Is Fire Safety Getting Better?

While a 24-hour news cycle might make you more aware of fires, the great story from the government’s latest figures is that fire safety seems to be on a continuous improvement. 

At Fire Safety Equipment, we always keep one eye on the latest fire statistics data from the Home Office. While each year sees minor fluctuations, the overall trend is a very positive one, something we wanted to share with our readers to help highlight the hard work everyone is doing.

Fewer fires & fewer fatalities

According to fire statistics data tables shared for 2023/24, the number of fire-related fatalities stood at:

• England: 249
• Scotland: 42
• Wales: 18
• Total: 309

While any fire-related fatality is one too many, this is a marked improvement, with the figures falling over the years. For the year ending 2010/11, the figures were:

• England: 334
• Scotland: 52
• Wales: 21
• Total: 407

The total for the earliest entry in the same datasheet is for 1981/82, with a total of 937 fire-related fatalities in Great Britain. 

This progress and downward trend is also shown in the number of fire-related incidents overall, which have also fallen steadily over the decades. Hopefully, these trends continue, but what is it that has driven the change?

Regulatory progress and stronger standards

Policy has been at the heart of shaping stronger standards when it comes to fire safety, largely owing to the tragic Grenfell fire, including the Fire Safety Act 2021. 

And key regulatory updates keep coming, whether it’s sprinklers required for new care homes or PEEPs for vulnerable individuals. The industry continues to review, clarify, adapt and improve, making buildings and protocols safer as the years go by. Just look at the work being done to highlight the risk that lithium-ion batteries present due to modern technology. This has been met with new lith-ex fire extinguishers and increased campaigns around the dangers of batteries in electrical items in general.

How education and training helps

As much as state intervention and proper standards can help, there has also been an improvement in education surrounding fire safety. Whether it’s training staff on how to use fire extinguishers or simply how to evacuate a building safely, the calmer and more informed we are, the better we can react in emergencies.

Regular risk assessments also help to review fire safety practices and highlight any gaps that can be covered or where improvements need to be made for legal compliance. Businesses now have to take responsibility or avoid disastrous consequences.

Want to up your fire safety?

It’s great to share positive figures and look ahead to a brighter future where fires claim fewer and fewer lives, but there is still more work to do to make casualties and fatalities even less frequent. At Fire Safety Equipment, we’re here to provide you with one online store in which you can buy all your fire safety accessories, signage and workplace safety items.

It’s never been easier to get everything you need to keep staff, guests and the public safe. Order online today and get fast, free delivery for all orders in the UK mainland.