Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

A study has been made of all fires in dwellings attended by Local Authority Fire Brigades in one year (1956) and this note is concerned with the causes of these fires. About half are connected with heating appliances of which the open fire occurs most frequently. Cooking appliances, miscellaneous electrical equipment and installations, and smoking materials are all frequently encountered as sources of ignition. About half the fires appear to result from some action or omission (through ignorance or carelessness) on the part of the occupants.