More lives were lost to fires in Cumbria in 2021

The statistics show that three people died as a result of fires, as attended by the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service last year – up from none the year prior but down from four in 2019.

Fire fatalities in Cumbria peaked in 2015, when seven lives were lost.

Nationally, there were 280 fire fatalities in 2021 – the highest number since 2017, when the Grenfell Tower disaster occurred, claiming 72 lives.

There were 98 deaths between October and December, the most recorded for the period since 2008.

The Fire Brigades Union have called the 27 per cent increase in fire fatalities across England as "terrifying" and urged the Government to stem cuts to firefighting services.

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Craig Drinkald, area manager at Cumbria FRS, said: "Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service totally agrees that any death from fire is tragic. That is why prevention is our key priority and we work very hard to ensure that we do everything possible to prevent any fire deaths,  even a single fire death is 1 too many.

"In the financial year from 2020/21 sadly 3 people lost their lives in house fires in Cumbria, through targeted prevention work this dropped to 2 in 21/22. 

"Sadly our data shows that circumstances put some members of our community at greater risk of harm from fire. All of the 5 victims lived alone and were elderly, that is why we work with partners to identify and prioritise these at risk groups.

"Please use our online home safety check tool to see if you, a loved one, neighbour or relative may  be at a greater risk from fire. If they are at risk then we will conduct a free home safety visit. But we urge everyone to make sure that there is at least 1 working smoke detector on each floor of their property," they said. 

Use the freephone number for any more information or https://www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/. 

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