Welsh Government
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Minister says fire statistics show there is no room for complacency

Public Services Minister, Leighton Andrews says there is no room for complacency as figures published yesterday [26 February] show that Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) in Wales attended more deliberate and grasslandfires in 2013-14 than in the previous year.

The statistics show that in 2013-14, the FRS attended a total of 7,564 deliberate fires - an increase of 18 per cent compared with 2012-13 but a decrease of 71 per cent compared to 2001-02.

These deliberate fires accounted for 57 per cent of all fires the FRS attended in 2013-14.  Over a quarter of fires they attended were grassland, woodland or crop fires, the majority of which were deliberately set.

The Minister said that year-on-year figures can fluctuate due to a host of factors, such as weather conditions. In particular, the number of grassland fires in 2012-13 was exceptionally low because of the very wet spring and summer.  So it is important to look at the trend over a number of years. 

He said:

“Over the last ten years, we have provided over £50 million in funding to Welsh Fire and Rescue Services to support fire prevention activities, with some notable success.

“We have seen a significant reduction in the number of deliberately set fires in Wales since 2001. Deliberate fires in dwellings, or which cause death or injury, are down by over 80%. However, where fire safety is concerned there is no room for complacency. We must to do all we can to reduce the incidence of fire.

“I expect each FRS to ensure that the statistics will be used to inform their future fire reduction and prevention strategies.”

Related Links

Fire and rescue

Statistics

 

Channel website: http://gov.wales

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