Statistical Bulletin Crime and Justice Series: Fire Statistics Scotland, 2010-11

2. Main Points

Provisional Data (2010-11)

• In 2010-11, the total number of fires in Scotland was 38,927, this is 1 per cent higher than in 2009-10 (38,731). Primary fires accounted for 34 per cent (13,231) of the total number of fires, 62 per cent (24,162) were secondary fires and 4 per cent (1,534) were chimney fires ( Table 1).
• The number of primary fires in 2010-11 decreased by 6 per cent from 2009-10 (from 14,007 to 13,231). There was a 5 per cent increase in the number of secondary fires in 2010-11 compared to 2009-10 ( Table 1).
• Under half (48 per cent) of primary fires in 2010-11 were in dwellings (6,336). Of these fires, 5,254 were accidental (83 per cent) ( Tables 1 & 3).
• The provisional figure for fatal fire casualties in 2010-11 was 47 - a decrease of 12 (20 per cent) on the revised figure for 2009-10. This is the second lowest figure in ten years ( Table 2).
• There were more males than females who were fatal casualties (33 and 14 respectively) in 2010-11 and 40 per cent of all fatal casualties were 'overcome by smoke, gas or fumes' ( Tables 9 & 9b).
• The provisional number of fatal casualties in dwelling fires in 2010-11 was 40 and 38 of these occurred in accidental dwelling fires. The most common source of ignition for accidental dwelling fires where a fatality occurred was smokers' materials and matches which accounted for 15 (39 per cent) ( Tables 2, 3 & 18).
• Provisionally there were 1,294 non-fatal fire casualties in 2010-11. The main injury was due to being 'overcome by smoke, gas or fumes' (530 non-fatal casualties, 41 per cent). Of the 1,294 non-fatal casualties, 945 occurred in accidental dwelling fires. The most common source of ignition for accidental dwelling fires when a non-fatal casualty occurred was cooking appliances, which accounted for 515 (54 per cent). ( Tables 2, 3 , 9c & 18)
• In 2010-11, the number of accidental dwelling fires was at a ten year low of 5,254. In 16 per cent of these fires (835), impairment due to suspected alcohol and/or drugs use was a contributory factor. There were provisionally 11 fatal casualties and 248 non-fatal casualties (29 per cent, 26 per cent respectively) from this type of fire. ( Table 3, 19 & 19b).
• In 2010-11 the number of special services (non-fire related incidents) attended by Scotland's Fire and Rescue Services was 11,297. Flooding incidents and road traffic collisions were the type of special service incidents most often attended (22 per cent and 21 per cent respectively) ( Table 5).
• The number of false fire alarms attended was 48,752 in 2010-11, 71 per cent of these were due to failure of apparatus. There were 1,304 special service false alarms in 2010-11 ( Tables 4 & 4b).
• There were 25,670 deliberate primary and secondary fires in 2010-11 (69 per cent of all primary and secondary fires). The majority of deliberate fires were secondary fires (21,591 or 89 per cent) ( Tables 13 & 15).
• In 2010-11, there were provisionally 8 fatal casualties (20 per cent) and 346 non-fatal casualties (31 per cent ) were in dwelling fires where a smoke alarm was absent ( Table 16).