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
833
Primary Fires
99% vs England
93
Casualties
16% per 100k vs England
8:58
Avg Response
9% vs England
45%
False Alarms
8% vs England
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 865 | — |
| 2022 | 869 | ≈ no change |
| 2022 | 949 | — |
| 2023 | 964 | ▲ 1.6% |
| 2023 | 883 | — |
| 2024 | 897 | ▲ 1.6% |
| 2024 | 830 | — |
| 2025 | 805 | ▼ 3.0% |
| 2025 | 881 | — |
| 2026 | 833 | ▼ 5.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
93
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service↑ 50.0% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | — |
| 2022 | 56 | ▼ 9.7% |
| 2022 | 74 | — |
| 2023 | 77 | ▲ 4.1% |
| 2023 | 72 | — |
| 2024 | 77 | ▲ 6.9% |
| 2024 | 77 | — |
| 2025 | 101 | ▲ 31.2% |
| 2025 | 97 | — |
| 2026 | 93 | ▼ 4.1% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
45%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50.7% | — |
| 2022 | 48.7% | ▼ 3.9% |
| 2022 | 48.3% | — |
| 2023 | 47.5% | ▼ 1.7% |
| 2023 | 45.4% | — |
| 2024 | 44.0% | ▼ 3.1% |
| 2024 | 43.8% | — |
| 2025 | 43.2% | ▼ 1.4% |
| 2025 | 42.5% | — |
| 2026 | 45.0% | ▲ 5.9% |
False alarms account for 45% of all incidents attended.
Compare with BuckinghamshireLeading 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
2,470
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service↑ 111.1% since 2021/03
England: 102,052
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,170 | — |
| 2022 | 1,594 | ▲ 36.2% |
| 2023 | 2,016 | ▲ 26.5% |
| 2024 | 2,082 | ▲ 3.3% |
| 2025 | 2,470 | ▲ 18.6% |
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
8:58
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service↑ 2.9% since 2021/09
England: 8:15
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8:43 | — |
| 2022 | 8:49 | ▲ 1.1% |
| 2022 | 8:39 | — |
| 2023 | 8:52 | ▲ 2.5% |
| 2023 | 8:46 | — |
| 2024 | 8:32 | ▼ 2.7% |
| 2024 | 8:45 | — |
| 2025 | 9:01 | ▲ 3.0% |
| 2025 | 9:01 | — |
| 2026 | 8:58 | ▼ 0.6% |
Average response time in West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is 9% above the national average.
Compare with BuckinghamshireProportion of incidents by response time band
Primary fires recorded as deliberate (arson)
304
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service↓ 21.9% since 2021/09
England: 71,520
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 389 | — |
| 2022 | 388 | ≈ no change |
| 2022 | 480 | — |
| 2023 | 493 | ▲ 2.7% |
| 2023 | 379 | — |
| 2024 | 377 | ▼ 0.5% |
| 2024 | 340 | — |
| 2025 | 348 | ▲ 2.4% |
| 2025 | 362 | — |
| 2026 | 304 | ▼ 16.0% |
Deliberate fires account for 304% of all primary fires — above the national average.
Compare with BuckinghamshirePrimary fires attended by fire and rescue services
England trend: 61,610 → 66,383
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 865 | — |
| 2022 | 869 | ≈ no change |
| 2022 | 949 | — |
| 2023 | 964 | ▲ 1.6% |
| 2023 | 883 | — |
| 2024 | 897 | ▲ 1.6% |
| 2024 | 830 | — |
| 2025 | 805 | ▼ 3.0% |
| 2025 | 881 | — |
| 2026 | 833 | ▼ 5.4% |
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
93
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service↑ 50.0% since 2021/09
England: 7,102
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | — |
| 2022 | 56 | ▼ 9.7% |
| 2022 | 74 | — |
| 2023 | 77 | ▲ 4.1% |
| 2023 | 72 | — |
| 2024 | 77 | ▲ 6.9% |
| 2024 | 77 | — |
| 2025 | 101 | ▲ 31.2% |
| 2025 | 97 | — |
| 2026 | 93 | ▼ 4.1% |
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
45%
False alarms
| Year ending | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50.7% | — |
| 2022 | 48.7% | ▼ 3.9% |
| 2022 | 48.3% | — |
| 2023 | 47.5% | ▼ 1.7% |
| 2023 | 45.4% | — |
| 2024 | 44.0% | ▼ 3.1% |
| 2024 | 43.8% | — |
| 2025 | 43.2% | ▼ 1.4% |
| 2025 | 42.5% | — |
| 2026 | 45.0% | ▲ 5.9% |
False alarms account for 45% of all incidents attended.
Compare with BuckinghamshireFeatured fire risk assessment professionals in South East
