§ Sir B. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires have taken place during each of the last five years; whether the fires in domestic houses and flats were ascribed to carelessness or to defective stoves or electrical appliances; and 47W how many children died as a result of such fires.
ENGLAND AND WALES — 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 Number of fires* … 108,114 90,372 222,400 119,684 145,800 Number of fires in houses and flats* … 19,581 20,824 22,840 23,212 25,508 Number of fires in houses and flats— (a) involving solid fuel appliances … 6,666 6,652 6,556 6,276 6,424 (b) involving oil stoves … 1,158 2,032 2,204 2,088 2,220 (c) involving electrical appliances … 3,545 3,800 4,160 4,808 5,772 (d) resulting in the death of children (under 15 years of age)† … 35 26 30 29 34 * These figures show the number of fires attended by fire brigades. † This category excludes deaths from burns arising from personal accidents not attended by fire brigades.