Official statistics from the UK fire and rescue services. Explore incident rates, response times, and casualty figures by fire authority.
Data current as of year ending March 2026
791
Primary Fires
99% vs England
55
Casualties
37% per 100k vs England
8:49
Avg Response
7% vs England
43%
False Alarms
3% vs England
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 725 | — |
| 2022 | 747 | ▲ 3.0% |
| 2022 | 860 | — |
| 2023 | 869 | ▲ 1.0% |
| 2023 | 725 | — |
| 2024 | 727 | ≈ no change |
| 2024 | 792 | — |
| 2025 | 778 | ▼ 1.8% |
| 2025 | 836 | — |
| 2026 | 791 | ▼ 5.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
55
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 5.8% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | — |
| 2022 | 49 | ▼ 5.8% |
| 2022 | 44 | — |
| 2023 | 40 | ▼ 9.1% |
| 2023 | 29 | — |
| 2024 | 36 | ▲ 24.1% |
| 2024 | 37 | — |
| 2025 | 37 | ≈ no change |
| 2025 | 64 | — |
| 2026 | 55 | ▼ 14.1% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
43%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42.0% | — |
| 2022 | 40.4% | ▼ 3.8% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | — |
| 2023 | 36.7% | ▼ 0.5% |
| 2023 | 39.4% | — |
| 2024 | 40.2% | ▲ 2.0% |
| 2024 | 38.8% | — |
| 2025 | 37.7% | ▼ 2.8% |
| 2025 | 39.6% | — |
| 2026 | 42.9% | ▲ 8.3% |
False alarms account for 43% of all incidents attended.
Compare with CambridgeshireLeading causes of accidental primary fires
Equipment misuse is the leading cause of accidental dwelling fires in England.
Whether fire was contained to the room of origin or spread further
Distribution of primary fire incidents across the 24-hour cycle
Dwelling fires typically peak between 6pm and 9pm, coinciding with evening cooking activity.
Whether smoke alarms raised the alarm in dwelling fires
Number of fire safety audits conducted by the authority
1,636
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 100.5% since 2021/03
England: 102,052
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 816 | — |
| 2022 | 1,294 | ▲ 58.6% |
| 2023 | 1,144 | ▼ 11.6% |
| 2024 | 1,532 | ▲ 33.9% |
| 2025 | 1,636 | ▲ 6.8% |
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
8:49
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↓ 2.0% since 2021/09
England: 8:15
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9:00 | — |
| 2022 | 9:37 | ▲ 6.9% |
| 2022 | 9:05 | — |
| 2023 | 8:58 | ▼ 1.3% |
| 2023 | 9:03 | — |
| 2024 | 8:46 | ▼ 3.1% |
| 2024 | 8:40 | — |
| 2025 | 8:21 | ▼ 3.7% |
| 2025 | 8:27 | — |
| 2026 | 8:49 | ▲ 4.3% |
Average response time in Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is 7% above the national average.
Compare with CambridgeshireProportion of incidents by response time band
Primary fires recorded as deliberate (arson)
706
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 48.3% since 2021/09
England: 71,520
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 476 | — |
| 2022 | 566 | ▲ 18.9% |
| 2022 | 735 | — |
| 2023 | 758 | ▲ 3.1% |
| 2023 | 598 | — |
| 2024 | 520 | ▼ 13.0% |
| 2024 | 536 | — |
| 2025 | 557 | ▲ 3.9% |
| 2025 | 699 | — |
| 2026 | 706 | ▲ 1.0% |
Deliberate fires account for 706% of all primary fires — above the national average.
Compare with CambridgeshirePrimary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 725 | — |
| 2022 | 747 | ▲ 3.0% |
| 2022 | 860 | — |
| 2023 | 869 | ▲ 1.0% |
| 2023 | 725 | — |
| 2024 | 727 | ≈ no change |
| 2024 | 792 | — |
| 2025 | 778 | ▼ 1.8% |
| 2025 | 836 | — |
| 2026 | 791 | ▼ 5.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
55
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 5.8% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | — |
| 2022 | 49 | ▼ 5.8% |
| 2022 | 44 | — |
| 2023 | 40 | ▼ 9.1% |
| 2023 | 29 | — |
| 2024 | 36 | ▲ 24.1% |
| 2024 | 37 | — |
| 2025 | 37 | ≈ no change |
| 2025 | 64 | — |
| 2026 | 55 | ▼ 14.1% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
43%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42.0% | — |
| 2022 | 40.4% | ▼ 3.8% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | — |
| 2023 | 36.7% | ▼ 0.5% |
| 2023 | 39.4% | — |
| 2024 | 40.2% | ▲ 2.0% |
| 2024 | 38.8% | — |
| 2025 | 37.7% | ▼ 2.8% |
| 2025 | 39.6% | — |
| 2026 | 42.9% | ▲ 8.3% |
False alarms account for 43% of all incidents attended.
Compare with CambridgeshireFeatured fire risk assessment professionals in East of England
