HC Deb 03 December 1975 vol 901 cc585-6W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires involving polymeric materials have been reported for each year since 1965.

Dr. Summerskill

In 1972 and 1973, the only years for which figures are available, the number of fires in the

DEATHS AND RESCUES FROM FIRES ATTENDED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY FIRE BRIGADES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1962–73
Rescues from fires
Year Deaths in fires By Fire Brigade personnel By others Total
1962 667 591 1,129 1,720
1963 818 705 1,277 1,982
1964 681 628 1,300 1,928
1965 703 720 1,448 2,168
1966 780 836 1,370 2,206
1967 779 807 1,447 2,254
1968 865 974 1,831 2,805
1969 861 981 1,651 2,632
1970 839 1,017 1,641 2,658
1971 822 1,056 1,752 2,808
1972 1,078 1,321 1,993 3,314
1973 1,041 1,424 2,258 3,682

The 1974 figures are not yet available.

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the fire at the Central Cold Storage Company, Walsall, on 22nd November, which was estimated as having caused £10 million of damage.

Dr. Summerskill

In the morning of 22nd November the West Midlands fire United Kingdom in which the first ignited material was polymeric was as follows:

1972 1973
Wood, chipboard 8,083 7,704
Hardboard, fibreboard 452 360
Plastics—
foam 57 68
other 1,196 1,368
Textiles (natural) 862 614
Textiles (man-made) 37 30
Materials compounded with oil 301 244
Rubber—
foam 96 68
other 488 526
Paper 5,452 5,810
Fibreglass, GRP, fibre-reinforced plastic 140 132
Foam, unknown whether
plastic or rubber 30 96
Totals 17,194 17,020

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