Scottish Fire & Rescue Service: Over a third of fires in Falkirk area homes without a smoke alarm

The appeal was made during the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s annual report to Falkirk Council’s scrutiny committee when a fire boss revealed that over a third of fires were in homes where there was no smoke alarm fitted.

Overall, the report showed a decrease in accidental dwelling fires from 129 down to 90 but a very slight increase in casualties, including one fatality.

Presenting the report, which covered April 2022 to March 23, Area Commander William Pollard told councillors that the service is committed to keeping vulnerable people safe and is working closely with partners to reduce accidental dwelling fires by three per cent.

Councillors were told that of the 90 accidental dwelling fires attended in 2022/23, 60 were identified as starting in the kitchen while 13 per cent involved drug and alcohol use.

Mr Pollard said that the “most worrying statistic” was that in 32 incidents (36 per cent), the premises affected had no working smoking alarm.

“As a result of that we’ve carried out 936 home fire safety visits within the Falkirk area, with 32 of them to persons considered to be at high risk,” he said.

As a result of the visits, the service fitted 677 smoke detectors in the area.

He said that fire crews now actively refer vulnerable people to adult protection agencies for support. The Community Action Team have also been supporting those worst affected by the cost of living crisis by replacing unsafe equipment, for example by swapping old electric blankets for hot water bottles and fire retardant bedding to reduce the risk where possible.

He admitted that funding for these initiatives remains a challenge but said they will continue to use a partnership approach.

AC Pollard added that the brigade locally continues to promote ‘Make the Call’ – a hard-hitting appeal to carers, family, friends and of those who are at risk of serious injury or even death because of an accidental fire in their home.

The annual report overall showed decreases in most areas, including deliberate and accidental fires and road traffic accidents.

AC Pollard said that while deliberate fires “remain an issue” there had been a reduction from 518 the year before to 490. He said they would continue to work with partners, including the police, to reduce the numbers further.

Road traffic accidents attended by the fire service were also down on the previous year, as were non-domestic fires, which were down to 60 from 74.

In total, SFRS responded to a total of 2619 incidents within the Falkirk area between last March and April this year. While this was an increase of 160 incidents from the previous year, fires were down by 14.