21/08/2015

Fire Deaths Continue To Fall Report Finds

New figures show that fire deaths in England have continued to fall, with 6% fewer deaths than last year.

This continues a trend that has seen a drop of almost 30% in the last decade. There is also a similar reduction in the number of people injured in fires, which has fallen to less than half the number of casualties in 2004.

The figures also show that last year, fire and rescue services attended 154,700 fires, the second lowest number of fire incidents ever recorded.

Commenting on the figures, Fire Minister Mark Francois said: "People are safer than ever before, with deaths from fires in the home at record lows – thanks to the combined efforts of households, fire and rescue authorities, the government and business.

"It is great news this downward trend in fire fatalities and casualties is continuing but we must not be complacent because one death is a death too many, therefore I urge people to remain vigilant about fire safety and prevention.

"The best way to protect a household from a fire is to install at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and then to test these monthly."

(MH/JP)

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