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The State of Fire in the UK
The UK records more fires, more fire deaths, and more fire false alarms than at almost any point in the past five years. After decades of sustained improvement, the trend has reversed. In the year ending March 2025, fire and rescue services in England attended 142,494 fires — a 2.5% rise on the previous year. Fire-related deaths stand at 271 — up 8% on the year before and 12% higher than five years ago. The total economic and social cost of fire in England is estimated at £12 billion per year.
This guide consolidates the latest verified UK fire statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Fire Industry Association, and other authoritative sources. It is the reference point for journalists, researchers, safety professionals, insurance specialists, and content writers who need current, accurate, UK-specific fire data.
Key Facts & Figures (Overview)
- 142,494 fires attended by fire and rescue services (FRS) in England in 2024/25 — up 2.5% on the previous year
- 271 fire-related fatalities in 2024/25 — up 8% on the previous year and 12% higher than five years ago
- 6,410 non-fatal casualties from fires in England in 2024/25
- 628,764 incidents attended by FRSs in the year ending June 2025 — up 5.7% on the previous year
- 250,226 fire false alarms attended in 2024/25 — equivalent to 42% of all FRS incidents
- 6,665 workplace fires in non-residential buildings in 2024/25 — down 29% over ten years but still thousands of businesses affected annually
- 12 fatalities in non-residential building fires in 2024/25
- The total economic and social cost of fire in England: £12 billion per year
- UK businesses make fire property insurance claims of approximately £940 million annually — total losses exceed £1 billion including uninsured losses
- The average major fire costs a UK business £657,074
- 25% of businesses affected by a serious fire never reopen
- 92% of households have a working smoke alarm — yet smoke alarms were absent in 31% of dwelling fire fatalities
- 39% of all fire-related fatalities were in people aged 65 and over
- Only 58% of fire safety audits in 2024/25 were satisfactory
- 2,972 formal fire safety notices were issued in 2024/25 — up 5.3% on the previous year
Total Fires in the UK: The Full Picture
UK fire statistics are primarily published by MHCLG for England, with equivalent releases for Scotland (Scottish Government), Wales (StatsWales), and Northern Ireland (NIFRS). The MHCLG data — covering the largest population — provides the most comprehensive picture.
2024/25 England fire totals (year ending March 2025):
- 142,494 total fires — up 2.5% on the previous year
- Down 7.6% on five years ago (154,190)
- Down 8.1% on ten years ago (155,063)
Types of fire: Fire statistics divide incidents into three categories. Primary fires are the most serious — those occurring in a non-derelict building, involving a fatality, casualty or rescue, or requiring five or more pumping appliances. Secondary fires are generally small outdoor fires not involving people or property. Chimney fires are contained within chimney structures.
The most recent full annual data (year ending September 2025) shows FRSs attended 642,170 total incidents — up 7.2% on the previous year and 28% above ten years ago. Of these, fires accounted for 28%, fire false alarms 39%, and non-fire incidents 33%.
Long-term trend: The broad story of UK fire statistics over the past four decades is one of enormous progress. In the early 1980s, UK fire services attended over 1 million fires annually and fire deaths consistently exceeded 800 per year. By the early 2010s, annual fatalities had fallen below 400 for the first time. Decades of improvement in fire detection technology, building regulations, public awareness campaigns, and fire safety legislation drove a sustained reduction in both fires and fire deaths.
Since approximately 2014–15, however, the total number of incidents attended by FRS has been trending upward — driven by non-fire incidents and false alarms. And since 2020, fire-related fatalities have been rising, with 2024/25 recording the highest death toll since 2017/18 (excluding the Grenfell Tower year).
Fire-Related Fatalities
2024/25 fatalities (year ending March 2025): 271 fire-related fatalities — up 8% on the previous year (251) and 12% higher than five years ago (243).
Who dies in fires:
Age is the strongest predictor of fire death risk. The likelihood of dying in a fire increases substantially with age:
- 7.9 fatalities per million people for those aged 65–79
- 13.8 fatalities per million people for those aged 80 and over — the highest rate of any age group
- 39% of all fire-related fatalities in 2024/25 were in people aged 65 and over
Gender is also a significant factor. In 2024/25 there were 174 male fire-related fatalities (5.9 per million) compared with 95 for females (3.1 per million) — men are almost twice as likely to die in a fire.
Cause of death: The most common cause of death in fire-related fatalities in 2024/25 was being overcome by gas or smoke, accounting for 34% of cases. This reflects the reality that most fire deaths are caused not by flames but by the toxic products of combustion — particularly carbon monoxide — which incapacitate and kill before flames reach the victim.
Where deaths occur: The overwhelming majority of fire deaths occur in the home. In the year ending December 2024, dwelling fires accounted for 78% of all fire-related fatalities. This has remained broadly consistent over many years and reflects that most people are at greatest risk from fire in their own homes, particularly at night.
The smoke alarm factor: Despite 92% of households reporting a working smoke alarm, smoke alarms were absent in premises where 24% of all dwelling fires occurred, and absent in 31% of dwelling fire fatalities. Where smoke alarms were present, they operated as intended in only 48% of dwelling fires and 39% of fatal dwelling fires — pointing to the significant problem of poorly sited, poorly maintained, or disabled alarms.
Non-Fatal Casualties
In the year ending March 2025, fire services attended fires that resulted in 6,410 non-fatal casualties — broken down as:
- 581 hospital severe casualties
- 2,283 hospital slight casualties
- 1,497 first aid casualties
- 2,049 precautionary check casualties
The non-fatal casualty rate is highest in those aged 80 and over at 183.6 casualties per million people — further emphasising the disproportionate vulnerability of elderly people to fire harm.
Workplace Fires
The MHCLG Detailed Analysis of Fires provides the most comprehensive breakdown of workplace fire statistics. In 2024/25:
Total workplace fires: 6,665 fires in non-residential buildings — a reduction of 29% over the ten-year period from 9,347 in 2015/16.
Workplace fire fatalities: 12 fatalities in non-residential building fires in 2024/25.
By sector (2024/25):
- Industrial premises (factories, warehouses): ~25% (1,656 fires)
- Food and drink premises: ~19% (1,275 fires)
- Retail premises: ~18% (1,177 fires)
- Hospitality (hotels, boarding houses, hostels): 7.6% (505 fires)
- Entertainment, culture and sport: 6.7% (445 fires)
- Hospitals and medical care: 6.5% (433 fires)
- Education premises: 6.3% (417 fires)
- Agricultural premises: 6.1% (409 fires)
- Offices and call centres: 5.2% (348 fires)
Leading cause: Electrical distribution faults — fuse boxes, circuit breakers, wiring, and distribution boards — were the single largest identifiable cause, responsible for approximately 18% of workplace fires (2,126 incidents). For detailed sector analysis see our Workplace Fire Statistics UK guide.
Domestic Fires
Dwelling fires are the most dangerous category — responsible for the large majority of fire deaths and serious injuries. Key facts from 2024/25:
- Cooking is the leading single cause of dwelling fires
- Smoking materials cause a smaller share of fires but are disproportionately associated with fatalities
- Electrical faults account for over half of all accidental dwelling fires when combined with misuse of electrical equipment
- Night-time fires are less frequent but more likely to be fatal — most victims are asleep
The Cost of Fire in the UK
Fire is one of the most expensive preventable hazards facing UK households and businesses:
- Total economic and social cost of fire in England: £12 billion per year
- UK business fire insurance claims: approximately £940 million annually
- Total business fire losses (including uninsured): over £1 billion per year
- Average financial loss per major fire incident: £657,074
- Manufacturing sector fire losses: over £800 million total
- 25% of businesses affected by serious fires never reopen
- Of those that don't recover within one month, 80% close permanently
For full financial analysis see our Cost of Fire to UK Businesses guide.
Fire False Alarms
False alarms — or Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS) — represent the single largest category of FRS incidents. In 2024/25:
- 250,226 fire false alarms attended — 42% of all incidents
- 176,262 were false alarms due to apparatus (automatic fire detection systems) — 70% of all false alarms
- False alarms cost the UK over £1 billion per year
For detailed analysis see our False Alarm Statistics UK guide.
Fire Safety Compliance
The MHCLG Fire Prevention and Protection Statistics provide annual data on compliance activity. In 2024/25:
- 51,020 fire safety audits conducted by FRSs (up from 49,900 the previous year)
- Only 58% of audits were satisfactory — meaning 42% identified compliance failures
- 2,972 formal notices issued (up 5.3%)
- 18,351 informal notices issued
- The most common breach: Article 14 (emergency routes and exits) — 10,323 breaches
- Article 15 (procedures for serious and imminent danger): 8,013 breaches
- Article 8 (duty to take general fire precautions): 7,615 breaches
- Fire safety prosecutions rose by 79% in 2023/24
Shops, care homes, and sleeping accommodation together accounted for over 43% of all fire safety audits. For full prosecution data see our Fire Safety Prosecution Statistics UK guide.
Written by Fire Safety Experts
This guide was produced by the team at Fire Marshal Training, a UK provider of RoSPA and CPD-accredited fire safety training. Understanding the scale and nature of fire risk in the UK is the foundation of effective fire safety management. Our fire marshal courses are designed to give nominated fire marshals and responsible persons the knowledge and practical skills to manage fire safety in their organisations. For detailed sector-specific data see our guides to Workplace Fire Statistics UK, Fire Deaths UK, Cost of Fire to UK Businesses, Care Home Fire Statistics UK, Restaurant and Kitchen Fire Statistics UK, HMO Fire Statistics UK, Warehouse Fire Statistics UK, School Fire Statistics UK, Hospital Fire Statistics UK, Construction Site Fire Statistics UK, False Alarm Statistics UK, Arson Statistics UK, Electrical Fire Statistics UK, and Fire Safety Prosecution Statistics UK.
Sources & References
- MHCLG – Detailed Analysis of Fires, England, April 2024 to March 2025
- MHCLG – Fire and Rescue Incident Statistics, Year Ending March 2025
- MHCLG – Fire Prevention and Protection Statistics, England, April 2024 to March 2025
- MHCLG – Fire and Rescue Incident Statistics, Year Ending June 2025
- Gov.UK – Economic and Social Cost of Fire
- FIA – Fires and Their Economic Toll on UK Businesses
