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
3,561
Primary Fires
95% vs England
741
Casualties
100% per 100k vs England
6:29
Avg Response
21% vs England
37%
False Alarms
11% vs England
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,549 | — |
| 2022 | 3,510 | ▼ 1.1% |
| 2022 | 3,553 | — |
| 2023 | 3,540 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 3,355 | — |
| 2024 | 3,288 | ▼ 2.0% |
| 2024 | 3,209 | — |
| 2025 | 3,389 | ▲ 5.6% |
| 2025 | 3,674 | — |
| 2026 | 3,561 | ▼ 3.1% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
741
West Midlands Fire Service↑ 4.5% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 709 | — |
| 2022 | 630 | ▼ 11.1% |
| 2022 | 612 | — |
| 2023 | 612 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 592 | — |
| 2024 | 587 | ▼ 0.8% |
| 2024 | 587 | — |
| 2025 | 662 | ▲ 12.8% |
| 2025 | 743 | — |
| 2026 | 741 | ≈ no change |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
37%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36.6% | — |
| 2022 | 35.3% | ▼ 3.6% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | — |
| 2023 | 35.2% | ▲ 3.8% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | — |
| 2024 | 38.3% | ▲ 1.9% |
| 2024 | 39.7% | — |
| 2025 | 38.9% | ▼ 2.0% |
| 2025 | 35.8% | — |
| 2026 | 36.8% | ▲ 2.8% |
False alarms account for 37% of all incidents attended.
Compare with Hereford and WorcesterLeading 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
1,552
West Midlands Fire Service↑ 75.6% since 2021/03
England: 102,052
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 884 | — |
| 2022 | 1,860 | ▲ 110.4% |
| 2023 | 1,454 | ▼ 21.8% |
| 2024 | 1,182 | ▼ 18.7% |
| 2025 | 1,552 | ▲ 31.3% |
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
6:29
West Midlands Fire Service↑ 3.5% since 2021/09
England: 8:15
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6:16 | — |
| 2022 | 6:20 | ▲ 1.1% |
| 2022 | 6:30 | — |
| 2023 | 6:35 | ▲ 1.3% |
| 2023 | 6:36 | — |
| 2024 | 6:35 | ≈ no change |
| 2024 | 6:28 | — |
| 2025 | 6:18 | ▼ 2.6% |
| 2025 | 6:25 | — |
| 2026 | 6:29 | ▲ 1.0% |
Average response time in West Midlands Fire Service is 21% below the national average.
Compare with Hereford and WorcesterProportion of incidents by response time band
Primary fires recorded as deliberate (arson)
3,518
West Midlands Fire Service↑ 19.2% since 2021/09
England: 71,520
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,952 | — |
| 2022 | 3,179 | ▲ 7.7% |
| 2022 | 4,118 | — |
| 2023 | 3,895 | ▼ 5.4% |
| 2023 | 3,016 | — |
| 2024 | 2,983 | ▼ 1.1% |
| 2024 | 2,863 | — |
| 2025 | 2,973 | ▲ 3.8% |
| 2025 | 3,712 | — |
| 2026 | 3,518 | ▼ 5.2% |
Deliberate fires account for 3518% of all primary fires — above the national average.
Compare with Hereford and WorcesterPrimary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,549 | — |
| 2022 | 3,510 | ▼ 1.1% |
| 2022 | 3,553 | — |
| 2023 | 3,540 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 3,355 | — |
| 2024 | 3,288 | ▼ 2.0% |
| 2024 | 3,209 | — |
| 2025 | 3,389 | ▲ 5.6% |
| 2025 | 3,674 | — |
| 2026 | 3,561 | ▼ 3.1% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
741
West Midlands Fire Service↑ 4.5% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 709 | — |
| 2022 | 630 | ▼ 11.1% |
| 2022 | 612 | — |
| 2023 | 612 | ≈ no change |
| 2023 | 592 | — |
| 2024 | 587 | ▼ 0.8% |
| 2024 | 587 | — |
| 2025 | 662 | ▲ 12.8% |
| 2025 | 743 | — |
| 2026 | 741 | ≈ no change |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
37%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36.6% | — |
| 2022 | 35.3% | ▼ 3.6% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | — |
| 2023 | 35.2% | ▲ 3.8% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | — |
| 2024 | 38.3% | ▲ 1.9% |
| 2024 | 39.7% | — |
| 2025 | 38.9% | ▼ 2.0% |
| 2025 | 35.8% | — |
| 2026 | 36.8% | ▲ 2.8% |
False alarms account for 37% of all incidents attended.
Compare with Hereford and WorcesterFeatured fire risk assessment professionals in West Midlands
