Fire kills hundreds and injures thousands of people every year, it currently costs the UK economy £7.7 billion per annum. Statistics are readily available for all types of fire and their associated costs but perhaps a few examples will put this problem into perspective: |
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Business Fires
Whilst numerically domestic fires dominate, the higher cost is carried by the commercial sector. The average cost of a commercial fire is £44,000; a figure that is often not covered completely by insurance. A sobering thought is that up to 80% of those businesses that experience a serious fire go out of business within 3 years of the fire. |
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Fires in Schools
On average, 20 schools a week suffer from arson attacks. The cost of clear up is £92 million per annum (which could be used to fund the building of 40 new primary schools or the employment of 3,750 new teachers). This figure of course does not cover the loss of records and equipment, or the effect of disruption to learning or the distress caused to pupils and staff. |
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Fires in Houses of Multiple Occupancy
In 2004 there was an excess of 23,000 fires reported in HMO’s exceeding the total for commercial fires and representing some 37% of all domestic fires. Average costs were £25,000. Again a figure not likely to be fully covered by insurance. |
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