This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fire deaths fall to lowest ever level
07/12/2006
The number of fire deaths in Scotland fell by a quarter last year to its lowest level on record.
The annual report for 2005-06 published by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services Jeff Ord shows that the number of fatalities from fires was 61, down from 81 in the previous year.
The report's main findings also show, compared to 2004-05:
- A 4.1 per cent decrease in injuries through fire incidents, while injuries through non-fire incidents rose by 8.2 per cent.
- A small decrease in the number of primary fires, but a 3.7 per cent increase in incidents, including secondary fires and road traffic collisions.
- A 25 per cent fall in accidents to fire fighters, despite the rise in the number of incidents attended.
- A 43.3 per cent increase in the number of attacks on fire service personnel
Jeff Ord said:
"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Services performed well last year and there is real evidence that the increased focus on fire safety and prevention is playing a key role in making our communities safer.
"The service is to be congratulated for its performance during the first year of the Integrated Risk Management Plans (IRMPs) and in particular for the record low number of fire deaths and injuries recorded in this year.
"While every single death is clearly one too many, the decreases in the number of deaths and injuries from fire can give us cause for optimism.
"That said, we know that in a quarter of those incidents which did claim a life, no smoke alarm was present and in a similar number the alarm was not functioning.
"Once more, this underlines the importance of every household having a smoke alarm, properly fitted and maintained.
"The same positive attitude and innovation shown in the move to balancing intervention with prevention will need to be extended into other vital areas of the service over the coming months.
"In particular, the continuing failure to achieve a more diverse workforce is disappointing. Lessons must be learned from other organisations and other 'blue light' services who are achieving much greater diversity across their workforce.
"I am also disappointed to see the increase in the number of attacks on fire service personnel.
"To some extent the rise can be attributed to operational personnel having received encouragement to report incidents from HMFSI, Fire Services and Trade Unions.
"It is also anticipated that these figures may reduce in future as a result of the introduction of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.
"Overall, I remain confident that with encouragement, support and good leadership the service will rise to the various challenges ahead.
"The Inspectorate, along with the Scottish Executive, will continue the joint working approach to ensure that Scotland has Fire and Rescue Services which we will know to be amongst the most successful, effective and innovative in the world."
The annual report 2005-06 of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services covers Scotland's eight fire service authorities.
The main aims of the inspectorate are to support, assist and where appropriate or necessary, robustly challenge fire authorities and their services in relation to the modernisation agenda.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Services introduced a risk-based approach to all aspects of its service delivery last year. These Integrated Risk Management Plans ensure that fire prevention is given greater emphasis in the work carried out by Scotland's eight Fire and Rescue Services.