SAS Chapter 12: page 28

The Scottish Abstract of Statistics No 26,1998

Table 12E2 Fire statistics, type of call and number of fatalities, 1987, 1993-1997

		1987	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Total calls		83,098	116,962	113,074	130,863	114,066	108,417
Total fire calls¹		45,623	56,800	58,142	67,033	56,394	50,467
	Fires	18,801	21,372	19,367	20,610	19,527	19,019
	Chimney fires	9,213	7,835	6,128	6,206	5,348	4,278
	Secondary fires	17,609	27,593	32,647	40,217	31,519	27,170
Total false alarms²		32,054	52,131	46,743	51,332	48,891	48,627
	Malicious	12,727	19,528	11,527	9,637	9,005	8,059
	Good intent	12,293	23,264	25,593	26,092	16,027	15,500
	Apparatus fault	7,034	9,339	9,623	15,603	23,859	25,068
Special services³		5,421	8,031	8,189	12,498	8,781	9,323

Fatalities		168	127	87	92	102	87
Non-fatal casualties⁴		1,635	..	..	1,350	1,649	1,664

Source: HM Inspectorate of Fire Services

1 The term Chimney Fire is well known and refers to outbreaks restricted within chimneys or flue pipes. Secondary Fires are those outbreaks that occur out of doors in grassland, refuse containers, derelict buildings or other outdoor features. The remaining term Fires includes all outbreaks not covered by the other 2 categories.
2 The decrease in ‘Good intent’ and the increase in ‘Apparatus fault’ calls was mainly due to a change in the method of collecting statistical information. Part of the increase in apparatus fault calls can be attributed to the increase in fire protection and fire warning systems.
3 The Fire Services Act 1947 allows a fire authority to employ the fire brigade maintained by them on duties other than fire-fighting. These are called special services and include, for example rescuing persons trapped in road accidents and dealing with chemical spillages.
4 A non-fatal casualty is a person who requires medical treatment beyond first aid given at the scene of the fire or who was taken to hospital, or advised to see a doctor.

Chart 12E1 Fire brigade false alarms 1987, 1993-1997

bar chart