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House fires at five-year low in Perth and Kinross

Figures show house fires have come down since the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came into being.
Figures show house fires have come down since the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came into being.

Fewer house fires in Perth and Kinross and no fatalities have been recorded since the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came into being.

The number of deliberately-started blazes were also down, members of the community safety committee were told at a meeting in the council chambers in Perth.

The report was the first since the former Tayside Fire and Rescue merged with the seven other fire and rescue services in Scotland at the start of April.

David Stapley, local senior officer (LSO) for Perth and Kinross, told the committee: “The prevention of all fire-related deaths remains our key priority.

“We are pleased to say that during the first quarter (period April to June) we had no deaths as a result of fire in the Perth and Kinross area.”

The LSO also highlighted a fall in the number of house fires in the area, from 23 to 21, compared to the same period last year.

“It is pleasing to note that this figure is the lowest for the period April to June when compared to comparative figures for the last five years,” said Mr Stapley.

“This is very much in line with our longer-term aim to reduce the number of fires within homes.”

There was also a reduction in the number of deliberately-started primary fires 10, compared to 12 during the April-to-June period last year.

The area also remains ahead of target in terms of the number of home fire safety visits it carries out, with 1,320 undertaken in people’s homes during April, May and June.

There was also a slight reduction in the number of “other primary fires” which, at 34, was two fewer than last year.

“We are also pleased to note that the April to June figures this year for deliberately-started secondary fires (24) matches the lowest numbers experienced during the same period for each of the last five years,” said Mr Stapley.

“These figures are particularly pleasing because deliberate secondary fires are often associated with anti-social behaviour, which impacts on the quality of life within our communities.”

The report also highlighted an increase in the number of people injured as a result of fire, with 11 for the period, against a target of five. The community safety committee also considered a report on Police Scotland.

It revealed that in Perth and Kinross between April and July this year there was a 12% reduction in overall violent crime, a 20% drop in serious assaults and a 60% reduction in robbery.

The levels of recorded crimes of housebreaking, shoplifting and vandalism had also reduced over the same period. Crimes linked to internet and mobile phones had increased.

The recorded level of crimes of indecency had also risen, partly due to retrospective reporting of incidents, with recent well-publicised cases of historic abuse perhaps giving victims greater confidence to report matters to the police.

Against a five-year average, detection rates for serious and common assault, robbery and vandalism had risen. Rates for detection of housebreaking and shoplifting had reduced slightly.

Community safety convener Douglas Pover said: “The reports we have considered today have identified that the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland in Perth and Kinross continues to make a difference to our communities.

“The details we have considered have also identified the importance of home fire safety awareness and members of the public reporting crimes or suspicious activity.”