Electrical Safety First welcomes fewer fires in Scottish homes
Electrical Safety First is delighted that the number of fires in Scottish homes has decreased this year but the Charity warns that there is still much to be done to keep people safe around electricity.
According to just-released figures from the Scottish Government, the number of domestic fires in Scotland decreased by 9% this year, falling from 5,834 in 2013 to 5,330. However, the total number of fires in Scotland – including those occurring outdoors and in commercial premises, as well as those considered ‘non-accidental’ – has grown.
“Around two thirds of all domestic fires in Scotland are caused by electricity, with electrical products the prime culprit” explains Emma Apter, Head of Communications at Electrical Safety First. “Given the issue in Scotland with fake and substandard goods – since 2010, Glasgow’s enforcement agencies, for example, have seized almost 10,000 fake electrical items, more than any other UK Local Authority – we can’t afford to become complacent about fires in the home.”
Electrical Safety First was instrumental in ensuring that the recent Scottish Housing Bill included a requirement for regular electrical safety checks in all privately rented accommodation. And the Charity was delighted to be invited to join a Scottish Government- led consortium considering a common, cross-tenure house condition standard, which will go some way to progressing Scotland’s aim of sustainable and safe housing for all.
