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
2,163
Primary Fires
97% vs England
143
Casualties
38% per 100k vs England
9:28
Avg Response
15% vs England
42%
False Alarms
2% vs England
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,853 | — |
| 2022 | 1,936 | ▲ 4.5% |
| 2022 | 2,145 | — |
| 2023 | 2,182 | ▲ 1.7% |
| 2023 | 2,038 | — |
| 2024 | 1,955 | ▼ 4.1% |
| 2024 | 1,826 | — |
| 2025 | 1,922 | ▲ 5.3% |
| 2025 | 2,217 | — |
| 2026 | 2,163 | ▼ 2.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
143
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service↓ 0.7% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144 | — |
| 2022 | 155 | ▲ 7.6% |
| 2022 | 136 | — |
| 2023 | 122 | ▼ 10.3% |
| 2023 | 120 | — |
| 2024 | 132 | ▲ 10.0% |
| 2024 | 122 | — |
| 2025 | 118 | ▼ 3.3% |
| 2025 | 132 | — |
| 2026 | 143 | ▲ 8.3% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
42%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43.5% | — |
| 2022 | 41.9% | ▼ 3.7% |
| 2022 | 39.2% | — |
| 2023 | 40.4% | ▲ 3.1% |
| 2023 | 43.2% | — |
| 2024 | 43.8% | ▲ 1.4% |
| 2024 | 44.1% | — |
| 2025 | 44.1% | ≈ no change |
| 2025 | 42.0% | — |
| 2026 | 42.2% | ≈ no change |
False alarms account for 42% of all incidents attended.
Compare with BedfordshireLeading 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
3,034
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service↓ 41.9% since 2021/03
England: 102,052
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,224 | — |
| 2022 | 1,834 | ▼ 64.9% |
| 2023 | 3,788 | ▲ 106.5% |
| 2024 | 2,550 | ▼ 32.7% |
| 2025 | 3,034 | ▲ 19.0% |
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
9:28
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service↑ 11.4% since 2021/09
England: 8:15
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8:30 | — |
| 2022 | 8:36 | ▲ 1.2% |
| 2022 | 9:14 | — |
| 2023 | 9:15 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 9:07 | — |
| 2024 | 9:28 | ▲ 3.8% |
| 2024 | 9:30 | — |
| 2025 | 9:18 | ▼ 2.1% |
| 2025 | 9:24 | — |
| 2026 | 9:28 | ▲ 0.7% |
Average response time in Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is 15% above the national average.
Compare with BedfordshireProportion of incidents by response time band
Primary fires recorded as deliberate (arson)
1,611
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service↑ 55.2% since 2021/09
England: 71,520
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,038 | — |
| 2022 | 1,125 | ▲ 8.4% |
| 2022 | 1,423 | — |
| 2023 | 1,385 | ▼ 2.7% |
| 2023 | 1,113 | — |
| 2024 | 1,046 | ▼ 6.0% |
| 2024 | 1,011 | — |
| 2025 | 1,191 | ▲ 17.8% |
| 2025 | 1,623 | — |
| 2026 | 1,611 | ▼ 0.7% |
Deliberate fires account for 1611% of all primary fires — above the national average.
Compare with BedfordshirePrimary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,853 | — |
| 2022 | 1,936 | ▲ 4.5% |
| 2022 | 2,145 | — |
| 2023 | 2,182 | ▲ 1.7% |
| 2023 | 2,038 | — |
| 2024 | 1,955 | ▼ 4.1% |
| 2024 | 1,826 | — |
| 2025 | 1,922 | ▲ 5.3% |
| 2025 | 2,217 | — |
| 2026 | 2,163 | ▼ 2.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
143
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service↓ 0.7% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144 | — |
| 2022 | 155 | ▲ 7.6% |
| 2022 | 136 | — |
| 2023 | 122 | ▼ 10.3% |
| 2023 | 120 | — |
| 2024 | 132 | ▲ 10.0% |
| 2024 | 122 | — |
| 2025 | 118 | ▼ 3.3% |
| 2025 | 132 | — |
| 2026 | 143 | ▲ 8.3% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
42%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43.5% | — |
| 2022 | 41.9% | ▼ 3.7% |
| 2022 | 39.2% | — |
| 2023 | 40.4% | ▲ 3.1% |
| 2023 | 43.2% | — |
| 2024 | 43.8% | ▲ 1.4% |
| 2024 | 44.1% | — |
| 2025 | 44.1% | ≈ no change |
| 2025 | 42.0% | — |
| 2026 | 42.2% | ≈ no change |
False alarms account for 42% of all incidents attended.
Compare with BedfordshireFeatured fire risk assessment professionals in East of England
