The leading causes of fires in the UK
Published November 14, 2019
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The following fire statistics have been compiled to draw attention to the risks of house fires, the main causes of house fires, and when most house fires occur in the UK. This article was updated in December 2023 and all data was sourced from the most up-to-date Home Office statistics available at the time of writing.
Key house fire statistics
- Fire and rescue services attend approximately 35,000 house fires per year
- Cooking appliances are the leading cause of house fires
- Tumble dryers and washing machines cause more than 1,000 house fires a year
- Almost a fifth of house fires occur between 6 PM – 8 PM
- There were 311 fire-related deaths in the UK in 2021/22
How many fires are there in the UK each year?
In 2021/22 there were 33,389 dwelling (a house, flat, or another place of residence) fires in the UK, which is 5% lower than the previous year. Over the past five years, the average number of dwelling fires attended by fire & rescue services per year in the UK is 35,129.
England has the most house fires in total, while Scotland has the most house fires per capita. Wales, meanwhile, has the fewest house fires.
What are the biggest causes of house fires in the UK?
Cooking appliances are by far the most common cause of house fires in the UK, accounting for 44% of fires (10,494 in total) in 2022/23.
Here is a breakdown of the leading causes of house fires and the most common sources of ignition.
1. Cooking appliances: 10,494 fires
The most common causes of cooking-related fires in UK homes are cookers & ovens (accounting for 6,762 fires), rings & hot plates (1,311), and grills & toasters (1,016).
2. Electrical distribution: 2,972 fires
The most common sources of ignition for electrical-related fires in UK homes are faulty wiring, cabling & plugs (2,219 incidents), batteries & generators (718) and heating equipment (35).
3. Smoking-related materials: 2,163 fires
There were 2,163 smoking-related fires recorded in 2022/23, with smoking materials such as cigarettes, and cigarette lighters accounting for 1,979 fires and 184 fires respectively.
4. Domestic appliances: 2,122 fires
Domestic appliances caused 2,122 house fires in 2022/23. Tumble dryers accounted for 593 fires, followed by washing machines (432 fires) and fridge/freezers (157).
5. Matches and Candles: 1,057 fires
Candles were the cause of 915 house fires in 2022/23, while matches caused 142 fires.
The materials mainly responsible for the spread of the fire in homes are as follows:
- Textiles, upholstery and furnishings such as clothing and textiles
- Food, predominantly cooking oil or fat
- Structures and fittings such as internal wiring insulation
What percentage of fires are caused by people?
Over the past five years, the average number of dwelling fires per year caused by humans is 17,118. This equates to 49% of all fires, meaning just under half of all house fires are started by humans.
When do most house fires occur in the UK?
House fires can happen at any time of day but are most common between the hours of 6 pm and 8 pm. Fires happen least between the hours of 4 am and 6 am.
Most house fires occur in April and June when house fires average 79 a day. Meanwhile, the fewest occur in September, when house fires average 65 a day.
How many deaths are caused by fire each year in the UK?
There were 335 fire-related deaths in the UK in 2021/22. The highest number of deaths caused by fire occurred in 1985/86, when there were 967 fire-related fatalities.
More house fire facts
- 93% of households in England & Wales own a working smoke alarm
- There were 537,081 Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSCs) carried out by Fire and Rescue Services and partners in England in 2022/23
- Fire and Rescue Services take 8 minutes to respond to a house fire, on average
Have you been impacted by a fire at your home? If so, please visit our fire insurance claims page to find out more about how Morgan Clark can help.