Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service says fire deaths and injuries fell last year

Fire deaths, injuries and accidental house blazes all fell last year, according to new statistics from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service.

There were 14 fatalities in 2012 compared to 27 the previous year, and a 3 per cent reduction when it came to those injured, while accidental house fires were down 4 per cent.

However, the service’s chief officer said four deaths over the festive period showed people must “always be aware” of the dangers of fire.

Figures showed a 14 per cent drop in fire casualties and a 5 per cent drop in accidental house fires from 1 December to 3 January compared to the same period the previous year, with a 39 per cent increase in the number of home fire safety visits.

Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said people living in the west of Scotland are three times less likely to suffer the devastating consequences of fire than they were in 1975.