§ 36. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of fires in England during the last 12 months; the number which resulted in fatal casualties; and the chief causes of such fires.
§ Mr. EdeThe latest figures which are readily available are those for the year ended 31st December, 1949. During that period 92,879 fires were attended by the local authorities' fire brigades in England and Wales. The number of fatal casualties at these fires was 457. The probable causes have not yet been fully analysed. The indications are that about 20 per cent. of the total number of fires in buildings were due to sparks etc. from fires in open grates, and about 10 per cent. were due to carelessness in the use of smoking materials.
§ Mr. NicholsonDoes the figure of 92,000 include heath and common fires?
§ Mr. EdeThey include all fires. The number was somewhat higher during 1949 owing to the hot summer, which gave rise to an additional number of heath fires.