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GENERAL STATISTICS
PERSONNEL AND OPERATIONS
Establishments and Strengths
120. The establishments and actual strengths of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are given in Appendix 2 of this report. (Please note the establishment figures quoted are as at 31 March 2005, at which point the requirement for a ministerial approved establishment figure ceased).
Wholetime Personnel (Operational)
121. The actual strength of wholetime personnel (ie the number of personnel actually in post as at 31 March 2007) was 4517.
122. Wholetime Establishment and Actual Strength from 2000-01 to 2006-07
123. (Establishment as at 31 March 2005)
124. During the year 514 firefighters joined the Fire Service while 495 left for various reasons. This included 168 personnel who left under compulsory/voluntary retirement and 32 on medical grounds. Further details of the gains and losses of personnel in each Service is given in Appendix 3.
Retained Personnel
125. The figures relating to the establishment and actual strength in the retained sector of the Service for the years 2000-01 to 2006-07 is shown below.
126. The actual number of retained personnel in post throughout Scotland during 2006/07 was 3116. This is an increase of 13 on the previous year.
Retained Establishment and Actual Strength from 2000-01 to 2006-07
Volunteer Personnel
127. Details of the establishment and actual strength of the volunteer sector of the Fire and Rescue Service between 2000-01 and 2006-07 are shown below.
Volunteer Establishment and Actual Strength from 2000-01 to 2006-07
128. The actual number of volunteers in post in Scotland between 2005-06 and 2006-07 has increased from 479 to 504, a rise of 11.2%.
Control Room Staff
129. In 2006/07, the actual number of Control Room Staff in post was 225, an increase of 2 from the previous year.
Service Support Staff
130. The total number of Service support staff in post in 2006/07 was 1023, an increase of 100.5 on the previous year. This category covers a wide range of essential support duties such as administrative posts, stores, mechanics, IT and radio technicians, cooks, cleaners and driving staff. These employees make a major contribution to the success of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and without their efforts the Service could not operate in its current format.
Operational Activity
131. Operational activity has increased this year showing a rise of 2.4% in the total number of incidents attended by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. This was mainly due to a rise in false alarm good intent calls (up 25.7%) and secondary fires (up 3.3%). The increase in false alarm good intent calls could be due to a number of reasons including more smoke alarms being introduced into the homes of the general public. This was done as part of the "Don't Give Fire a Home" campaign when smoke alarms are supplied and fitted during a community safety visit, by the Fire and Rescue Services, free or charge.
Incidents Attended by all Services 2006-07
Primary fires are reportable fires in caravans, vehicles, structures, agricultural and forestry property, or any fire involving casualties or where 5 or more appliances have attended.
Secondary Fires are reportable fires which were not Primary fire locations, not chimney fires, did not involve casualties and had less than 5 appliances in attendance.
Chimney fires are reportable fires in occupied buildings where fire was confirmed within a chimney structure, casualties were not involved and less than 5 appliances attended.
Fatal Incidents: Summary
132. The accompanying tables summarise fatalities from fires in Scotland during 2006/07. Both tables include 2005/06 figures for comparison. The eight Scottish Fire and Rescue Services are working together to highlight and promote fire prevention with seminars, leaflets and working with the community. The success of this work was reflected last year with the lowest ever recorded number of fatalities 61. We are pleased to report that this figure has dropped again this year to 45. Although this drop is good news, any fire death within the reporting year is a tragedy and in many cases an avoidable human loss. Our sympathy is given to the families involved.
Summary of Fatalities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 |
|---|
Number of fatalities | Percentage of total | Number of fatalities | Percentage of total |
|---|
Domestic Fires: Fatalities by Age Group |
|---|
Under 21 | 1 | 1.9% | 3 | 7.7% |
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From 21 to 59 | 30 | 55.6% | 19 | 48.7% |
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60 and over 23 | 42.6% | 17 | 43.6% | |
|---|
Total for domestic fires | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Domestic Fires: Incidents With Multiple Fatalities |
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Deaths at incidents of this type | 2 | 3.7% | 4 | 10.3% |
|---|
Total for domestic fires | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Domestic Fires: Potentially Avoidable Deaths |
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Deaths assessed as potentially
avoidable if working smoke alarms
had been present | 24 | 44.4% | 22 | 56.4% |
|---|
Total for domestic fires | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Domestic Fires: Wilful Fire-Raising |
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Deaths at incidents of this type | 11 | 20.4% | 5 | 12.8% |
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Total for domestic fires | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Non-Domestic Fires |
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Vehicle fires | 5 | 71.4% | 4 | 66.7% |
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Other | 2 | 28.6% | 2 | 33.3% |
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Total for non-domestic fires | 7 | 100.0% | 6 | 100.0% |
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Total fatalities in Scotland |
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Domestic fires | 54 | 88.5% | 39 | 86.7% |
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Other non-domestic fires | 7 | 11.5% | 6 | 13.3% |
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TOTAL | 61 | 100.0% | 45 | 100.0% |
|---|
Note 1: The number of domestic fires resulting in multiple fatalities was 1 in 2005-06 and 2 in 2006-07.
Note 2: All percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.
Fatal Incidents in Private Homes
Summary of Fatalities in Private Homes
Category | 2005-06 | 2006-07 |
|---|
Number of incidents | Percentage of total | Number of incidents | Percentage of total |
|---|
Starting Locations of Fires |
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Living room | 24 | 44% | 17 | 44% |
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Kitchen | 12 | 22% | 10 | 26% |
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Bedroom | 9 | 17% | 5 | 13% |
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Other / Unknown | 9 | 17% | 7 | 18% |
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TOTAL | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100% |
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Causes of Fires |
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Smoking materials: Lighters, matches, cigarettes, etc. | 25 | 46% | 13 | 33.3% |
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Cooking incidents | 9 | 17% | 8 | 20.5% |
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Other / Unknown | 20 | 37% | 18 | 46.2% |
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TOTAL | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Smoke Alarms |
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Alarm operated properly | 19 | 35% | 13 | 33.3% |
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Alarm not functioning | 15 | 28% | 12 | 30.8% |
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Status of alarm unknown | 7 | 13% | 8 | 20.5% |
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No smoke alarm | 13 | 24% | 6 | 15.4% |
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TOTAL | 54 | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% |
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Miscellaneous Statistics |
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Deceased was living alone | 43 | 79.6% | 20 | 51.3% |
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Alcohol a direct contributory factor | 14 | 25.9% | 12 | 30.8% |
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Alcohol an indirect factor | 5 | 9.3% | 6 | 15.4% |
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