Accidental East Sussex house fires drop to record lows

Accidental fires in East Sussex homes have fallen to their lowest ever recorded, according to East Sussex Fire.
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According to the fire service’s report, 78 per cent of accidental fires in the home were described as being ‘very small’. They required either no firefighting intervention or only minimal action such as using a fire extinguisher or removing the item from a heat source.

Kitchens, with cooking and faulty electrics were responsible for 66 per cent of accidental fires.

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Overall, fires affecting property – known as primary fires – were 12 per cent lower to 1,041.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue ServiceEast Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it will be presenting the Annual Outcome report to the Fire Authority on Thursday (September 3).

Chief Fire Officer Dawn Whittaker said: “This report shows some extremely positive results with reductions across many areas but of particular significance is the drop in the number of accidental fires in the home. There were 453 in 2019/20 – that is 11 per cent less than in the previous year. Injuries and fatalities are also lower than the previous year.

“This is a reflection of the ongoing work our teams carry out in preventing emergencies. Over 10,000 home safety visits were made in 2019/20, with advice given and smoke alarms fitted where needed. Nine out of ten of these special visits were to those in our community who are most at risk of having a fire.

“We are not complacent. Despite the challenges from Covid19, we continue to reach thousands of households which may need our help and support.”

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