The vast majority of fires attended by fire and rescue services (FRSs) in England do not result in loss of life or serious injury. However, an average of 5 people a week died in a fire in England in the year ending 31 March 2019. As the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in June 2017 showed, fires can still result in multiple fatalities and many other adverse outcomes.

While the number of fire-related fatalities has declined markedly from a peak of 755 since current records began in 1981 to 251 in the year ending March 2019, it is important to keep knowledge and understanding of the profile and circumstances of fires which result in a fatality up to date, to inform prevention activity and further reduce the numbers of fire-related fatalities.

This report presents findings from research designed to provide an in-depth analysis of fire-related fatalities in England. It also considers whether fires that result in severe casualties are notably different from those that result in fatalities and thus whether a different approach to reducing non-fatal casualties is required.