Dwellings (Fire Statistics) (Hansard, 16 February 1983)

§ Mr. Cartwright
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the data for (a) deaths and (b) casualties from 1978 to 1981 from fire in singly occupied dwellings, multiply occupied dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and multiply occupied dwellings in other buildings according to whether the person dying was (i) aged (1) under 16 years, (2) 16 to 60 years, female, (3) 16 to 60 years, male, (4) 16 to 60 years, brigade, (5) over 60 years, female and (6) over 60 years, male; and (ii) was trapped by fire, smoke or the collapse of the structure.

§ Mr.Mellor
Some information on the age and sex of casualties from fires in dwellings in single and multiple occupation is published annually in "Fire Statistics, United Kingdom"—for example, table 21 of the issue for 1981, published today. The following table presents information about the circumstances of these casualties for the groups requested.
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^*Casualties occurring while discovering or fighting a fire may also have been trapped; if so, they are included in this table as trapped. The total numbers of casualties trapped thus exceed the figures published in Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, where such casualties are recorded as occurring while discovering or fighting the fire, rather than while trapped.
†The indicated figures include estimates for periods of incomplete reporting in 1978 resulting from industrial action. The remaining figures do not include such estimates.

Casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling, age, sex and whether trapped^*

United Kingdom Number of persons

1980† 1981

non-fatal fatal non-fatal fatal

total trapped total trapped total trapped total trapped

Dwellings in single occupation

Total casualties 3,463 1,003 533 343 3,755 1,127 496 340

0–15 years 590 333 97 94 647 402 72 69

16–59 years, fire brigade 160 2 — — 181 4 1 —

16–59 years, other male 948 227 65 41 1,067 245 75 58

16–59 years, female 807 216 78 53 846 232 68 49

60 years or over, male 378 91 102 59 427 105 108 73

60 years or over, female 517 120 186 92 532 126 170 90

unspecified or unallocated 63 14 5 4 55 13 2 1

Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses in multiple occupation

Total casualties 971 413 149 110 1,111 495 138 97

0–15 years 103 72 27 25 134 95 12 12

16–59 years, fire brigade 54 — — — 61 5 — —

16–59 years, other male 293 124 33 29 338 140 29 20

16–59 years, female 227 113 19 13 257 118 25 17

60 years or over, male 114 46 29 19 131 68 29 23

60 years or over, female 137 44 39 22 167 60 43 25

unspecified 43 14 2 2 23 9 — —

Other dwellings in multiple occupation

Total casualties 1,044 479 118 76 1,357 652 140 90

0–15 years 189 127 13 13 170 134 15 15

16–59 years, fire brigade 47 — — — 88 6 — —

16–59 years, other male 260 119 27 21 384 173 30 21

16–59 years, female 253 117 11 2 295 145 16 10

60 years or over, male 113 48 25 15 139 63 31 17

6-years or over, female 169 62 39 25 253 118 47 27

unspecified 13 6 3 — 28 13 1 —

Casualties in dwellings in multiple occupation of unspecified or unallocated type 2 — 1 1 3 1 1 1

All casualties in dwellings in multiple occupation 2,017 892 268 187 2,471 1,188 279 188

^*Casualties occurring while discovering or fighting a fire may also have been trapped; if so, they are included in this table as trapped. The total numbers of casualties trapped thus exceed the figures published in Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, where such casualties are recorded as occurring while discovering or fighting the fire, rather than while trapped.

† Numbers of casualties occurring during periods of incomplete reporting in 1980 resulting from industrial action were not estimated in detail and are excluded. This is thought to have reduced the figures for 1980 by about 10 per cent.

§ Mr. Cartwright
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) deaths and (b) casualties there were in 1978 to 1981 due to fire in singly occupied dwellings, multiply occupied dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and multiply occupied dwellings in other buildings, analysed by the most likely source of the fire;
(2) how many fires from 1978 to 1981 there were in singly occupied dwellings, multiply occupied dwellings in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses and multiply occupied dwellings in other buildings; and if he will analyse these data by the most likely source of fire.
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§ Mr. Mellor
Some information on fires in dwellings in single and multiple occupation and the resulting casualties is published annually in "Fire Statistics United Kingdom"—for example, table 25 of the issue for 1981, published today. In the latest issue a change has been made in the classification of sources of ignition following the introduction of an additional classification of cause of fire. The following table presents consistent information about sources of ignition on the latest classification for the periods and types of dwelling requested.
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Fires and casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling and source of ignition

United Kingdom Number

Fires Non-fatal casualties Fatal casualties

^*1978 1979 †1980 1981 ^*1978 1979 †1980 1981 ^*1978 1979 †1980 1981

Dwellings in single occupation—total^* 35,049 38,629 33,886 35,230 3,503 3,712 3,463 3,755 473 575 533 496

Source of ignition:

cooking appliances 12,489 14,336 13,120 13,575 1,032 999 1,052 1,077 27 38 32 38

space heating appliances 3,483 4,813 3,461 3,732 550 716 527 633 111 138 102 106

matches‡ 1,926 2,347 2,022 2,102 315 364 317 408 35 48 57 57

other smokers' materials‡ 2,349 2,862 2,528 2,584 461 562 536 575 94 137 107 130

other‡ 10,123 12,046 10,650 11,278 544 692 590 658 71 94 96 69

unspecified or unallocated^*‡ 4,679 2,225 2,105 1,959 601 379 441 404 135 120 139 96

Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses in multiple occupation—total 6,912 7,862 7,272 7,904 832 1,039 971 1,111 119 144 149 138

Source of ignition:

cooking appliances 2,579 2,629 2,566 2,920 173 191 224 310 5 3 8 4

space heating appliances 809 935 740 816 141 171 140 136 26 34 36 28

matches‡ 525 637 682 716 92 75 78 103 9 14 13 18

other smokers' materials‡ 796 945 869 901 159 193 192 216 33 42 36 34

other‡ 1,529 1,848 1,572 1,766 114 163 143 171 10 19 22 18

unspecified‡ 674 868 843 785 153 246 194 175 36 32 34 36

Other dwellings in multiple occupation—total 7,534 9,320 8,382 10,345 850 1,224 1,044 1,357 91 137 118 140

Source of ignition:

cooking appliances 2,714 3,166 2,932 3,607 233 258 246 315 2 6 2 8

space heating appliances 527 678 539 623 89 153 125 141 19 24 21 24

matches‡ 1,354 1,676 1,468 1,975 144 155 110 186 9 9 15 11

other smokers' materials‡ 916 1,135 992 1,254 186 304 270 310 42 58 39 61

other‡ 1,242 1,482 1,280 1,498 118 158 138 214 11 19 15 15

unspecified‡ 781 1,183 1,171 1,388 80 196 155 194 8 21 26 21

Dwellings in multiple occupation of unspecified or unallocated type—total^* 1,384 41 29 25 153 2 2 3 41 1 1 1

All dwellings in multiple occupation^* 15,830 17,223 15,683 18,274 1,835 2,265 2,017 2,471 251 282 268 279

^* The indicated rows include estimates for periods of incomplete reporting in 1978 resulting from industrial action. The remaining detailed figures by type of dwelling do not include such estimates.

† Numbers of fires and casualties occurring during periods of incomplete reporting in 1980 resulting from industrial action were not estimated in detail and are excluded. This is thought to have reduced the figures for 1980 by about 10 per cent.

‡ Figures for 1978 to 1980 in the indicated rows do not agree with those previously published, having been analysed according to a revised classification of sources of ignition introduced in the 1981 statistics.

§ Mr. Cartwright
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, for 1978 to 1981, was the average number of persons at the discovery of the fire (a) in the room of origin and (b) in other parts of the building for fires in singly occupied dwellings, multiply occupied dwellings in detached, semi-detached or terraced houses and multiply occupied dwellings in other buildings.

§ Mr. Mellor
Reliable information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Cartwright
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rescues were made by fire brigades from fires in singly occupied dwellings, multiply occupied dwellings in a detached, semi-detached or terraced house and multiply occupied dwellings in other buildings in each year from 1978 to 1981.

§ Mr. Mellor
The number of persons rescued from fires in occupied buildings by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom is published annually in "Fire Statistics, United Kingdom"—for example, table 33 of the issue for 1981. Information on the type of building is given in the following table.
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Rescues by brigades from fires in occupied buildings by type of building

United Kingdom Number of persons

1978^* 1979 1980^* 1981

Dwellings

Single occupancy 665 863 763 868

Multiple occupancy Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses 415 597 469 556

Other 464 771 618 867

Of unspecified type — 1 3 1

Other occupied buildings 496 601 590 480

All types of building 2,040 2,833 2,443 2,772

^* Excluding rescues during periods of incomplete reporting resulting from industrial action. This is thought to have reduced the figures for both 1978 and 1980 by about 10 per cent.

Casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling, age, sex and whether trapped^*
United Kingdom	Number of persons
	1980†	1981
	non-fatal	fatal	non-fatal	fatal
	total	trapped	total	trapped	total	trapped	total	trapped
Dwellings in single occupation
Total casualties	3,463	1,003	533	343	3,755	1,127	496	340
0–15 years	590	333	97	94	647	402	72	69
16–59 years, fire brigade	160	2	—	—	181	4	1	—
16–59 years, other male	948	227	65	41	1,067	245	75	58
16–59 years, female	807	216	78	53	846	232	68	49
60 years or over, male	378	91	102	59	427	105	108	73
60 years or over, female	517	120	186	92	532	126	170	90
unspecified or unallocated	63	14	5	4	55	13	2	1
Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses in multiple occupation
Total casualties	971	413	149	110	1,111	495	138	97
0–15 years	103	72	27	25	134	95	12	12
16–59 years, fire brigade	54	—	—	—	61	5	—	—
16–59 years, other male	293	124	33	29	338	140	29	20
16–59 years, female	227	113	19	13	257	118	25	17
60 years or over, male	114	46	29	19	131	68	29	23
60 years or over, female	137	44	39	22	167	60	43	25
unspecified	43	14	2	2	23	9	—	—
Other dwellings in multiple occupation
Total casualties	1,044	479	118	76	1,357	652	140	90
0–15 years	189	127	13	13	170	134	15	15
16–59 years, fire brigade	47	—	—	—	88	6	—	—
16–59 years, other male	260	119	27	21	384	173	30	21
16–59 years, female	253	117	11	2	295	145	16	10
60 years or over, male	113	48	25	15	139	63	31	17
6-years or over, female	169	62	39	25	253	118	47	27
unspecified	13	6	3	—	28	13	1	—
Casualties in dwellings in multiple occupation of unspecified or unallocated type	2	—	1	1	3	1	1	1
All casualties in dwellings in multiple occupation	2,017	892	268	187	2,471	1,188	279	188
^*Casualties occurring while discovering or fighting a fire may also have been trapped; if so, they are included in this table as trapped. The total numbers of casualties trapped thus exceed the figures published in Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, where such casualties are recorded as occurring while discovering or fighting the fire, rather than while trapped.
† Numbers of casualties occurring during periods of incomplete reporting in 1980 resulting from industrial action were not estimated in detail and are excluded. This is thought to have reduced the figures for 1980 by about 10 per cent.

Fires and casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling and source of ignition
United Kingdom	Number
	Fires	Non-fatal casualties	Fatal casualties
	^*1978	1979	†1980	1981	^*1978	1979	†1980	1981	^*1978	1979	†1980	1981
Dwellings in single occupation—total^*	35,049	38,629	33,886	35,230	3,503	3,712	3,463	3,755	473	575	533	496
Source of ignition:
cooking appliances	12,489	14,336	13,120	13,575	1,032	999	1,052	1,077	27	38	32	38
space heating appliances	3,483	4,813	3,461	3,732	550	716	527	633	111	138	102	106
matches‡	1,926	2,347	2,022	2,102	315	364	317	408	35	48	57	57
other smokers' materials‡	2,349	2,862	2,528	2,584	461	562	536	575	94	137	107	130
other‡	10,123	12,046	10,650	11,278	544	692	590	658	71	94	96	69
unspecified or unallocated^*‡	4,679	2,225	2,105	1,959	601	379	441	404	135	120	139	96
Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses in multiple occupation—total	6,912	7,862	7,272	7,904	832	1,039	971	1,111	119	144	149	138
Source of ignition:
cooking appliances	2,579	2,629	2,566	2,920	173	191	224	310	5	3	8	4
space heating appliances	809	935	740	816	141	171	140	136	26	34	36	28
matches‡	525	637	682	716	92	75	78	103	9	14	13	18
other smokers' materials‡	796	945	869	901	159	193	192	216	33	42	36	34
other‡	1,529	1,848	1,572	1,766	114	163	143	171	10	19	22	18
unspecified‡	674	868	843	785	153	246	194	175	36	32	34	36
Other dwellings in multiple occupation—total	7,534	9,320	8,382	10,345	850	1,224	1,044	1,357	91	137	118	140
Source of ignition:
cooking appliances	2,714	3,166	2,932	3,607	233	258	246	315	2	6	2	8
space heating appliances	527	678	539	623	89	153	125	141	19	24	21	24
matches‡	1,354	1,676	1,468	1,975	144	155	110	186	9	9	15	11
other smokers' materials‡	916	1,135	992	1,254	186	304	270	310	42	58	39	61
other‡	1,242	1,482	1,280	1,498	118	158	138	214	11	19	15	15
unspecified‡	781	1,183	1,171	1,388	80	196	155	194	8	21	26	21
Dwellings in multiple occupation of unspecified or unallocated type—total^*	1,384	41	29	25	153	2	2	3	41	1	1	1
All dwellings in multiple occupation^*	15,830	17,223	15,683	18,274	1,835	2,265	2,017	2,471	251	282	268	279
^* The indicated rows include estimates for periods of incomplete reporting in 1978 resulting from industrial action. The remaining detailed figures by type of dwelling do not include such estimates.
† Numbers of fires and casualties occurring during periods of incomplete reporting in 1980 resulting from industrial action were not estimated in detail and are excluded. This is thought to have reduced the figures for 1980 by about 10 per cent.
‡ Figures for 1978 to 1980 in the indicated rows do not agree with those previously published, having been analysed according to a revised classification of sources of ignition introduced in the 1981 statistics.

Rescues by brigades from fires in occupied buildings by type of building
United Kingdom	Number of persons
	1978^*	1979	1980^*	1981
Dwellings
Single occupancy	665	863	763	868
Multiple occupancy Detached, semi-detached or terraced houses	415	597	469	556
Other	464	771	618	867
Of unspecified type	—	1	3	1
Other occupied buildings	496	601	590	480
All types of building	2,040	2,833	2,443	2,772
^* Excluding rescues during periods of incomplete reporting resulting from industrial action. This is thought to have reduced the figures for both 1978 and 1980 by about 10 per cent.