FOI Request 2026

Subject: Electrical Fires

Status: Complete

Date received:

Question Asked:

1. How many electrical fires has the service responded to in the last three years (between April 6-April 5 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24)?

1a) Of these, how many incidents were in domestic properties and how many commercial? Broken down by year.

1b) Of these incidents, how many were caused by electrical products? What were the other causes?

1c) What were the 5 most common products to cause electrical fires for each year?

2. How many fatalities has the service recorded as the result of electrical fires in the last three years (between April 6-April 5 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24)?

2a) How many injuries (serious and slight) has the service recorded as a result of electrical fires during the same period?

Our Response:

1. How many electrical fires has the service responded to in the last three years (between April 6-April 5 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24)?

Electrical Fires have been defined as fires where Ignition Powered by: Electricity and where Main Cause: Fault in equipment or appliance, Faulty fuel supply- electricity or Faulty leads to equipment or appliance

1a) Of these, how many incidents were in domestic properties and how many commercial? Broken down by year.

There is no domestic and commercial description within the incident recording system. The closest to this are the property category selections of Dwelling and Non Residential

There were an additional 222 Electrical Fires that were recorded with property categories of Road Vehicle, Outdoor Structure, Other Residential, Boat, Rail Vehicle & Outdoor

1b) Of these incidents, how many were caused by electrical products? What were the other causes?

The table below reports the source of ignition for the 411 fires from table 1a.

1c) What were the 5 most common products to cause electrical fires for each year?

Based on the table above, the top 5 ignition sources linked to electrical fires were:

• Electricity supply - Wiring, cabling, plugs

• Electricity supply - Apparatus - batteries, generators

• Other domestic style appliance - Tumble dryer

• Other domestic style appliance - Fridge/Freezer

• Other appliance or equipment - Other appliance or equipment

Electrical Supply (wiring/cabling/plugs), Electricity supply (Apparatus - batteries, generators), Other appliance or equipment and Electric lighting (Other lights) resulted accounted for more fires than the above 5 products. However, these ignition sources do not link to specific products.

2. How many fatalities has the service recorded as a result of electrical fires in the last three years (between April 6-April 5 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24?

2a) How many injuries (serious and slight) has the service recorded as a result of electrical fires during the same period?

Number of fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries at electrical fires based on initial definition.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO