Fires in London at the lowest level since records began

Increases in the Brigade’s fire safety work has helped blazes in the capital hit their lowest level since records began according to new figures released today.

In 2019 London firefighters attended 17,993 fires, the fewest since the Brigade started calculating data in 1966. The figures also show that fires in the last decade have reduced by 34 per cent. In 2010, crews attended 27,462 blazes.

The Brigade puts the reduction in fires over the last ten years largely down to its integrated and targeted approach to fire safety, with staff delivering key messages to a wide range of different audiences. Community safety work includes going into schools, visiting people’s homes and using social media to get the message across to the public. By changing risky behaviours the Brigade can reduce the number of fires firefighters attend, especially those that result in injuries and deaths.

Increases in community safety interventions since 2010 included:

• The Brigade carried out 15,000 more home fire safety visits last year than in 2010. The visits carried out by crews are completely free and offer life saving advice as well as fitting smoke alarms where needed. Last year the Brigade celebrated the millionth home fire safety visit.
• The Education team saw 19,000 more school children last year than in 2010. The dedicated team deliver fire safety messages in a sensitive and reassuring way so children understand the importance of home fire safety without becoming worried about a fire happening in their home.
• Firefighters carried out 32,000 visual audits where they recorded fly tipping, abandoned cars or unsuitable accommodation to the local authority.

The Brigade’s continued drive for better building regulations is also helping to keep Londoners safe and reduce fires. By working with the construction industry from the earliest design stages, the Brigade’s fire safety engineers are able to influence the need for safety provisions in new buildings. The Brigade submissions to fire safety consultations like Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations is helping to create reform and pushing the need for sprinklers and other fire suppression systems.

We must not become complacent

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Dan Daly said: “The reduction in fires is testament to the hard work of our firefighters and in particular our fire safety teams who tirelessly push forward our commitment to prevent fires from happening in the first place.

“We must not become complacent though. There are still people dying and suffering serious injury from fires that could have been avoided. Therefore, we will continue to target our messaging to achieve behavioural change and work with our partners to target our home fire safety visits to those most at risk from fire. It is also vital that regulations are changed to make buildings safer and more sprinklers fitted especially in purpose built residential blocks and homes of the vulnerable.”

The report also shows that:

• Fires in the home have decreased by 23 per cent since 2010.
• Car fires have reduced by 38 per cent over the decade.

Fires in Tower Hamlets were cut in half in the last 10 years.