Figures released show that there have been 36 fire fatalities across the UK in the last 2 months.
In a recent press release, CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association), dated 4 February 2011, stated that there had been 32 fatalities in the last 2 months:
Strathclyde FRS recently reported a ten year high spike in figures and increases in dwelling fires, fire deaths and injuries have been seen in other areas of the country. Peter Holland added, “Tragically we are aware of 32 fatalities which have occurred over the last two months across the UK in Derbyshire, West Midlands, Lancashire, Cheshire, Lothian & Borders, Strathclyde, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Humberside, Essex, South Wales and Tayside.”
Unfortunately on the day of release, tragically a further 4 fire deaths have been reported; one in North Tyneside (source: A 91-year-old woman has died after a fire at her North Tyneside home), two women died in a tower block fire in Lewisham, London (source: Two women die in Deptford tower block blaze), with another woman from this incident seriously ill in hospital. The day after, on Sunday 5 February, a pregnant girl, aged 17, died in a flat fire in Newport, South Wales (source: Pregnant girl, 17, dies in Newport flat fire).
Shockingly, this brings the total fire deaths to 36 in just two months.
The Fire Brigades Union recently repeated it’s warning that cuts will cost lives, as response times slow (source: FBU says cuts will cost lives, as response times slow).
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “Every second counts when there’s a fire. Our job as firefighters is to rescue people and we aim to get to every incident as quickly as we can.
“But the public should know that cutting firefighter jobs, fewer fire engines and other cuts will delay our intervention. The planned cuts to the service will cost lives if they go ahead. They must be stopped.”
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