Dwelling fires dataset guidance
Updated 23 August 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-statistics-incident-level-datasets/dwelling-fires-dataset-guidance
Publishing Incident Recording System data on the fire and rescue service at an Incident Level:
Frequency of release: Annual
First publication: 12 September 2019
Latest update: 25 July 2024
Forthcoming releases: Home Office statistics release calendar
Home Office responsible statistician: Helene Clark
Press enquiries: pressoffice@homeoffice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 3535
Public enquiries: firestatistics@homeoffice.gov.uk
1. Background
Data quality
Incident records in the Incident Recording System (IRS) are the responsibility of and quality assured by fire and rescue services (FRSs). The Home Office and FRSs work together to improve the data within the IRS and minimise any inconsistencies or errors. However, as the IRS was not designed with record level datasets in mind, a very small number of previously unidentified inconsistencies have been discovered (see project overview for further detail).
IRS incident records are a judgement call of the lead fire officer at the time of the incident. The quality of the information provided by fire and rescue services is variable and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed, especially at a record level, for instance some records involve estimation by those in attendance.
Dataset rationale
When surveyed, interested parties said that the most important topic to them was knowing the “type of building a fire occurred in” through the release of open data. Most commented that dwelling fires were a priority. We have reflected this by publishing this dataset in ‘Tranche One’ and updating it at the start of the annual round of updates since. The Home Office has, and will continue to, engage with stakeholders, such as statistical users and FRSs, to gauge opinion on the most useful datasets to publish.
Dataset definition
The dwelling fires dataset covers incidents attended by FRSs that were primary dwelling fires in England. The Home Office only has jurisdiction for fire policy in England and therefore has published incident data for England only.
A dwelling is defined as “a property that is a place of residence, that is, occupied by households”. The definition includes residential homes, sheltered accommodation, caravans, houseboats and houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) but it does not include hostels, hotels and residential institutions, bed and breakfast establishments, nursing/care homes and student halls of residence. Fires in these types of buildings are covered in the ‘Other building fires’ dataset. Fires in common areas of flats (such as stairs) are included.
Fires in derelict dwellings are only included if they are considered a primary fire (that is, the fire involved a fatality, casualty or rescue or the fire was attended by 5 or more pumping appliances).
Derelict dwellings are defined as those unfit for further use; awaiting demolition or under demolition. These records, when aggregated, also match the published statistics as derelict dwellings are not included the dwellings statistics. Information on these fires are in the ‘Primary outdoor and all secondary fires’ dataset.
The data in this dataset are consistent with records that reached the IRS by 15 May 2024.
2. Variable by variable - scene setting
Variable Name: FRS_TERRITORY
Variable Description: The FRS in which the dwelling fire took place
IRS Question: 1.6
The fire and rescue service (FRS) refers to the territory in which the incident took place, not necessarily the FRS which responded. Occasionally an FRS will respond to an incident “over the border”, because of this, users should be careful about making general comments about particular FRSs as some incidents may have been attended by other FRSs. This dataset only covers incidents that took place in England.
Due to data protection issues we have merged Isles of Scilly data with Cornwall, as the number of dwelling fires in Isle of Scilly is minimal [there were 13 between the financial year 2010 to 2011 and 2023 to 2024]. Figures for Dorset and Wiltshire, who merged into one FRS on 1 April 2016, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight, who merged into one FRS on 1 April 2021, are presented merged.
Variable Name: E_CODE_TERRITORY
Variable Description: The E Code of the FRS
IRS Question: 1.6 (based on)
The standard National Statistics code (E Code) of the fire and rescue service (FRS) in FRS_NAME. In this case the code for Cornwall has been used for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly combined FRS.
Variable Name: FINANCIAL_YEAR
Variable Description: The financial year the dwelling fire took place
IRS Question: 2.1 (based on)
A financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Record level information is published from 2010 to 2011 - although the IRS began in April 2009 there are a few minor issues with the 2009 to 2010 records which mean that while statistics at higher levels are robust some of the incident level records are not of a sufficient quality to publish. Incidents are allocated to financial year depending on the time of the call, which is usually collected through automatic systems, so for example an incident where the call was made at 23.59 on March 31 2010 but the incident was closed at 01.34 on April 1 2010 would be allocated to 2009 to 2010 not 2010 to 2011.
Variable Name: WEEKDAY_WEEKEND
Variable Description: Whether the dwelling fire took place on a weekday or a weekend
IRS Question: 2.1 (based on)
The weekend is defined as starting at 6pm on Friday evening and running until 6am on Monday morning. Incidents are allocated to this variable depending on the time of the call, which is usually collected through automatic systems.
Variable Name: DAY_NIGHT
Variable Description: Whether the incident took place in day or night
IRS Question: 2.1 (based on)
Incidents are allocated to this variable depending on the time of the call, which is usually collected through automatic systems. “Night” is defined as starting at midnight and running until 6am, “Morning” runs from 6am to midday, “Afternoon” from midday to 6pm and “Evening” from 6pm to midnight.
3. Variable by variable - situation
Variable Name: DWELLING_TYPE
Variable Description: The type of dwelling the fire was in
IRS Question: 3.2
The dwelling fires dataset only covers primary fires, this excludes derelict dwellings unless five or more pumping appliances attended the incident or it resulted in a fatality, casualty or rescue. The definitions used for this variable are those used in the Census 2011 and are consistent with FIRE0205.
The first version of the dataset had 5 possible answers to this variable (“Bungalow - Single occupancy”, “Dwellings - Multiple occupancy”, “Dwellings - Other / unspecified”, “Flats - Single occupancy” and “House - single occupancy”.
The updated versions have eight possible answers to this variable (“Bungalow - single occupancy”, “Converted Flat/Maisonette - single occupancy”, “Dwelling - Multiple occupancy”, “House - single occupancy”, “Other dwelling”, “Purpose Built High Rise (10 or more) Flat”, “Purpose Built Medium Rise (4 to 9) Flat” and “Purpose Built Low Rise (1 to 3) Flats/Maisonette”.
Variable Name: BUILDING_SPECIAL_CONSTRUCTION_DESCRIPTION
Variable Description: Any special method of building construction involved.
IRS Question: 8.18
This may be a judgement call of the FRS staff present at the time and/or those completing the Incident Recording System for the incident concerned. Options include “Timber framed”, “Cladding”, “Sandwich panels”, “Atria”, “Thatch”.
Variable Name: OCCUPANCY_TYPE
Variable Description: The household description of those occupying the dwelling
IRS Question: 8.15
This may be a judgement call of the FRS staff present at the time and/or those completing the Incident Recording System for the incident concerned.
Variable Name: OCCUPIED_NORMAL
Variable Description: Whether the building was normally occupied
IRS Question: 5.14
This would include squatters and non-rightful occupants, and whether the building is under construction.
Variable Name: ALARM_SYSTEM
Variable Description: Whether a smoke alarm was present and if it operated.
IRS Question: Combination of 5.8 and 5.11
In a case where more than one alarm system was present the “best” case is chosen, that is, “Alarm Present and raised the alarm” is the best case, “Alarm Present but did not raise alarm” is the second best case, “Alarm Present but did not operate” is the third best case and “Alarm Absent” is the worst case.
Variable Name: NO_ALARMS
Variable Description: The number of smoke alarms present in the dwelling
IRS Question: 5.9 (based on)
The number of smoke alarms present in the dwelling. This may be a judgement call of the FRS staff present at the time and/or those completing the Incident Recording System for the incident concerned.
Variable Name: ALARM_SYSTEM_TYPE
Variable Description: The type of smoke alarm in the dwelling
IRS Question: 5.9 (based on)
The type of smoke alarm present in the dwelling.
Variable Name: ALARM_REASON_FOR_POOR_OUTCOME
Variable Description: The reason system did not function as intended
IRS Question: 5.12 (based on)
In a case where more than one alarm was present ‘Alarm present and raised the alarm’ takes the priority.
Variable Name: IGNITION_TO_DISCOVERY
Variable Description: The time between ignition and discovery
IRS Question: 5.2
This is the approximate time elapsed from the ignition of the fire to its discovery, and may well be estimated.
When the dwelling fire spreads from a secondary fire, the time is based on the estimated start of first damage to the dwelling. For example, if a rubbish bin fire (secondary) spreads to a house (primary) the time recorded is the estimated time from ignition of the house to discovery NOT ignition of the bin to discovery.
Variable Name: DISCOVERY_TO_CALL
Variable Description: The time between discovery and call.
IRS Question: 5.3
This is the approximate time elapsed from the discovery of the fire to when the call was made to the emergency services and may well be estimated (FRSs are asked to provide an estimate if at all possible).
Variable Name: LATE_CALL
Variable Description: Whether the incident was a late call
IRS Question: 2.4
A late call is where a fire is known to be extinguished when the call was made.
It should be stressed that a fire that is ‘out on arrival’ (for example, extinguished before the FRS arrived) does not constitute a ‘late fire call’. A fire which comes to the attention of the FRS to which no call was made, for example as a result of a press report or inquest, is reported as a late call if an attendance is made (even if one person attends for inspection only) but is not included if no attendance is made.
4. Variable by variable - the fire
Variable Name: ACCIDENTAL_OR_DELIBERATE
Variable Description: Whether the incident was recorded as an accidental or deliberate fire
IRS Question: 5.15
A deliberate fire is a fire believed to have been started deliberately such as suspected arson and some fires started by children, psychiatric patients, suicides and attempted suicides. Accidental fires include those where the motive was recorded as “not known”. Whilst we would not expect the fires for “deliberate fires” to match precisely the published figures for arson in the tables from the Crime in England and Wales statistical release, we would expect “deliberate fires” for dwellings, other buildings and vehicles to be similar to the arson figures.
Variable Name: CAUSE_OF_FIRE
Variable Description: The main cause of the fire
IRS Question: 8.1
This variable contains options that best describe the main cause of the fire. FRSs are not necessarily certain that the fire was due to the cause given, only that the cause was one that could be reasonably supposed, given the evidence available. The cause may change as more evidence through a fire investigation becomes available.
Variable Name: IGNITION_POWER
Variable Description: What powered the ignition of the fire
IRS Question: 8.5
This variable contains options that best describe the main source of the ignition’s power. It is not necessary to be certain that the fire was due to the power given, only that the power was one that could be reasonably supposed, given the evidence available. The ignition power may change as more evidence through a fire investigation becomes available.
Variable Name: SOURCE_OF_IGNITION
Variable Description: The source of ignition for the fire
IRS Question: 8.4
This variable contains options that best describe the source of ignition for the fire. FRSs are not necessarily certain what the source of ignition for the fire is, only that the source of ignition was one that could be reasonably supposed, given the evidence available. The source of ignition may change as more evidence through a fire investigation becomes available.
Variable Name: FIRE_START_LOCATION
Variable Description: The type of room/compartment the fire started in
IRS Question: 8.14
This variable contains options that best describe the room or compartment where the fire started.
Variable Name: FIRE_SIZE_ON_ARRIVAL
Variable Description: The extent of fire on the FRS’s arrival
IRS Question: 8.20
This variable contains options that best describe of the extent of the fire when the first fire crew arrived.
Variable Name: OTHER_PROPERTY_AFFECTED_ON_ARRIVAL
Variable Description: Whether an adjacent property was affected by the fire on the FRS’s arrival
IRS Question: 8.21
Whether an adjacent property was affected, when the first fire crew arrived, by either flame and heat, flame and smoke or flame, heat and smoke damage.
Variable Name: ITEM_IGNITED
Variable Description: The item/material that was ignited first
IRS Question: 8.6
This variable contains options that best (or most likely) describe the item first ignited. The item cannot be the same as the source of ignition and doesn’t include items that were ignited in the normal course of events (for example a cigarette, a match)
If the fire was a spread from a secondary fire, the primary location that was damaged first should be recorded, for example if the source of ignition was a bonfire burning leaves which spread to the wooden wall of a garden shed, then the item first ignited was the shed, not the waste leaves on the bonfire.
Variable Name: ITEM_CAUSING_SPREAD
Variable Description: The item/material that was mainly responsible for the spread of the fire
IRS Question: 8.7
This variable contains options that best (or most likely) describe the item mainly responsible for causing the spread of the fire.
Variable Name: RAPID_FIRE_GROWTH
Variable Description: Whether there was rapid fire growth
IRS Question: 8.8
Whether there was rapid fire growth or not.
5. Variable by variable - resourcing
Variable Name: VEHICLES
Variable Description: The number of fire service vehicles that attended the incident
IRS Question: 6.2
The total number of FRS vehicles that attended the incident. This includes all types of vehicle, for example hazardous materials units, fire boats and canteen vans would be included in this total. Large numbers are grouped for ease of use and to reduce the personal data risk of incidents being matched across datasets. For example, there is likely to be few incidents attended by 47 vehicles and this could be matched to other datasets containing this variable but grouping these in the “15 or more” grouping makes this impossible.
Variable Name: VEHICLES_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: 6.2
Because some of the options in the vehicles variable contains letters (for example, 15 or more) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 99 is used for “don’t know”.
Variable Name: PERSONNEL
Variable Description: The number of fire crew and officers that attended the incident
IRS Question: Combination of 6.1 and 6.4
The number of FRS personnel that attended the incident on fire service appliances or by other means (for example, their own vehicle, on foot). Large numbers of personnel are grouped for ease of use and to reduce the personal data risk of incidents being matched across datasets. For example, there are likely to be few incidents attended by 147 officers and this could be matched to other datasets containing this variable but grouping these in the “40 or more” grouping makes this impossible.
Variable Name: PERSONNEL_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: Combination of 6.1 and 6.4
Because some of the options in the personnel variable contains letters (for example, 40 or more) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 99 is used for “don’t know”.
Variable Name: RESPONSE_TIME
Variable Description: The time between the call being made and the first fire vehicle attending the scene
IRS Question: Combination of 2.1 and 6.8
The time of the call is defined as when first call was received to Command and Control. If the call was received by one FRS and relayed to another, then the time of the call to the first FRS is used. Both of these variables are usually collected through automatic systems.
Variable Name: RESPONSE_TIME_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: Combination of 2.1 and 6.8
Because all of the options in the response time variable contains letters (for example, 1 to 2 mins) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis. 99 is used for “don’t know”.
Variable Name: TIME_AT_SCENE
Variable Description: The time between the first fire vehicle attending the scene and the incident being closed.
IRS Question: Combination of 6.8 and 2.6
An incident is closed when the last FRS appliance, vehicle or officer left the scene of the incident. Both of these variables are usually collected through automatic systems.
Variable Name: TIME_AT_SCENE_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: Combination of 6.8 and 2.6
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (for example, 0 to 15 mins) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis.
6. Variable by variable - outcomes
Variable Name: FATALITY_CASUALTY
Variable Description: Whether the incident involved a fatality or casualty
IRS Question: Combination of 9.6 and 9.21
This records whether the incident involved at least one fire-related fatality or one casualty from the fire. Due to data protection considerations no more detailed information on casualties and fatalities is given, there is a separate fatality/casualty dataset.
To be consistent with published statistics the variable combines “fire-related fatality” and “casualty in the fire” (whether fire-related or not). Where “don’t know” is recorded for whether a fatality is fire-related it is included in the fire-related totals. In general, ‘fire-related fatalities’ are those that would not have occurred had there not been a fire. Casualties include those with injuries requiring hospital attention, those requiring first aid at the scene and those given advice to have precautionary checks (whether they then take that advice or not).
Variable Name: RESCUES
Variable Description: Whether the incident involved a rescue
IRS Question: 9.13
A rescue is where person has received physical assistance to get clear of the area involved in the incident. A baby carried out in the course of another person’s escape is not included as a rescue, however if a rescuer (including FRS personnel) entered the building or other area affected by the fire in order to rescue the baby, then the baby is recorded as a rescue.
A removal of a fatality is not recorded as a rescue, except where a rescue took place in circumstances which might have resulted in a life being saved even if the person did not survive the rescue attempt.
Where “don’t know” is recorded for whether a rescue occurred, it is not included in this variable.
Variable Name: EVACUATIONS
Variable Description: The number of people evacuated from the dwelling
IRS Question: 9.3
An evacuation is the direction of people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe. This variable is the number of people who were evacuated from the incident, unharmed but with assistance from FRS personnel. Those who are rescued or rescued with an injury are not included in those that are evacuated from the incident.
For evacuations from fires attended by FRSs, the IRS records how many there were in eight separate bands (for example, 6 to 20 means there were between 6 and 20 evacuations from a fire, 21 to 50 means between 21 and 50 evacuations).
Variable Name: EVACUATIONS_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: 9.3
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (for example, Up to 5) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis.
Variable Name: FIRE_DAMAGE_EXTENT
Variable Description: The total horizontal area damaged by the flame and heat (square metre) at the stop of the fire.
IRS Question: 8.24
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame and/or heat (in square metres) at the stop of the fire.
Where an incident was due to fire spread, the extent of all the area affected is included. Where both the floor and ceiling are damaged in a room only that which had the greater amount of damage is included. The total aggregate of all horizontal damage is recorded, for example, if 3 floors are damaged, the total area is given. Vertical surfaces (for example, walls) that were damaged in the fire are not included, but the horizontal area occupied by damaged contents are included.
Where the horizontal area damaged was zero, this includes where damage was confined to vertical surfaces. A very small area would be included in ‘up to 5 metres squared’.
Variable Name: FIRE_DAMAGE_EXTENT_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: 8.24
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (for example, Up to 5) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis.
Variable Name: TOTAL_DAMAGE_EXTENT
Variable Description: The total horizontal area damaged by the flame, heat, smoke and water (sq. m)
IRS Question: 8.25
The total horizontal area damaged by the flame, heat, smoke and/or water (in square metres) at the stop of the fire.
Where an incident was due to fire spread, the extent of all the area affected is included. Where both the floor and ceiling are damaged in a room only that which had the greater amount of damage is included. The total aggregate of all horizontal damage is recorded, for example, if 3 floors damaged, the total area is given. Vertical surfaces (for example, walls) that were damaged in the fire are not included, but the horizontal area occupied by damaged contents are included.
Where the horizontal area damaged was zero, this includes where damage was confined to vertical surfaces. A very small area would be included in ‘up to 5 metres squared’.
Variable Name: TOTAL_DAMAGE_EXTENT_CODE
Variable Description: A code to help users analyse data
IRS Question: 8.25
Because all of the options in the time at scene variable contains letters (for example, Up to 5) this code has been added after feedback from users to aid analysis.
Variable Name: SPREAD_OF_FIRE
Variable Description: The extent of fire when the incident was closed
IRS Question: 8.22
This variable contains options that best describe of the extent of the fire and heat damage once the incident was closed.
Variable Name: OTHER_PROPERTY_AFFECTED_CLOSE Variable Description: Whether an adjacent property was affected by the fire by the close of the incident IRS Question: 8.23
Whether an adjacent property was affected, when the incident was declared closed, by either flame and heat, flame and smoke or flame, heat and smoke damage.