The number of fatalities linked to fires in Northern Ireland in past five years

The NIFRS were called to almost 115,000 incidents over this time period.

There were just over 50 fatalities in Northern Ireland due to fire incidents over the past five years, new figures reveal.

Naked flames, cooking appliances and electricity supply were among the top causes of fires recorded in recent years. Blazes started due to vehicles and matches/candles also featured highly in the figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request from Belfast Live.

Between January 1 2020 and December 31 2024 there were 52 fatalities from 50 fire incidents, the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service told us. The results are based on incidents classified as major fires, secondary fires or chimney fires.

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The NIFRS were called to a total of 114,997 incidents over this time period. There were 241 fires started deliberately and which involved rubbish in the past five years.

The majority of victims of these fires were men with 35 males among the 52 fatalities compared to just 17 females. A further age range breakdown reveals that 27 of the fatalities were among those aged 65 and over while 24 were in the 19-64 bracket.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said: “House fires can be devastating so we are urging people to be aware of how to stay safe from potential fire hazards at home. If you are lighting candles or smoking, never leave them unattended and always remember to extinguish them if you think you’ll fall asleep.

“We recommend that you should not run white goods, such as washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers, or charge devices, when you’re not at home or while you’re asleep. If using electrical devices, check for visible wires and scorch marks, and never overload sockets.

“When cooking, never consume alcohol or leave the oven unattended. Instead turn the cooker off and take the saucepans off the heat.

“It is vitally important to have working smoke alarms on each level of your home, including a carbon monoxide detector in any room you’re using gas or a fuel-burning appliance. It’s also important to have a clear fire escape plan and conducting your own home safety checks as part of your bedtime routine.

“There is real value in understanding the causes of fire inside your home. To assist you, we offer an online home fire safety check. The easy-to-follow self-assessment involves answering a series of questions about the household. Once this is completed, users will receive a personalised fire action plan identifying the potential hazards in the home with safety advice to help reduce the risk of fire.

“If at the end of the assessment the household has been identified as greater risk, you will be referred for an in-person home fire safety check where our personnel will visit the home. Visit www.nifrs.org to complete our home fire safety check and read more safety advice.”

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