The United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Services attended 876,300 fire and false alarm incidents in the 12 months to 30 September 2006 - a slight increase on the previous 12 months.
There were 482 fire deaths in this period - down 1% on the previous 12 months. Dwelling fire deaths fell by 9% to 342, the lowest total since records began. However, all fire death figures for 2006 should be treated with caution as they are still provisional and subject to change.
Primary fires fell by 5% to 162,000. This is the lowest total since 1985. Within this dwelling fires hit a 25 year low (56,400, down 2%), fires in other buildings - including workplaces and areas where people gather - are at their lowest since 1963 (down 7% to 33,200) and road vehicle fires again fell (by 9% to 60,600) to their lowest total since 1990.
Secondary fires rose by 6% to 267,100 as there was a large increase in grassland fires (37%). These fires are closely linked to temperature, with July 2006 being the hottest July on record.
Attendances at false alarms dropped by 1% to 436,500. Within this there was a 15% fall in malicious false alarms and a slight decrease in false alarms due to apparatus.
