Workplace Fire Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights

Workplace Fires: A Persistent and Costly Threat

UK workplace fires have fallen dramatically over the past decade — down 29% from 9,347 in 2015/16 to 6,665 in 2024/25. That is genuinely significant progress, reflecting improvements in building standards, fire detection systems, and regulatory compliance across UK businesses.

But the headline obscures a persistent problem. Thousands of UK businesses are still affected by fire every year. The average major fire costs £657,074. A quarter of fire-affected businesses never reopen. Electrical distribution faults — the leading single identifiable cause — are largely preventable through proper inspection and maintenance. And only 58% of fire safety audits conducted by fire and rescue services in 2024/25 were satisfactory.

The gap between what fire safety law requires and what actually exists in many UK workplaces remains substantial. This guide brings together the latest official workplace fire statistics to close that gap for employers, safety professionals, insurers, and anyone responsible for fire safety in a UK workplace. For the broadest context see our Fire Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

How the UK Counts Workplace Fires

MHCLG's fire statistics classify fires in non-residential buildings separately from dwelling fires. The "workplace fire" category encompasses factories, warehouses, offices, retail premises, hospitality venues, educational establishments, healthcare settings, and other non-domestic premises where fire represents a commercial and operational risk as well as a safety risk.

The primary data source is MHCLG's Incident Recording System (IRS), into which fire and rescue services record all incidents attended. Workplace fire totals are derived from FIRE0301 (primary fires, fatalities and casualties in other buildings) and FIRE0602 (fires in non-residential buildings by premises type).

Workplace Fires by Sector (2024/25)

The 6,665 workplace fires recorded in non-residential buildings in 2024/25 break down by sector as follows:

Industrial premises (factories, warehouses, manufacturing): approximately 25% of all workplace fires — 1,656 fires. The highest-risk commercial category, driven by flammable materials, high-temperature processes, heavy machinery, and complex electrical systems under sustained load. For warehouse-specific data see our Warehouse Fire Statistics UK guide.

Food and drink premises (restaurants, cafes, commercial kitchens, takeaways): approximately 19% — 1,275 fires. Cooking equipment, grease buildup, and extended operating hours all contribute. For detailed analysis see our Restaurant and Kitchen Fire Statistics UK guide.

Retail premises (shops, supermarkets, retail stores): approximately 18% — 1,177 fires. Electrical installations, combustible stock, back-of-house storage areas, and long trading hours are principal risk factors.

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. See our Hospital Fire Statistics UK guide.

Education premises: 6.3% — 417 fires. See our School Fire Statistics UK guide.

Agricultural premises: 6.1% — 409 fires.

Offices and call centres: 5.2% — 348 fires.

Causes of Workplace Fires

Within the fires where ignition sources were identified, MHCLG data reveals the following breakdown. Note that approximately half of all workplace fire incidents in the dataset are recorded under "unspecified or other causes" — reflecting the difficulty of identifying ignition sources once fires have spread.

Of the identified causes, electrical distribution faults are the single largest category — responsible for approximately 18% of all workplace fires in 2024/25 (2,126 incidents). These fires involve fuse boxes, circuit breakers, wiring systems, and distribution boards, and characteristically start within walls or ceiling voids before being detected — making them particularly difficult to control once underway.

Other significant identified causes include:

The Ten-Year Trend

The decline in workplace fires over the past decade is one of the UK fire sector's genuine success stories. From 9,347 workplace fires in 2015/16 to 6,665 in 2024/25 — a 29% reduction. The steepest fall occurred in 2020/21 (a 24.6% single-year drop) during the pandemic, when premises were largely empty. Following the return to normal operations, workplace fires rose 19.7% in 2021/22 before resuming a downward trend.

The decade-long decline reflects a combination of factors: improved building standards requiring better fire compartmentation and detection systems; growing compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and subsequent legislation; increased enforcement activity by fire and rescue services; and greater investment in fire safety by many UK businesses.

What the trend does not reflect is complacency. With 6,665 fires still occurring annually and only 58% of fire safety audits satisfactory, the picture is one of substantial improvement alongside substantial remaining risk.

Fire Safety Compliance in the Workplace

The MHCLG Fire Prevention and Protection Statistics for 2024/25 reveal a mixed picture of workplace compliance:

Enforcement notices were most commonly served to shops (211), followed by care homes (192) and other sleeping accommodation (163). Prosecution activity rose 79% in 2023/24 — signalling that fire and rescue services are increasingly willing to pursue legal action against persistent non-compliers.

The Legal Duty: Who Is Responsible?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021) is the primary fire safety legislation for UK workplaces. It places responsibility for fire safety on the Responsible Person — defined as:

The Responsible Person's duties include conducting or arranging a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment; implementing and maintaining appropriate fire precautions; providing staff with fire safety information and training; and ensuring that fire marshals are appointed and trained.

Failure to comply is a criminal offence under Article 32 of the RRO. Penalties include unlimited fines and up to two years' imprisonment for serious breaches. Where fire safety failures result in deaths, prosecution under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is possible.

What Reduces Workplace Fire Risk

The evidence from fire investigation data and academic research consistently identifies the same set of interventions as most effective:

Fire risk assessment — a suitable and sufficient, regularly reviewed assessment that identifies hazards and implements controls. The most common prosecutable failure is the absence or inadequacy of the fire risk assessment.

Fire detection and alarm systems — appropriate to the premises, properly installed, regularly tested and maintained. Alarm system failure or inadequacy features in many serious fire incidents.

Staff fire safety training — including fire marshal training for nominated personnel. See our Fire Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide for context on why trained fire marshals matter.

Electrical safety — EICR testing of fixed wiring and PAT testing of portable appliances to address the leading identifiable cause of workplace fires.

Housekeeping and storage — proper management of combustible materials, clear escape routes, and regular inspection of fire safety systems.

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. Our fire marshal courses are designed to give employers and responsible persons the trained personnel required by the RRO to manage fire emergencies in their workplaces effectively. For related data see our Fire Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide, Cost of Fire to UK Businesses, Fire Deaths UK, and sector-specific guides covering Restaurant and Kitchen, Care Home, School, Hospital, Warehouse, HMO, and Construction Site fire statistics.

Sources & References