There were 65 accidental fires from April to October 2018, compared to 86 for the same period last year – a decrease of 24%
Steve Johnson, Area Manager, Protection and Prevention, said: “These figures endorse the support we receive from residents in our fire safety prevention work in helping make Cleveland one of the safest places to live.
“You are 49% less likely to have a fire in the home if you live in Cleveland than anywhere else in England. That is an achievement we should all be proud of.
“We are committed to driving these figures down even further and look forward to the continued support of the Cleveland community and our partner organisations.”
The figures also show the number of call-outs also going down. There were 5,746 incidents recorded for this period, compared to 5,409 last year, a 6% reduction
Cleveland Fire Brigade also carried out more than 10,600 Home Fire Safety Visits where firefighters checked and fitted smoke alarms. This included nearly 2000 Safe and Well Visits where the Brigade joins forces with health partners to signpost where additional support may be needed.
More than 330 people were referred to other agencies and given extra equipment if needed to prevent hazards in the home. The agencies range from dementia support organisations and befriending services to stop smoking and alcohol advice.
Cleveland Fire Brigade is the best fire service in the UK at keeping people safe in their homes and remains one of the fastest responders to house fires with the first fire engine getting to a building in an average time of 4mins 50 seconds.
The most common causes of house fires include electrical faults, cooking and radiated heat.
For home safety advice go to www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/home
