Fire statistics: Incident level datasets
Source: data.gov.uk (2017-09-28)

This information covers fires, false alarms and other incidents attended by firecrews, and the statistics include the numbers of incidents, fires, fatalities and casualties as well as information on response times to fires. The Home Office also collect information on the workforce, fire prevention work, health and safety and firefighter pensions. All data tables on fire statistics are below.

The Home Office has responsibility for fire services in England. The vast majority of data tables produced by the Home Office are for England but some (0101, 0103, 0201, 0501, 1401) tables are for Great Britain split by nation. In the past the Department for Communities and Local Government (who previously had responsibility for fire services in England) produced data tables for Great Britain and at times the UK. Similar information for devolved administrations are available at Scotland: Fire and Rescue Statistics, Wales: Community safety and Northern Ireland: Fire and Rescue Statistics (see Landing page for links).

Publishing Incident Recording 
System data on the fire and rescue 
service at an incident level:  
 
‘Other building’ fires dataset 
guidance 
 
 
 
 
 
Produced by the Fire Statistics team 
xxx@xxx.xx 
21 September 2017
 

 
2 
 
1  Background 
Data Quality 
Incident records in the Incident Recording System (IRS) are the responsibility of, and 
quality assured by, fire and rescue services (FRSs). The Home Office and FRSs 
work together to improve the data within the IRS and minimise any inconsistencies or 
errors. However, as the IRS was not designed with record level datasets in mind, a 
very small number of previously unidentified inconsistencies have been discovered 
(see project overview for further detail). 
IRS incident records are a judgement call of the lead fire officer at the time of the 
incident. The quality of the information provided by fire and rescue services is 
variable and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed, especially at record level. For 
instance, some records involve estimation by those in attendance. 
 
Dataset rationale 
When surveyed, interested parties said that the most important topic to them was 
knowing the “type of building a fire occurred in” through the release of open data. We 
have reflected this by publishing a dwellings dataset in ‘Tranche One’ and ‘other 
buildings’ and road vehicles datasets in ‘Tranche Two’. The Home Office has, and 
will continue to, engaged with stakeholders, such as statistical users and FRSs, to 
gauge opinion on the most useful datasets to publish. 
 
Dataset definition 
The ‘other building’ fires dataset covers incidents attended by FRSs that were 
primary fires in buildings other than dwellings in England. The Home Office only has 
jurisdiction for fire policy in England and therefore has published incident data for 
England only. 
Fires in derelict ‘other buildings’ are only included if they are considered to be a 
primary fire (i.e. the fire involved a fatality, casualty or rescue or the fire was attended 
by five or more pumping appliances).    
Derelict ‘other buildings’ are defined as those unfit for further use; awaiting 
demolition or under demolition. These records, when aggregated, match the 
published statistics as derelict ‘other buildings’ are only included in the ‘other 
building’ statistics if they are a primary fire. 
The data in this dataset are consistent with records that reached the IRS by 7th June 
2017. 
 
 

 
3 
 
2 Variable by variable – Scene Setting 
Variable Name: 
FRS_FULLNAME 
Variable Description: 
The FRS in which the ‘other building’ fire took place 
IRS Question: 
1.6 
 
The Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) refers to the territory in which the incident took 
place, not necessarily the FRS which responded. Occasionally, an FRS will respond 
to an incident “over the border”. Because of this, users should be careful about 
making general comments about particular FRSs as some incidents may have been 
responded to by other FRSs. This dataset only covers incidents that took place in 
England. 
Due to data protection issues we have merged Isles of Scilly data with Cornwall, as 
the number of ‘other building’ fires in Isle of Scilly is minimal [there were 11 between 
2010/11 and 2016/17]. Figures for Dorset and Wiltshire, who merged into one FRS 
on 1st April 2016, are presented merged. 
 
Variable Name: 
E_CODE 
Variable Description: 
The E Code of the FRS 
IRS Question: 
1.6 (based on) 
 
The standard National Statistics code (E Code) of the Fire and Rescue Service 
(FRS) in FRS_NAME. In this case the code for Cornwall has been used for the 
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly combined FRS. 
 
Variable Name: 
FINANCIAL_YEAR 
Variable Description: 
The financial year the building fire took place 
IRS Question: 
2.1 (based on) 
 
A financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Record level information is published 
from 2010/11 - although the IRS began in April 2009 there are a few minor issues 
with the 2009/10 records which mean that while statistics at higher levels are robust, 
some of the incident level records are not of a sufficient quality to publish. Incidents 
are allocated to financial year depending on the time of the call, which is usually 
collected through automatic systems, so for example an incident where the call was 
made at 23.59 on March 31st 2010 but the incident was closed at 01.34 on April 1st 
2010 would be allocated to 2009/10 not 2010/11. 
 
Variable Name: 
DAY_OF_WEEK 
Variable Description: 
Which day of the week the ‘other building’ fire took place 
IRS Question: 
2.1 (based on) 
 
Incidents are allocated to this variable depending on the time of the call, which is 
usually collected through automatic systems. 
 
 

 
4 
 
Variable Name: 
DAY_NIGHT 
Variable Description: 
Whether the incident took place in day or night 
IRS Question: 
2.1 (based on) 
 
Incidents are allocated to this variable depending on the time of the call, which is 
usually collected through automatic systems. Night is defined as starting at 6pm and 
running until 6am. 
 

 
5 
 
3 
Variable by variable - Situation  
Variable Name: 
BUILDING_TYPE 
Variable Description: 
The type of building the fire was in 
IRS Question: 
3.2 
 
The ‘other building’ fires dataset only covers primary fires, this excludes derelict 
buildings unless five or more pumping appliances attended the incident or it resulted 
in a fatality, casualty or rescue. Some categories have been combined for personal 
data reasons and others for ease of use. 
 
Variable Name: 
FSO_APPLY 
Variable Description: 
Whether the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 
(“the ‘FSO”) applies 
IRS Question: 
5.5 
 
The FSO applies to virtually all non-domestic premises and covers nearly every type 
of commercial building, structure and open space to which the public have access. It 
does not apply to people’s private homes, including individual flats in a block or 
house. However, the FSO applies should the fire spread to shared areas or the fire 
causes the people from neighbouring flats to evacuate. 
 
Variable Name: 
OCCUPIED_TIME 
Variable Description: 
Whether the building was occupied at the time of the fire 
IRS Question: 
5.13 
 
If persons were not in the building where the incident started, but were in a building 
to which the fire spread, they would be included here. 
 
Variable Name: 
OCCUPIED_NORMAL 
Variable Description: 
Whether the building was normally occupied 
IRS Question: 
5.14 
 
This would include squatters and non-rightful occupants. 
 
Variable Name: 
ALARM_SYSTEM 
Variable Description: 
Whether a smoke alarm was present and if it operated. 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 5.8 and 5.11 
 
In a case where more than one alarm system was present the “best” case is chosen. 
 
 

 
6 
 
Variable Name: 
SAFETY_SYSTEM 
Variable Description: 
Whether a safety system was present and if it operated. 
IRS Question: 
7.11, 7.12 and 7.14 
 
In a case where more than one safety system was present the “best” case is chosen. 
Safety systems are separately listed as sprinklers and other systems. 
 
Variable Name: 
IGNITION_TO_DISCOVERY 
Variable Description: 
The time between ignition and discovery 
IRS Question: 
5.2 
 
This is the approximate time elapsed from the ignition of the fire to its discovery, and 
may well be estimated. 
When the ‘other building’ fire spreads from a secondary fire, the time is based on the 
estimated start of first damage to the building. For example, if a rubbish bin fire 
(secondary) spreads to a building (primary) the time recorded is the estimated time 
from ignition of the house to discovery NOT ignition of the bin to discovery. 
 
Variable Name: 
DISCOVERY_TO_CALL 
Variable Description: 
The time between discovery and call. 
IRS Question: 
5.3  
 
This is the approximate time elapsed from the discovery of the fire to when the call 
was made to the emergency services, and may well be estimated (FRSs are asked 
to provide an estimate if at all possible). 
 
Variable Name: 
LATE_CALL 
Variable Description: 
Whether the incident was a late call 
IRS Question: 
2.4 
 
A late call is where a fire is known to be extinguished when the call was made.  
It should be stressed that a fire that is ‘out on arrival’ (for example, extinguished 
before the FRS arrived) does not constitute a ‘late fire call’. A fire which comes to the 
attention of the FRS to which no call was made, for example as a result of a press 
report or inquest, is reported as a late call if an attendance is made (even if one 
person attends for inspection only) but is not included if no attendance is made. 
 
 
 
 

 
7 
 
4 
Variable by variable – The Fire 
 
A deliberate fire is a fire believed to have been started deliberately such as 
suspected arson and some fires started by children, psychiatric patients, suicides 
and attempted suicides. Accidental fires includes those where the motive was 
recorded as “not known”. Whilst we would not expect the fires for “deliberate fires” to 
match precisely the published figures for arson in the Bulletin tables from the Crime 
in England and Wales statistical release, we would expect deliberate fires for 
dwellings, ‘other buildings’ and vehicles to be similar to the arson figures. 
 
This variable contains options that best describe the main cause of the fire. FRSs are 
not necessarily certain that the fire was due to the cause given, only that the cause 
was one that could be reasonably supposed, given the evidence available. The 
cause may change as more evidence through a fire investigation becomes available. 
 
 
This variable contains options that best describe the main source of ignition’s power. 
It is not necessary to be certain that the fire was due to the power given, only that the 
power was one that could be reasonably supposed, given the evidence available. 
The ignition power may change as more evidence through a fire investigation 
becomes available. 
 
 
This variable contains options that best describe the room or compartment where the 
fire started. 
 
 
 
Variable Name: 
ACCIDENTAL_OR_DELIBERATE 
Variable Description: 
Whether the incident was recorded as an accidental or 
deliberate fire 
IRS Question: 
5.15 
Variable Name: 
CAUSE_OF_FIRE 
Variable Description: 
The main cause of the fire 
IRS Question: 
8.1 
Variable Name: 
IGNITION_POWER 
Variable Description: 
What powered the ignition of the fire 
IRS Question: 
8.5 
Variable Name: 
FIRE_START_LOCATION 
Variable Description: 
The type of room/compartment the fire started in 
IRS Question: 
8.14 

 
8 
 
 
This variable contains options that best describe of the extent of the fire when the 
first fire crew arrived. 
 
 
Whether an adjacent property was affected, when the first fire crew arrived, by either 
flame and heat, flame and smoke or flame, heat and smoke damage. 
 
Variable Name: 
ITEM_IGNITED 
Variable Description: 
The item/material that was ignited first 
IRS Question: 
8.6 
 
This variable contains options that best (or most likely) describe the item first ignited. 
The item cannot be the same as the source of ignition and doesn’t include items that 
were ignited in the normal course of events (for example a cigarette, a match etc.) 
 
If the fire was a spread from a secondary fire, the primary location that was damaged 
first should be recorded. For example, if the source of ignition was a bonfire burning 
leaves which spread to a building, then the item first ignited was the building, not the 
waste leaves on the bonfire. 
 
Variable Name: 
ITEM_CAUSING_SPREAD 
Variable Description: 
The item/material that was mainly responsible for the 
spread of the fire 
IRS Question: 
8.7 
 
This variable contains options that best (or most likely) describe the item mainly 
responsible for causing the spread of the fire. 
 
Variable Name: 
RAPID_FIRE_GROWTH 
Variable Description: 
Whether there was rapid fire growth 
IRS Question: 
8.8 
 
Whether there was rapid fire growth or not. 
 
 
 
Variable Name: 
FIRE_SIZE_ON_ARRIVAL 
Variable Description: 
The extent of fire on the FRS’s arrival 
IRS Question: 
8.20 
Variable Name: 
OTHER_PROPERTY_AFFECTED_ON_ARRIVAL 
Variable Description: 
Whether an adjacent property was affected by the fire on 
the FRS’s arrival  
IRS Question: 
8.21 

 
9 
 
5 
Variable by Variable - Resourcing 
Variable Name: 
VEHICLES 
Variable Description: 
The number of fire service vehicles that attended the 
incident 
IRS Question: 
6.2 
 
The total number of FRS vehicles that attended the incident. This includes all types 
of vehicle, for example hazardous materials units, fire boats and canteen vans would 
also be included in this total. Large numbers are grouped for ease of use and to 
reduce the personal data risk of incidents being matched across datasets.  For 
example, there are likely to be few incidents attended by 47 vehicles and this could 
be matched to other datasets containing this variable but grouping these in the “15 or 
more” grouping makes this impossible. 
 
Variable Name: 
VEHICLES_CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
6.2 
 
Because some of the options in the vehicles variable contains letters (e.g. 15 or 
more) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
The number of FRS personnel that attended the incident on fire service appliances 
or by other means (e.g. their own vehicle, on foot). Large numbers of personnel are 
grouped for ease of use and to reduce the personal data risk of incidents being 
matched across datasets. For example, there are likely to be few incidents attended 
by 147 officers and this could be matched to other datasets containing this variable 
but grouping these in the “40 or more” grouping makes this impossible. 
 
Variable Name: 
OFFICERS_CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
6.2 
 
Because some of the options in the officers variable contains letters (e.g. 40 or more) 
this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
 
Variable Name: 
OFFICERS 
Variable Description: 
The number of fire crew and officers that attended the 
incident 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 6.1 and 6.4 

 
10 
 
Variable Name: 
RESPONSE_TIME 
Variable Description: 
The time between the call being made and the first fire 
vehicle attending the scene 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 2.1 and 6.8 
 
The time of the call is defined as when first call was received by Command & 
Control. If the call was received by one FRS and relayed to another, then the time of 
the call to the first FRS is used. Both of these variables are usually collected through 
automatic systems. 
 
Variable Name: 
RESPONSE_TIME_CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 2.1 and 6.8 
 
Because all of the options in the response time variable contains letters (e.g. 1-2 
mins) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
Variable Name: 
TIME_AT_SCENE 
Variable Description: 
The time between the first fire vehicle attending the scene 
and the incident being closed. 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 6.8 and 2.6 
 
An incident is closed when the last FRS appliance, vehicle or officer left the scene of 
the incident. Both of these variables are usually collected through automatic 
systems. 
 
Variable Name: 
TIME_AT_SCENE _CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 6.8 and 2.6 
 
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (e.g. 0-15 
mins) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
 
 

 
11 
 
6 
Variable by Variable - Outcomes 
Variable Name: 
FATALITY_CASUALTY 
Variable Description: 
Whether the incident involved a fatality or casualty 
IRS Question: 
Combination of 9.6 and 9.21 
 
This records whether the incident involved at least one fire-related fatality or one 
casualty from the fire. At this early stage of publishing this incident level dataset 
gives no more detailed information on casualties and fatalities. 
 
To be consistent with published statistics, the variable combines “fire-related fatality” 
and “non-fatal casualty” (whether fire-related or not). Where “don’t know” is recorded 
for whether a fatality is fire-related, it is included in the fire-related totals. In general, 
‘fire-related fatalities’ are those that would not have occurred had there not been a 
fire. Casualties include those with injuries requiring hospital attention, those requiring 
first aid at the scene and those given advice to have precautionary checks (whether 
they then take that advice or not). 
 
Variable Name: 
RESCUES 
Variable Description: 
The number of people rescued from the building 
IRS Question: 
9.13 
 
A rescue is where a person has received physical assistance to get clear of the area 
involved in the incident. A baby carried out in the course of another person’s escape 
is not included as a rescue, however if a rescuer (including FRS personnel) entered 
the building or other area affected by the fire in order to rescue the baby, then the 
baby is recorded as a rescue.  
A removal of a fatality is not recorded as a rescue, except where a rescue took place 
in circumstances which might have resulted in a life being saved even if the person 
did not survive the rescue attempt.  
Where “don’t know” is recorded for whether a rescue occurred, it is not included in 
this variable. 
 
Variable Name: 
EVACUATIONS 
Variable Description: 
The number of people evacuated from the building 
IRS Question: 
9.3 
 
An evacuation is the direction of people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe. 
This variable is the number of people who were evacuated from the incident, 
unharmed but with assistance from FRS personnel. Those who are rescued or 
rescued with an injury are not included in those that are evacuated from the incident. 
Rescues involve physical assistance. 
 
 

 
12 
 
Variable Name: 
EVACUATIONS _CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
9.3 
 
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (e.g. Up to 5) 
this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame and/or heat (in square metres) at the 
stop of the fire. 
Where an incident was due to fire spread, the extent of all the area affected is 
included. Where both the floor and ceiling are damaged in a room, only that which 
had the greater amount of damage is included. The total aggregate of all horizontal 
damage is recorded, e.g. if three floors are damaged, the total area is given. Vertical 
surfaces (e.g. walls) that were damaged in the fire are not included, but the 
horizontal area occupied by damaged contents is included.  
Where the horizontal area damaged was zero, this includes where damage was 
confined to vertical surfaces.  A very small area would be included in ‘up to 5 metres 
squared’. 
 
Variable Name: 
FIRE_DAMAGE_EXTENT _CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
8.24 
 
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (e.g. Up to 5) 
this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame, heat, smoke and/or water (in square 
metres) at the stop of the fire. 
Where an incident was due to fire spread, the extent of all the area affected is 
included. Where both the floor and ceiling are damaged in a room, only that which 
had the greater amount of damage is included. The total aggregate of all horizontal 
damage is recorded, e.g. if three floors damaged, the total area is given. Vertical 
Variable Name: 
FIRE_DAMAGE_EXTENT 
Variable Description: 
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame and heat 
(sq. m) at the stop of the fire. 
IRS Question: 
8.24 
Variable Name: 
TOTAL_DAMAGE_EXTENT 
Variable Description: 
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame, heat, 
smoke and water (sq. m) 
IRS Question: 
8.25 

 
13 
 
surfaces (e.g. walls) that were damaged in the fire are not included, but the 
horizontal area occupied by damaged contents is included.  
Where the horizontal area damaged was zero, this includes where damage was 
confined to vertical surfaces.  A very small area would be included in ‘up to 5 metres 
squared’. 
 
Variable Name: 
TOTAL_DAMAGE_EXTENT _CODE 
Variable Description: 
A code to help users analyse data 
IRS Question: 
8.25 
 
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (e.g. Up to 5) 
this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 
 
 
This variable contains options that best describe of the extent of the fire and heat 
damage once the incident was closed. 
 
 
Whether an adjacent property was affected, when the fire was under control and had 
stopped, by either flame and heat, flame and smoke or flame, heat and smoke 
damage. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable Name: 
SPREAD_OF_FIRE 
Variable Description: 
The extent of fire when the incident was closed 
IRS Question: 
8.22 
Variable Name: 
OTHER_PROPERTY_AFFECTED_STOP 
Variable Description: 
Whether an adjacent property was affected by the fire by 
the stop of the fire 
IRS Question: 
8.23 

 
14 
 
7 
Summary Statistics 
The number of ‘other building’ fires in England decreased by 24 per cent between 
2010/11 and 2016/17. The table below shows the number of ‘other building’ fires by 
FRS over the time covered by this release. 
 
 
FRS_NAME
E_CODE
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
England
E92000001
20,779 20,332 16,516 16,529 15,562 16,024 15,815
Avon
E31000001
422
402
306
346
313
368
316
Bedfordshire
E31000002
293
281
223
236
189
194
202
Berkshire
E31000003
313
252
216
236
204
209
172
Buckinghamshire
E31000004
334
338
247
289
241
243
247
Cambridgeshire
E31000005
292
270
210
207
195
233
231
Cheshire
E31000006
318
349
241
258
260
237
253
Cleveland
E31000007
158
177
148
150
154
137
157
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly E31000008
192
191
195
169
176
161
164
Cumbria
E31000009
181
195
185
191
152
156
143
Derbyshire
E31000010
384
388
263
297
268
266
289
Devon and Somerset
E31000011
623
653
535
497
543
488
502
Dorset and Wiltshire
E31000047
481
463
409
415
408
416
420
Durham
E31000013
293
255
212
227
206
223
201
East Sussex
E31000014
298
294
264
251
269
246
259
Essex
E31000015
560
571
437
458
435
397
454
Gloucestershire
E31000016
211
210
160
206
179
170
163
Greater Manchester
E31000040
1,470
1,377
1,116
974
925
1,016
991
Hampshire
E31000017
482
439
385
364
315
419
388
Hereford and Worcester
E31000018
324
343
236
268
206
278
254
Hertfordshire
E31000019
337
340
247
244
222
242
222
Humberside
E31000020
422
440
343
377
319
329
318
Isle Of Wight
E31000021
64
67
49
36
46
65
41
Kent
E31000022
506
522
367
421
361
442
486
Lancashire
E31000023
748
650
508
553
518
521
483
Leicestershire
E31000024
357
343
264
254
268
308
268
Lincolnshire
E31000025
341
339
271
272
286
279
275
London
E31000046
3,101
2,990
2,673
2,573
2,305
2,435
2,289
Merseyside
E31000041
653
608
475
449
408
417
428
Norfolk
E31000026
303
352
291
330
323
292
289
North Yorkshire
E31000027
335
335
310
305
284
277
239
Northamptonshire
E31000028
296
247
218
226
204
205
207
Northumberland
E31000029
161
153
139
107
143
137
115
Nottinghamshire
E31000030
506
483
333
401
358
400
365
Oxfordshire
E31000031
254
246
199
204
190
186
157
Shropshire
E31000032
215
195
160
168
184
166
140
South Yorkshire
E31000042
510
547
426
468
412
403
474
Staffordshire
E31000033
446
425
363
377
429
435
418
Suffolk
E31000034
288
261
194
209
188
188
201
Surrey
E31000035
359
349
313
320
322
323
326
Tyne and Wear
E31000043
477
479
364
345
349
349
313
Warwickshire
E31000036
210
158
126
108
95
121
101
West Midlands
E31000044
1,121
1,239
969
865
876
810
848
West Sussex
E31000037
275
269
284
216
232
207
241
West Yorkshire
E31000045
865
847
642
662
602
630
765

 
15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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