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
1,200
Primary Fires
98% vs England
147
Casualties
3% per 100k vs England
7:57
Avg Response
4% vs England
47%
False Alarms
13% vs England
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,047 | — |
| 2022 | 1,070 | ▲ 2.2% |
| 2022 | 1,168 | — |
| 2023 | 1,164 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 1,081 | — |
| 2024 | 1,051 | ▼ 2.8% |
| 2024 | 1,061 | — |
| 2025 | 1,081 | ▲ 1.9% |
| 2025 | 1,216 | — |
| 2026 | 1,200 | ▼ 1.3% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
147
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 2.8% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | — |
| 2022 | 156 | ▲ 9.1% |
| 2022 | 139 | — |
| 2023 | 139 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 146 | — |
| 2024 | 145 | ▼ 0.7% |
| 2024 | 135 | — |
| 2025 | 112 | ▼ 17.0% |
| 2025 | 121 | — |
| 2026 | 147 | ▲ 21.5% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
47%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45.5% | — |
| 2022 | 43.5% | ▼ 4.4% |
| 2022 | 40.9% | — |
| 2023 | 42.0% | ▲ 2.7% |
| 2023 | 45.5% | — |
| 2024 | 47.4% | ▲ 4.2% |
| 2024 | 47.8% | — |
| 2025 | 46.4% | ▼ 2.9% |
| 2025 | 45.0% | — |
| 2026 | 46.8% | ▲ 4.0% |
False alarms account for 47% 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
504
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↓ 51.4% since 2021/03
England: 102,052
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,038 | — |
| 2022 | 2,406 | ▲ 131.8% |
| 2023 | 2,160 | ▼ 10.2% |
| 2024 | 2,188 | ▲ 1.3% |
| 2025 | 504 | ▼ 77.0% |
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
7:57
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 3.7% since 2021/09
England: 8:15
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7:40 | — |
| 2022 | 7:49 | ▲ 2.0% |
| 2022 | 8:01 | — |
| 2023 | 8:02 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 7:50 | — |
| 2024 | 7:52 | ≈ no change |
| 2024 | 8:07 | — |
| 2025 | 8:10 | ▲ 0.6% |
| 2025 | 8:04 | — |
| 2026 | 7:57 | ▼ 1.4% |
Average response time in Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is 4% below the national average.
Compare with BedfordshireProportion of incidents by response time band
Primary fires recorded as deliberate (arson)
1,011
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 26.4% since 2021/09
England: 71,520
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 800 | — |
| 2022 | 823 | ▲ 2.9% |
| 2022 | 1,221 | — |
| 2023 | 1,143 | ▼ 6.4% |
| 2023 | 732 | — |
| 2024 | 719 | ▼ 1.8% |
| 2024 | 714 | — |
| 2025 | 810 | ▲ 13.4% |
| 2025 | 1,062 | — |
| 2026 | 1,011 | ▼ 4.8% |
Deliberate fires account for 1011% 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 | 1,047 | — |
| 2022 | 1,070 | ▲ 2.2% |
| 2022 | 1,168 | — |
| 2023 | 1,164 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 1,081 | — |
| 2024 | 1,051 | ▼ 2.8% |
| 2024 | 1,061 | — |
| 2025 | 1,081 | ▲ 1.9% |
| 2025 | 1,216 | — |
| 2026 | 1,200 | ▼ 1.3% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
147
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service↑ 2.8% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | — |
| 2022 | 156 | ▲ 9.1% |
| 2022 | 139 | — |
| 2023 | 139 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 146 | — |
| 2024 | 145 | ▼ 0.7% |
| 2024 | 135 | — |
| 2025 | 112 | ▼ 17.0% |
| 2025 | 121 | — |
| 2026 | 147 | ▲ 21.5% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
47%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45.5% | — |
| 2022 | 43.5% | ▼ 4.4% |
| 2022 | 40.9% | — |
| 2023 | 42.0% | ▲ 2.7% |
| 2023 | 45.5% | — |
| 2024 | 47.4% | ▲ 4.2% |
| 2024 | 47.8% | — |
| 2025 | 46.4% | ▼ 2.9% |
| 2025 | 45.0% | — |
| 2026 | 46.8% | ▲ 4.0% |
False alarms account for 47% of all incidents attended.
Compare with BedfordshireFeatured fire risk assessment professionals in East of England
