fires in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13 (2,849 and 2,848 fires respectively). Road vehicle fires accounted for the majority (68 per cent) of all outdoor primary fires, the same as in each of the last ten years. Of the 1,936 road vehicle fires in 2013-14, just over half (51 per cent) occurred in cars (not abandoned), a further third (33 per cent) occurred in other types of road vehicles and the remainder (16 per cent) were in abandoned vehicles (cars or other road vehicles).

The Local Authorities with the highest rate of primary outdoor fires were West Lothian and West Dunbartonshire, with rates of 81 and 73 primary outdoor fires per 100,000 population respectively. Across Scotland there were 54 primary outdoor fires per 100,000 population. Road vehicle fires in Edinburgh and Glasgow City accounted for almost a quarter of all road vehicle fires in Scotland.

4.2 Casualties in fires

Casualties from fire are split into 2 categories: fatal and non-fatal.

• A fatal casualty is where a person's death is attributed to a fire, even if the death did not occur at the time of the incident.
  
• Non-fatal casualties consist of persons who:

- were given first aid at the scene of the fire

- were taken to hospital to see a doctor for injuries (either serious or slight )

- have no obvious injury but were advised to see a doctor as a precaution, whether or not they actually did.

All casualty data is provisional and subject to revision, for example after fire investigations or medical reports. Please see section 6.3 for more details of the revision policy.

4.2.1 Fatal casualties from fires (Tables 2, 2a, 3 & 3a, Chart 5)

In 2013-14 there were provisionally 33 fatal casualties from primary fires in Scotland, a decrease of 13 (28 per cent) from the 2012-13 figure of 46. The provisional figure for the total fatal casualties from primary fires in 2013-14 is the lowest for more than twenty years. Whilst the number of fire deaths is prone to fluctuation, the latest figure continues the long-term downward trend in fire fatalities.

Chart 5 - Number of fatal casualties, Scotland, 1990 - 2013-14

1 - Since 2008-09, data in this publication has been reported in financial years rather than calendar years. . See section 6.2.3.

2 - This is taken from 'Additional Datasets - Trends - Key Scottish Fire Statistics' published alongside this publication .

4.2.2 Fatal casualties by location (Tables 2, 2a, 3 & 3a, Charts 6 and 7)

Almost nine in ten fire fatalities in 2013-14 were the result of dwelling fires (29 out of 33 fatal casualties). Of those, 24 were in accidental dwelling fires. Of the four fire fatalities not in dwellings, three were the result of road vehicle fires and one was from an 'other building' fire.

Chart 6 - Fatal casualties from fires, Scotland, 1994-05 to 2013-14¹

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

Accidental dwelling fires are a key focus of the SFRS's fire prevention and protection activity as a result of the serious consequences which can arise from this kind of fire. Prevention measures include conducting Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) to educate the public about how to respond safely in the event of a fire and the fitting of smoke alarms to alert people to a fire should one occur.

There were provisionally 5.1 fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires in Scotland in 2013-14. This means that for every 1,000 accidental dwelling fires, approximately 5 people died. This is the lowest rate in the last ten years.

Chart 7 Fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

4.2.3 Fatality rates by country, gender and age (Tables 10, 11, 11a, 12, 12a, 12b, 13, 13b, 14, 15 and 15b, Charts 8, 9, 10 and 11)

The fire fatality rate used in this section is defined as the number of fatalities from fires per million population.

In 2013-14, the provisional fatal casualty rate in Scotland was 6.2 fatalities per million population. This was the lowest rate in Scotland in the last ten years.

The rate of fatal casualties from fires per million population in Scotland was again higher than that in England and Wales (5.1 and 5.5 respectively). Over the last ten years, Scotland has consistently had a higher fire fatality rate than the rest of Great Britain (Chart 8), although fire fatality rates for all three countries were closer this year than in any of the last ten years.

Chart 8 - Rate of fatal fire casualties per million population - Great Britain- 2004-05 to 2013-14

In 2013-14 there were 17 male and 16 female fatal casualties from fires. Last year was the first time in ten years that the number of male fatal casualties did not exceed the number of female fatalities (in 2012-13 there were 23 male and 23 female fatal casualties).

Focusing on fatality rates per million population, fire fatality rates have been higher for men than women in each of the last ten years, although in the last two years the gap has been notably smaller. The 2013-14 rate of fatal casualties per million population for males was 6.6, whereas for females it was 5.8. (Chart 9 - fatal casualties)

Chart 9 - Non-FRS personnel fire fatality rates per million population from primary fires - by gender, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Fire fatality rates for people aged 60 and over are higher than for younger people. In 2013-14, the rate of fatal casualties in the 60 and over age group was 12.7 per million population, more than double the national average (6.2 per million). The fire fatality rate for persons aged 60 and over in 2013-14 was the lowest in the last ten years. Whilst the fire fatality rate for persons aged 60 and over has fluctuated over the last decade, it has remained consistently higher than for any other age group.

The second highest fatality rate was amongst the 30-59 age group, which had 6.9 fatalities per million population and was just above the national average. Fatality rates for victims under 30 have been lower than for those above 30 for nine of the last ten years (Chart 10).

Chart 10 - Non-FRS personnel fire fatality rates per million population from primary fires - by age range, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

4.2.4 Fatal casualties by cause of death (Table 14b, Chart 11 )

The most common cause of death in fires was being overcome by smoke, gas or fumes (13 fatal casualties or almost 40 per cent of the total). Almost a quarter of fire deaths were caused by a combination of burns and being overcome by gas, smoke or fumes (8 fatalities or 24 per cent) and a further 18 per cent (6 fatalities) were due to burns alone (Chart 11).

Chart 11 - Fire fatalities by cause of death, Scotland, 2013-14

Notes

Data is provisional

1- Number in brackets is number of deaths for each cause of death

4.2.5 Non-fatal casualties in fires (Tables 2, 2a, 2b)

Inconsistencies in data recording as a result of the introduction of the IRS in 2009 mean that non-fatal casualty figures from 2009-10 onwards cannot be compared to those from 2008-09 or earlier.

In 2013-14, there were provisionally 1,311 non-fatal fire casualties, around the same figures as the previous year (1,319). The number of non-fatal casualties in fires has fluctuated at an average of 1,319 non-fatal casualties a year for the last five years, although this year's figure is 8 per cent higher than in 2009-10 (1,214).

4.2.6 Non-fatal casualties by location (Tables 2, 2a, 2b, 3, 3a and 12g, Charts 12 and 13)

Almost nine in ten of all non-fatal fire casualties in 2013-14 occurred in dwelling fires (1,141 or 87 per cent). Three in every four non-fatal casualties were in dwelling fires which started accidentally (990 non-fatal casualties).(Chart 12).

Chart 12 - Non-fatal casualties by location, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

Whilst there has been almost no change in the total number of non-fatal fire casualties compared to the previous year, a 5 per cent drop in the total number of primary fires means that the rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 primary fires has increased from 119 to 125 non-fatal casualties per 1,000 primary fires. This continues the upward trend seen since 2009-10 (Chart 13). In particular, the rate of non-fatal casualties in dwelling fires has risen by more than a third from 156 per 1,000 dwelling fires in 2009-10 to 214 in 2013-14.

Chart 13 - Rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 primary fires by location, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

The nature of treatment received by casualties provides further information on the severity of the injury, for example casualties with relatively less severe injuries are more likely to be recommended a precautionary check or be treated with first aid at the scene, whereas those with more serious injuries are more likely to be sent to hospital. Looking at the nature of treatment received by dwelling fire casualties it appears the rise in the rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 dwelling fires is largely due to an increase in the rate of non-fatal casualties receiving first aid at the scene. The rate of non-fatal casualties receiving first aid at the scene (and not being referred for further treatment by SFRS) has risen from 55 per 1,000 dwelling fires in 2009-10 to 95 per 1,000 dwelling fires in 2013-14.

4.2.7 Non-fatal casualty rates by country, gender and age (Tables 10a, 10b, 11, 11a, 12a, 12c, 12d, 13a, 13c, 13d, 14a, 14c, 14d, 15, 15a, 15c and 15d, Charts 14, 15 and 16)

The non-fatal casualty rate used in this section is defined as the number of non-fatal casualties from fires per million population.

In 2013-14, there were 246 non-fatal casualties per million population in Scotland, whereas in England and Wales there were 152 and 203 respectively. Over the last ten years Scotland has had a consistently higher rate than England and Wales, even taking into account the change in reporting of non-fatal casualties from 2009-10 (see section 6.5.2 ii for more details). (Chart 14)

Chart 14 - Rate of non-fatal casualties per million population by country, Great Britain, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - there has been a change in the recording of non-fatal casualties and 2009-10 and beyond can no longer be compared to previous years - see section 6.5.2 ii

2 - In 2013-14 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority were unable to provide complete records meaning the non-fatal casualty rate for England is based on imputed data, to be revised in DCLG's January 2015 Fire Monitor publication

Of the total 1,311 non-fatal casualties in primary fires in 2013-14, 99 per cent were members of the public and 1 per cent (15) were FRS personnel. Non-fatal casualty rates discussed in the remainder of section 4.2.7 exclude FRS personnel casualties.

Males are more likely than females to be injured in a fire and this has been a consistent trend over the last decade. In 2013-14, there were 273 male (non-FRS) non-fatal casualties per million population, whereas the rate for females was 209 (Chart 15).

Chart 15 - non-fatal casualties by gender (excluding FRS personnel), Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - there has been a change in the recording of non-fatal casualties and 2009-10 and beyond can no longer be compared to previous years - see section 6.5.2 ii

Children^[5] are less likely to be injured in fires than older people. In 2013-14, the non-fatal casualty rate for those aged 0-16 was 92 non-fatal casualties per million population, less than half the national average of 243 per million population. People aged 60 and over were most likely to be injured in a fire (268 per million population), although there was relatively little difference compared to the other two adult age groups, those aged 30-59 or 17-29 (263 and 248 non-fatal casualties per million population respectively). Further analysis would be required to explain the difference in non-fatal casualty rates between children and adults. For example, it could be a result of children being involved in less fires in the first place or because they are less likely to be injured in a fire should one occur.

The non-fatal casualty rate for the 60 and over age group increased by 22 per cent in the four years from 2009-10 to 2012-13 (from 256 per million population to 312) but fell this year for the first time since the introduction of the IRS (at the start of 2009-10). The non-fatal casualty rate for the 17-29 age group has been falling steadily since 2010-11 (from 311 per million population in 2010-11 to 248 in 2013-14). (Chart 16).

Chart 16 - Non-fatal casualties by age group (excluding FRS personnel), Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - there has been a change in the recording of non-fatal casualties and 2009-10 and beyond can no longer be compared to previous years - see section 6.5.2 ii

2 - This excludes FRS personnel (1 per cent of all non-fatal casualties) and casualties whose age was not known. See Tables 12c and 12d.

4.2.8 Nature of treatment and injury (Tables 12c, 12d, 12e and 18a, Chart 17)

For all non-fatal casualties, the severity of the injury (the nature of treatment received) is categorised within IRS as either:

• precautionary check recommended (generally least severe);
• first aid at scene;
• hospital - slight injuries; or
• hospital - severe injuries (generally most severe).

Of the total (non-FRS) non-fatal casualties, 18 per cent were recommended precautionary checks (234 non-fatal casualties), 43 per cent were given first aid at the scene (552 non-fatal casualties), 34 per cent were sent to hospital with slight injuries (435 non-fatal casualties) and 6 per cent (75 non-fatal casualties) went to hospital with serious injuries. The proportion of non-fatal casualties given first aid at the scene has risen by eight percentage points since 2009-10 (from 34 per cent in 2009-10 to 42 per cent in 2013-14). Further analysis would be required to determine whether this is because of an increase in the number of non-fatal casualties in fires in need of this type of treatment or because fire personnel at the scene of a fire have become more confident or better equipped to administer it. (Chart 17).

Chart 17 - Non-fatal casualties in fires by severity of injury, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Being overcome by smoke, gas or fumes was the most common cause of injury for (non-FRS) non-fatal casualties, accounting for almost half of all non-fatal casualties in 2013-14 (46 per cent or 596). The next most common 'cause' of injury was precautionary checks at 18 per cent (234), followed by burns at just under 10 per cent (126 non-fatal casualties).

The Local Authority with the highest rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 primary fires was Midlothian at 230, compared to the national average of 125. Two thirds of all non-fatal casualties in Midlothian were treated with first aid at the scene, compared to 42 per cent of non-fatal casualties nationally^[6].

4.2.9 Rescues from fires (Tables 16, 16a and 16b)

The majority of rescues from fires are performed by SFRS personnel, but rescues can also be carried out by other people. In 2013-14, a total of 728 rescues were carried out. Three in five rescues involved a person who was also a casualty (454 out of 728).

The 30-59 age group had the highest rate of rescues at 152 per million population, compared to the national average of 137 per million population. The lowest rate of rescues belonged to the 0-16 age group at 46 per million population.

4.3 Deliberate and accidental fires (Tables 17, 18, 19 and 19a, Chart 18)

This section looks at the 'motive' of fires, in particular whether they were caused accidentally or deliberately. Accidental fires are defined as fires which were ignited by accident, or where the cause of the fire was not known. Deliberate fires are defined as fires which were ignited deliberately or the Fire and Rescue Service suspect they were started deliberately.

Secondary fires have consistently had a much higher proportion of deliberate fires than primary. In 2013-14, there were 13,443 deliberate secondary fires (82 per cent) compared to 2,916 accidental secondary fires (18 per cent). In contrast, around three quarters (76 per cent or 7,952 fires) of all primary fires in 2013-14 were reported to be accidental, with the remaining 24 per cent (2,577 fires) considered to be deliberate (Chart 18).

Chart 18 - Fires by type and motive, Scotland, 2013-14

Notes

Figures are provisional

4.3.1 Primary fires by motive (Tables 3a, 3b, 17, 17a and 18, Charts 19 and 20)

The most common location for an accidental primary fire in 2013-14 was in a dwelling (59 per cent). There was a decrease of 6 per cent in the number of accidental dwelling fires in 2013-14 (4,681 fires) compared to the previous year (5,003 fires), continuing the downward trend of the last ten years. Accidental dwelling fires are at their lowest level in the last decade.

Chart 19 - Dwelling fires by motive, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

The most common location for a deliberate primary fire was a road vehicle, the same as in nine of of the last ten years. Road vehicle fires accounted for 30 per cent of all deliberate primary fires in 2013-14 (768 fires), with dwellings and 'other building' fires accounting for around 25 per cent each (649 and 635 fires respectively). The number of deliberate dwelling fires in Scotland in 2013-14 reduced by 22 per cent compared to 2012-13, continuing the downward trend of the last decade.

Any fire which results in a fatal or non-fatal casualty is a primary fire. Fatal casualties in accidental fires are at their lowest in ten years. Provisionally there were 27 fatal casualties in accidental fires in 2013-14, 24 of which occurred in dwellings. Of the 6 fatalities which resulted from deliberate fires, 5 occurred in dwellings.

There were provisionally 1,122 non-fatal casualties in accidental fires (86 per cent of all non-fatal casualties) and 189 (14 per cent) in deliberate fires in 2013-14. The majority of non-fatal casualties in both accidental and deliberate fires occurred in dwellings (88 per cent and 80 per cent respectively). Between 2012-13 and 2013-14 the rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires increased by 4 per cent from 203 to 211 per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires. There was also an increase in the rate of non-fatal casualties in deliberate dwelling fires, rising by 27 per cent from 183 to 233 per 1,000 deliberate dwelling fires from 2012-13 to 2013-14 (Chart 20).

Chart 20 - Non-fatal casualties per 1,000 dwelling fires by motive, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - primary fire figures from before 2009-10 are based on sample data weighted to (former) Fire and Rescue Service totals

2 - there has been a change in the recording of non-fatal casualties and 2009-10 and beyond can no longer be compared to previous years - see section 6.5.2 ii

The Local Authority with the highest rate of accidental primary fires was Glasgow City, with 201 accidental primary fires per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 149. Glasgow City also had the second highest rate of deliberate primary fires per 100,000 population, with 81 deliberate primary fires per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 48. The Local Authority with the highest rate of deliberate primary fires was West Dunbartonshire, with 101 deliberate primary fires per 100,000 population, more than twice the national average.

The Local Authorities with the highest rates of accidental dwelling fires were Renfrewshire, Dundee City and Glasgow City, which all had over 250 accidental dwelling fires per 100,000 dwellings.

The Local Authority with the highest rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires was Midlothian, with just over 450 non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires, compared to the national average of 211. Whilst Midlothian had a high rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires, 82 per cent of these were either precautionary checks or first-aid only.^[7]

4.3.2 Secondary fires by motive (Tables 19 and 19a)

Compared to the previous year, the number of deliberate secondary fires in 2013-14 rose by 10 per cent, whereas the number of accidental secondary fires rose by 44 per cent. Despite the increase in deliberate secondary fires, the 2013-14 figure is the second lowest in the last five years.

The increase in overall number of deliberate secondary fires was largely due to an increase of over 76 per cent in the number of deliberate grassland fires compared to 2012-13.

The highest proportion of deliberate secondary fires involved refuse (48 per cent), followed by grassland (35 per cent). Within accidental secondary fires, refuse and grassland were also the most common types of fire, accounting for 37 per cent and 48 per cent of the total respectively. Whilst refuse fires accounted for the highest proportion of deliberate secondary fires, the number of deliberate refuse fires in 2013-14 (6,490 fires) was 9 per cent lower than in 2012-13 (7,093 fires). In contrast, the number of accidental refuse fires rose by 25 per cent from 853 in 2012-13 to 1,065 in 2013-14.

The Local Authorities with the highest rate of deliberate secondary fires were West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, Inverclyde and North Lanarkshire, all with over 500 deliberate secondary fires per 100,000 population compared to the national average of 252.

4.4 Cause and source of ignition of fires (Tables 21, 21a, 22, 23, 24, 24a and 24b, Chart 21)

When a fire occurs there is a cause and a source of ignition. The cause of the fire is the physical cause or action which led to the fire and the source of ignition is the source of the flame, spark or heat which first ignited the fire. For example, if a pan of fat is being heated on a cooker and ignites into a fire, the cause of the fire would be the action of cooking and the source of ignition would be the cooker itself - if the cooker had not been on in this example there would have been no fire, as there would have been no heat source to create the ignition.

Of the 5,330 dwelling fires in 2013-14, the most common cause was 'misuse of equipment or appliance' (41 per cent) followed by 'deliberate' (12 per cent). Deliberate dwelling fires were at a ten year low in 2013-14, continuing the general downward trend (Chart 21).

In other building fires (not in dwellings), the most common cause was 'deliberate' at 27 per cent, followed by 'faulty appliances and leads' at 17 per cent.

Chart 21 - Main cause of dwelling fires, 2004-05 to 2013-14, Scotland

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

1 - before 2009-10, figures for primary fires are based on sample data weighted to Fire and Rescue Service totals

2 - Under IRS, the category for "Misuse of equipment or appliances" includes incidents which have been recorded as "Other cooking" (a new category introduced with IRS). It is believed that the majority of these incidents were previously recorded as the misuse of cooking appliances.

In 2013-14, the most common source of ignition in accidental dwelling fires was a cooker (including oven). Cookers were responsible for around 2 in 5 of all accidental dwelling fires (1,836 fires or 39 per cent of all accidental dwelling fires).

Table A: Top ten sources of ignition in accidental dwelling fires, 2013-14, Scotland

Source of ignition	Number p	Percentage
Cooking appliance - Cooker incl. oven	1,836	39 per cent
Cooking appliance - Grill/Toaster	444	9 per cent
Electricity supply - Wiring, cabling, plugs	378	8 per cent
Smoking related - Smoking materials	328	7 per cent
Cooking appliance - Ring/hot plate (separate appliance)	306	7 per cent
Cooking appliance - Microwave oven	204	4 per cent
Not known/other	169	4 per cent
Heating equipment - Heating/Fire	117	2 per cent
Candles	99	2 per cent
Other domestic style appliance - Washing machine	82	2 per cent

p-provisional

Although the total number of accidental dwelling fires has decreased in the last five years, the top ten sources of ignition has remained relatively constant over the same period. In the last five years, cooking appliances (ovens, grills, microwaves etc.) have been the source of ignition for around three in every five accidental dwelling fires. Of those, "cooker (including oven)" was the specific source of ignition in around two thirds of cases. Whilst the number of accidental dwelling fires where any cooking appliance was the source of ignition has decreased by 12 per cent since 2009-10, the number of accidental dwelling fires where a microwave was the source of ignition has increased by 26 per cent (from 162 in 2009-10 to 204 in 2013-14).

A new standard for cigarettes was been created in the United Kingdom. On 31 December 2010, the British Standards Institution (BSI) published standard BS EN 16156 ("Cigarettes - Assessment of the ignition propensity - safety requirement"), based on the European standard created earlier that year. From 17 November 2011, all cigarettes manufactured in Europe had to meet these new EU safety standards.

As a result of the EU standard, cigarette paper manufacturers changed their paper production to insert two rings of thicker paper at two points along the cigarette. If the cigarette is left unattended, the burning tobacco will hit one of these rings and should then self-extinguish as the ring restricts the oxygen supply, thus creating a cigarette with a reduced ignition propensity (RIP).

RIP cigarettes were introduced in Scotland in the second half of 2011-12. The figures for 2013-14 are the second complete financial year of reporting with this new standard.

In each of the last five years 'smoking materials', which includes cigarettes, have been recorded as the source of ignition for 7 per cent of accidental dwelling fires. The number of accidental dwelling fires for which smoking materials were the source of ignition was fairly constant for the three years up to and including when the new standard was introduced (2011-12), at around 380 accidental dwelling fires per year. Following the introduction of the new standard, the number of accidental dwelling fires with source of ignition 'smoking materials' has dropped by an average of 7 per cent each year (from 382 in 2011-12 to 356 in 2012-13 and to 328 in 2013-14).

The introduction of RIP cigarettes may be partly responsible for the decrease in accidental dwelling fires ignited by smoking materials since 2011-12, but there are likely to be other factors involved, such as the long-term decline in the number of smokers in Scotland^[8]. In addition, non-RIP cigarettes may still be sold illegally, meaning cigarettes which do not meet the new standard are still in circulation. As this is only the second full year of the new standard being in force it is not yet possible to know whether the decrease identified is part of a downward trend, though this will be monitored in future.

In 2013-14, 58 per cent of fatal casualties in accidental dwelling fires (14 of a total 24) were in fires which arose due to careless handling of fire or hot substances. Smokers' materials and matches were the main source of ignition in 58 per cent of accidental dwelling fire fatalities (14 of 24 fatal casualties).

Misuse of equipment or appliances was the main cause of accidental dwelling fires where non-fatal casualties occurred (35 per cent or 342 non-fatal casualties). The main source of ignition was cooking appliances, accounting for around three in five non-fatal casualties (59 per cent or 583 non-fatal casualties).

4.5 Smoke alarms (Tables 20, 20a and 20b, Chart 22)

This section looks at fires in dwellings and the effectiveness of smoke alarms. Any fires involving smoke alarms where no emergency call was made to the SFRS would not be recorded in the data. If a smoke alarm is present and working correctly it will provide the occupier with an early warning of fire or smoke, making it less likely that the SFRS will be called. As a result, the figures reported may understate the effectiveness of smoke alarms.

In almost half of all primary dwelling fires in 2013-14 there was a smoke alarm present that operated and raised the alarm (2,481 or 47 per cent). In around three in ten dwelling fires, no smoke alarm was present (1,527 fires or 29 per cent). (Chart 22)

Chart 22 - Primary fires in dwellings by smoke alarm presence and operation, Scotland - 2013-14

Note

1 - Data is provisional

2 - The presence of smoke alarms was reported in FDR1 data but a new category was added when the Incident Recording System was introduced - 'Don't know if smoke alarm was present' (see section 6.5.3 iv and v) - thus slightly affecting the comparability of these statistics prior to 2009-10.

In around one in five dwelling fires where a smoke alarm was present (3,722 fires), the smoke alarm failed to operate (774 fires). The most common reason for an alarm failing to operate was that the fire was not close enough to the alarm (48 per cent), was not in an area covered by the detector (9 per cent) or the alarm battery was defective (9 per cent).

In 2013-14, almost half of all fatal casualties in dwelling fires occurred where there was a smoke alarm present which either did not operate or operated but failed to raise the alarm (14 out of 29 fatal casualties).

One in ten fatal casualties in dwelling fires occurred where there was no smoke alarm present (3 fatal casualties or 10 per cent). Around three in ten non-fatal casualties in dwelling fires occurred where no smoke alarm was present (330 non-fatal casualties or 29 per cent).

4.6 Alcohol and drugs (Table 24, 24a, 24b and 24c, Chart 23)

Since the introduction of IRS in 2009, fire and rescue services have been asked to record whether impairment due to alcohol/drugs was a contributory factor in a fire. In 2013-14, impairment due to alcohol and /or drugs was suspected to be a contributory factor in 15 per cent (716) of accidental dwelling fires. This is similar to the level in 2012-13 (16 per cent or 778 fires). Whilst there was little change in the proportion of accidental dwelling fires where impairment due to alcohol and /or drugs was suspected to be a contributory factor, there was an 8 per cent drop in the total number of incidents of this type.

It should be noted that if alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to have been a contributory factor in a fire, this does not necessarily mean that casualties were under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Impairment due to alcohol/drugs was believed to be a factor in a quarter (6 out of 24) of all fatal casualties in accidental dwelling fires. For a further 13 of the 24 fatal casualties in accidental dwelling fires (54 per cent) it was not known whether alcohol/drugs was a contributing factor, leaving 5 out of 24 fatal casualties (21 per cent of the total) where impairment due to alcohol/drugs could be ruled out.

In 2013-14 impairment due to alcohol/drugs was believed to be a contributory factor in just over a third (34 per cent or 340) of all non-fatal casualties in accidental dwelling fires. This was 7 percentage points higher than the year before and the second highest value in the last five years.

Figures for 2013-14 show that there were three times as many non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires where alcohol/drugs were believed to be a contributory factor (475 per 1,000 fires), compared to fires where alcohol/drugs were ruled out (151 per 1,000). (Chart 23)

Chart 23 - Rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 accidental dwelling fires by alcohol/drugs as a contributory factor, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Aside from the Shetland Islands, where impairment due to alcohol/drugs was thought to be an influencing factor in 4 out of 12 accidental dwelling fires (33 per cent), the only other Local Authorities where alcohol/drugs were thought to have been a contributory factor in more than a fifth of accidental dwelling fires were Dundee City, Inverclyde, Falkirk, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.

4.7 False alarms (Tables 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 5 and 5a, Charts 24 and 25)

A false alarm is an event in which the SFRS believe they have been called to a reportable incident and then find there is no incident. False alarms are categorised as follows:

Malicious: calls made with the intention of getting the SFRS to attend a non-existent incident, including deliberate and suspected malicious intent;
Good intent: calls made in good faith in the belief that the SFRS really would be attending a fire or a special service; or
Due to apparatus: calls initiated by fire alarm and/or fire-fighting equipment (including accidental initiation of alarm apparatus by persons).

In 2013-14, false alarms accounted for 56 per cent of all incidents attended by the SFRS, more than any other incident type. Of the total 47,719 false alarms attended, 99 per cent were fire false alarms (47,187) and the other 1 per cent were special service false alarms (532). (Chart 24)

Chart 24 - Incidents attended by type, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

The total number of fire false alarms has decreased by 12 per cent over the last decade (from 53,842 in 2004-05 to 47,187 in 2013-14), with the 2013-14 figure being the lowest in the last ten years. The number of fire false alarms due to malicious calls and good intent have fallen since the start of the last decade (by 61 and 33 per cent respectively). The number of fire false alarms due to apparatus increased from the beginning until the middle of the last decade (by 11 per cent between 2004-05 to 2008-09) but has remained relatively constant for the last four years, settling at 5 per cent higher than its value in 2004-05. (Chart 25). The more fire alarms which are fitted, the more alarms are in operation which could go off. This means that the overall increase in false alarms due to apparatus may in part reflect an increase in the number of alarms fitted in Scotland, though further analysis is required to explore this further.

Chart 25 - Fire false alarms by type, Scotland, 2004-05 to 2013-14

Three in every four fire false alarms in 2013-14 were due to apparatus (35,207 false alarms or 75 per cent). False alarms due to apparatus can be cause by a range of factors, such as cooking, problems with safety systems and contaminants getting into the system. Of the total number of fire false alarms due to apparatus, the majority were in buildings other than dwellings (70 per cent or 24,527 false alarms), and the remaining 30 per cent occurred in dwellings (10,628).

There were 9,615 fire false alarms with good intent in 2013-14, equal to 1 in 5 of the total. The highest proportion of fire false alarms with good intent occurred in dwellings (38 per cent or 3,644).

Whilst malicious fire false alarms accounted for 11 per cent (6,050) of all fire false alarms in 2004-05, they accounted for 5 per cent (2,365) in 2013-14. SFRS activity which may have contributed to this reduction includes challenging callers making these type of calls and community youth engagement.

The Local Authority with the highest rate of fire false alarms was Dundee City, with 1,490 per 100,000 population in 2013-14, compared to the national average of 886. Of the total 2,207 fire false alarms in Dundee City, 83 per cent were due to apparatus, compared to the national average of 75 per cent. The Local Authorities with the lowest rates of fire false alarms were Aberdeenshire and Dumfries and Galloway, each with just over 360 fire false alarms per 100,000 population. In each case, the rate of fire false alarms due to apparatus was less than half the national average.

Of the 532 special service false alarms reported in 2013-14, nearly all were raised with good intent (97 per cent or 517 false alarms).

4.8 Special service incidents and casualties (Tables 6, 6a, 6b, 6c , 6d and 7, Charts 24 , 26 and 27)

Special service incidents are those attended by the SFRS that are not fire related, for example road traffic collisions and flooding incidents. Special service data was not collected nationally prior to the introduction of IRS, meaning analysis is only possible for 2009-10 onwards.

Special service incidents accounted for just over one in ten incidents (11 per cent) attended by the SFRS in 2013-14 (Chart 24). This proportion has remained relatively constant for the last 5 years.

The total number of special service incidents attended by the SFRS has decreased by 20 per cent in the last five years, although there was little change between 2012-13 (9,158 incidents) and 2013-14 (9,148). (Chart 26).

Chart 26 - Special service incidents by type, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) where a fire did not occur, were the most common type of special service incident in 2013-14, accounting for around a quarter of all incidents (23 per cent or 2,136 incidents). The next most frequently occurring types of special service incident were 'effecting entry or exit' and flooding, each at 12 per cent (1,073 and 1,056 respectively). Examples of 'effecting entry or exit' are where a person is locked out and a child is left in the house unattended (forced entry) or a person is locked in a room due to a defective lock (forced exit).

In just over half of all RTCs in Scotland in 2013-14, the SFRS attended to make the vehicle safe or make scene safe (1,155 or 54 per cent). A further 25 per cent of RTC incidents required extrication of persons from vehicles (532).

The number of flooding incidents in 2013-14 decreased by 22 per cent compared to the previous year (from 1,351 to 1,056). This decrease was largely due to the number of "pumping out" incidents being half the 2012-13 figure. Pumping out is a type of flooding incident where the fire and rescue service use a pump to clear standing water.

The number of 'effecting entry or exit' incidents increased by 22 per cent or 190 incidents from 2012-13 to 2013-14. The proportion of special service incidents of this type has increased from 7 per cent in 2009-10 to 12 per cent in 2013-14.

More casualties are associated with special service incidents than fire incidents. Provisional figures for 2013-14 report a total of 226 fatal casualties and 2,666 non-fatal casualties from special service incidents. RTCs accounted for around half of all fatal casualties in special service incidents (49 per cent or 110 fatal casualties) and 71 per cent of non-fatal casualties (1,880).

The rate of fatal casualties per 1,000 special service incidents was fairly constant from 2009-10, when national reporting commenced, until 2012-13. In 2013-14 the rate increased to 25 fatal casualties per 1,000 incidents in 2013-14, compared to the average of the previous four years of 21 (Chart 27).

Chart 27 - Fatal and non-fatal casualties per 1,000 special service incidents, Scotland, 2009-10 to 2013-14

Notes

p - provisional

r - revised

The rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 special service incidents has gradually increased over the last four years, from 228 per 1,000 incidents in 2010-11 to 291 in 2013-14. There are a number of possible explanations for this, including improvements in the accuracy of recording of special service casualties over time, or changes in the severity of incidents attended. Further analysis is required to determine the underlying reason(s) for this change.

The Local Authorities with the highest rates of special service incidents were Aberdeen City and Argyll and Bute, with 260 and 250 special service incidents per 100,000 population respectively, compared to the national average of 172. Lift release incidents accounted for 27 per cent (160 incidents) of all special service incidents in Aberdeen City, compared to 7 per cent (666 incidents) across Scotland. The Local Authorities with the highest rates of RTC incidents were Highland and Argyll and Bute at 91 and 89 RTC incidents per 100,000 population respectively, more than double the national average (40 per 100,000 population). Based on Transport Scotland data for 2012^[9], 14 per cent of Scotland's road network was situated in Highland, but only 4 per cent of the population^[10]. The rate of flooding incidents in Argyll and Bute was also almost double the national average (39 per 100,000 population compared to 20).

It should be noted that there are other statistical reports of RTC casualties and fatalities in Scotland. Transport Scotland publish 'Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2013, which is the official source of information for RTCs reported to Police Scotland. In that publication, there were 172 fatalities and 11,326 injuries (serious and slight combined)^[11] reported for 2013, an overall reduction of 10 per cent compared to the previous year and continuing the longer term downward trend. Since the SFRS only attend RTCs where they are required, the number of RTC casualties reported to Police Scotland will be higher than those reported here. SFRS RTC casualty figures reported here are a subset of the police figures, representing SFRS activity.

4.9 Spread of fire and number of appliances attending fires (Tables 25, 26 and 26a)

In order to assess the extent of damage caused by a fire, fire and rescue personnel are asked to record whether a fire incident resulted in 'smoke and/or heat damage only' or, if there was a flame, how far the flame spread. The category 'smoke and/or heat damage only' was not available for use prior to the introduction of new IRS in April 2009, meaning trend data is only available from 2009-10 onwards (see section 6.5.3 vi for details).

In 2013-14, there was smoke and/or heat damage only (no flames) in 46 per cent of dwelling fires (2,449). For a further 25 per cent of dwelling fires (1,332), the fire was 'confined to the item first ignited', as opposed to spreading to other parts of the room or building. The proportion of dwelling fires where flames were reported and the fire was confined to the first item ignited has risen from 39 per cent in 2009-10 to 46 per cent in 2013-14.

In 2013-14, the majority of primary fires were attended by no more than two appliances (78 per cent) and two per cent required more than 5 appliances (159 fires). There were 159 primary fires in Scotland that required more than 5 appliances (2 per cent of all primary fires). The Local Authorities which had the highest proportion of primary fires attended by 3 or more appliances were Aberdeen City and Glasgow City, where over 40 per cent of primary fires were attended by 3 or more appliances (compared to 22 per cent across Scotland).

As in each of the last five years, the majority of secondary fires in 2013-14 were attended by 1 appliance (86 per cent). The largest proportion (46 per cent) of secondary fires were outdoor refuse fires. Moray was the only Local Authority to send 3-5 appliances to more than 1 in 10 secondary fires (10 per cent). Around two thirds (66 per cent) of secondary fires in Moray were grassland fires, compared to the national average of 37 per cent

As in each of the last five years, the majority of secondary fires in 2013-14 were attended by one appliance (86 per cent). The largest proportion (46 per cent) of secondary fires were outdoor refuse fires.

4.10 Fire call-outs by time of day (Tables 27, 27a and 28, Charts 28 and 29)

In 2013-14 the number of call-outs to primary fires generally peaked between early and late evening (5 pm to 9 pm). On average there were almost twice as many hourly call-outs to primary fires during this timeslot compared to the rest of the day (716 incidents per hour per year compared to 383). For the second year running, Scotland's busiest hour for call-outs to primary fires was between 5 and 6 pm (776 or 7 per cent of all primary fires). (Chart 28)

Chart 28 - Primary fires by location and time of call-out, Scotland, 2013-14

Notes

1 - Data is provisional

The overall pattern of call-outs to primary fires is driven by dwelling fires, with over a third of all call-outs to dwelling fires taking place between 4 pm and 9 pm. Other building fires were more evenly distributed throughout the day, although activity generally peaked between midday and 2 pm and again from 6 pm to 9 pm. Primary outdoor fires generally occurred during the second half of the day (between 2 pm and 2 am), with around two thirds of primary outdoor fires taking place between these hours.

Whilst the number of dwelling fires per hour was greater in the evening (4pm to 9pm), the rate of casualties per 1,000 dwelling fires was highest in the early hours of the morning (midnight to 5am), peaking at 513 per 1,000 dwelling fires between 3am and 4am. (Chart 29)

Between midnight and 5 am the rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 dwelling fires was just over double that during the rest of the day. This means that fires occurring between midnight and 5 am had twice as many casualties as those occurring outside of these hours.

Chart 29 - Number of primary dwelling fires and rate of non-fatal casualties per 1,000 primary dwelling fires by time of call-out Scotland, 2013-14

Notes

1 - Data is provisional