In this section: Public services
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: spending, staff and incidents
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
£305m for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in 2023-24, £55.45 per resident. It attended 74,610 incidents in 2024-25.
Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Key figures
- £305m2023-24, cash
- £55.45Per resident, 2023-24
- 13.5 per 1,000 residentsIncidents per 1,000 residents, 2024-25 Scotland: 13.5 per 1,000 residents
- 4.13 per 1,000 residentsFires per 1,000 residents, 2024-25 Scotland: 4.13 per 1,000 residents
- 6,796 FTEStaff, full-time equivalent, 2025-26 Scotland: 6,796 FTE
Sources: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Where it sits, and what is below it
- UK total
- Nation
- Department or service body not published
- Local body (this level)
- Spending category not published
- Line or transaction not published
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Net resource expenditure outturn against the Scottish Government budget (employee costs plus operating costs, less income; excludes depreciation and pension accounting adjustments). 2023-24 is the latest year: SFRS's 2024-25 accounts had not been published. The accounts' net expenditure after taxation, which includes depreciation and IAS 19 pension costs, was £371.1m (extra.accounts).
£305m in 2023-24 (cash); £329m in 2025-26 prices; £55.45 per resident.
Spending category: not published. SFRS publishes its spending only in its annual report and accounts (PDF), split by staff and operating costs rather than by activity; no finer breakdown is shown here.
Cash is as published. Real terms are in 2025-26 prices, using HM Treasury’s GDP deflator. Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population for the area the body serves. Changes compare the same body in consecutive years.
What is recorded alongside the money
These figures are published beside the funding, not as its result. Demand, geography, recording practice and many other things differ between areas and change over time; none of these charts shows cause and effect.
| Measure | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland | Great Britain | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Incidents per 1,000 residentsDetails for Incidents per 1,000 residents | 13.5 per 1,000 residents | 13.5 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 per 1,000 residents | 2024-25 |
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Fires per 1,000 residentsDetails for Fires per 1,000 residents | 4.13 per 1,000 residents | 4.13 per 1,000 residents | not published | 2024-25 |
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Staff, full-time equivalentDetails for Staff, full-time equivalent | 6,796 FTE | 6,796 FTE | not published | 2025-26 |
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Wholetime firefightersDetails for Wholetime firefighters | 3,427 FTE | 3,427 FTE | not published | 2025-26 |
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On-call firefightersDetails for On-call firefighters | 2,345 FTE | 2,345 FTE | not published | 2025-26 |
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Fire stationsDetails for Fire stations | 356 stations | 356 stations | not published | 2025-26 |
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Pumping appliances (fire engines)Details for Pumping appliances (fire engines) | 420 appliances | 420 appliances | not published | 2025-26 |
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Fire-related deathsDetails for Fire-related deaths | 36 deaths | 36 deaths | 332 deaths | 2024-25 |
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Incidents attended divided by the mid-year population of the area the service covers (the sum of its local authorities), times 1,000. Worked out for England, Wales and Scotland, whose counts are made the same way; not for Northern Ireland, whose count is on its annual report’s own basis.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 19.8 | 19.8 | 13.7 |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 19.3 | 19.3 | 13.1 |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 17.3 | 17.3 | 12.0 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 15.8 | 15.8 | 10.4 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 10.4 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 9.8 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 16.6 | 16.6 | 10.4 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 10.8 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 10.8 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 17.2 | 17.2 | 11.0 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 10.6 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 15.9 | 15.9 | 9.8 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 17.7 | 17.7 | 10.9 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 18.3 | 18.3 | 11.6 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 14.6 | 14.6 | 10.8 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 10.7 |
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Figure as of 22 July 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Primary, secondary and chimney fires attended per 1,000 residents of the area served. England, Wales and Scotland, which record fires the same way on the Incident Recording System; Northern Ireland is fires-per-1000-ni.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
1995-96Details for 1995-96 | 12.90 | 12.90 |
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1996-97Details for 1996-97 | 11.21 | 11.21 |
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1997-98Details for 1997-98 | 9.92 | 9.92 |
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1998-99Details for 1998-99 | 9.16 | 9.16 |
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1999-00Details for 1999-00 | 10.52 | 10.52 |
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2000-01Details for 2000-01 | 11.07 | 11.07 |
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2001-02Details for 2001-02 | 11.44 | 11.44 |
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2002-03Details for 2002-03 | 10.92 | 10.92 |
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2003-04Details for 2003-04 | 12.19 | 12.19 |
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2004-05Details for 2004-05 | 8.69 | 8.69 |
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2005-06Details for 2005-06 | 9.47 | 9.47 |
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2006-07Details for 2006-07 | 9.47 | 9.47 |
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2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 8.83 | 8.83 |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 7.80 | 7.80 |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 7.40 | 7.40 |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 7.40 | 7.40 |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 6.10 | 6.10 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 5.04 | 5.04 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 5.26 | 5.26 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 4.69 | 4.69 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 4.98 | 4.98 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 5.08 | 5.08 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 4.86 | 4.86 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 4.97 | 4.97 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 4.53 | 4.53 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 4.65 | 4.65 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 5.14 | 5.14 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 4.93 | 4.93 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 4.38 | 4.38 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 4.13 | 4.13 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
All staff in post at 31 March (wholetime and on-call firefighters, fire control and support staff), full-time equivalent. England: FIRE1101; Wales: StatsWales; Scotland: SFRS, excluding volunteers. Northern Ireland: the average number employed in the year, from the annual accounts. On-call firefighters’ FTE is counted differently between the nations.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 8,158 | 8,158 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 8,089 | 8,089 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 7,690 | 7,690 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 7,490 | 7,490 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 7,131 | 7,131 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 7,095 | 7,095 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 7,032 | 7,032 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 7,186 | 7,186 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 7,170 | 7,170 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 7,077 | 7,077 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 6,990 | 6,990 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 6,894 | 6,894 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 6,760 | 6,760 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 6,799 | 6,799 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 6,796 | 6,796 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Full-time firefighters, full-time equivalent, at 31 March.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 4,159 | 4,159 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 4,151 | 4,151 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 4,001 | 4,001 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 3,856 | 3,856 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 3,690 | 3,690 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 3,644 | 3,644 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 3,544 | 3,544 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 3,636 | 3,636 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 3,634 | 3,634 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 3,578 | 3,578 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 3,528 | 3,528 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 3,487 | 3,487 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 3,419 | 3,419 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 3,427 | 3,427 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 3,427 | 3,427 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
On-call (retained duty system) firefighters, full-time equivalent, at 31 March. Scotland includes its small group of full-time RDS staff.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 2,813 | 2,813 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 2,787 | 2,787 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 2,665 | 2,665 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 2,669 | 2,669 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 2,527 | 2,527 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 2,546 | 2,546 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 2,545 | 2,545 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 2,602 | 2,602 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 2,588 | 2,588 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 2,537 | 2,537 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 2,429 | 2,429 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 2,388 | 2,388 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 2,345 | 2,345 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 2,351 | 2,351 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 2,345 | 2,345 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Fire stations at 31 March (England FIRE1404; Wales StatsWales; Scotland SFRS; Northern Ireland annual report). Specialist urban search and rescue bases are not counted.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 357 | 357 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 357 | 357 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 357 | 357 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 357 | 357 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 357 | 357 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 357 | 357 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 357 | 357 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 356 | 356 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 356 | 356 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 356 | 356 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Pumping appliances at 31 March. England: operational pumps from CIPFA returns (FIRE1403), last published for 31 March 2021; no newer official count by service exists. Scotland: pumping appliances in the SFRS fleet. Not published for Wales or Northern Ireland.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 465 | 465 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 452 | 452 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 449 | 449 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 438 | 438 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 418 | 418 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 417 | 417 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 431 | 431 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 421 | 421 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 445 | 445 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 427 | 427 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 429 | 429 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 424 | 424 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 424 | 424 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 420 | 420 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Deaths from fire-related causes at fires attended. England: FIRE0502, by service; Wales: StatsWales, deaths in primary fires; Scotland: FIRE0501 (from SFRS). Small numbers: a single fire can move a year.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | Scotland | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
1989-90Details for 1989-90 | 115 | 115 | 841 |
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1990-91Details for 1990-91 | 137 | 137 | 853 |
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1991-92Details for 1991-92 | 102 | 102 | 767 |
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1992-93Details for 1992-93 | 127 | 127 | 693 |
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1994-95Details for 1994-95 | 84 | 84 | 604 |
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1995-96Details for 1995-96 | 90 | 90 | 712 |
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1996-97Details for 1996-97 | 101 | 101 | 700 |
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1997-98Details for 1997-98 | 89 | 89 | 696 |
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1998-99Details for 1998-99 | 98 | 98 | 603 |
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1999-00Details for 1999-00 | 111 | 111 | 621 |
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2000-01Details for 2000-01 | 74 | 74 | 554 |
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2001-02Details for 2001-02 | 87 | 87 | 583 |
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2002-03Details for 2002-03 | 80 | 80 | 522 |
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2003-04Details for 2003-04 | 89 | 89 | 576 |
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2004-05Details for 2004-05 | 85 | 85 | 483 |
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2005-06Details for 2005-06 | 60 | 60 | 470 |
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2006-07Details for 2006-07 | 46 | 46 | 430 |
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2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 72 | 72 | 458 |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 64 | 64 | 404 |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 62 | 62 | 426 |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 52 | 52 | 407 |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 59 | 59 | 395 |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 46 | 46 | 350 |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 31 | 31 | 324 |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 40 | 40 | 324 |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 45 | 45 | 369 |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 44 | 44 | 328 |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 44 | 44 | 397 |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 44 | 44 | 315 |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 27 | 27 | 286 |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 52 | 52 | 309 |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 40 | 40 | 335 |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 43 | 43 | 325 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 42 | 42 | 310 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 36 | 36 | 332 |
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Figure as of 22 July 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
What these figures do and don't show
- Incidents are not only fires. Fire and rescue services also attend road accidents, floods, other emergencies and false alarms; the figures say which is which.
- Response times are published for England only. Wales and Scotland publish none by service, and Northern Ireland reports against its own attendance standards, so no response time is compared across nations.
- Nations count differently. Each nation’s statistics define incidents, staff and deaths in their own way; figures are compared within a nation, and across nations only where the definitions match.
- Nothing here shows cause and effect. Money, staff, stations and incidents are shown side by side. A service covering a large rural area needs more stations for the same number of incidents.
- Appliance counts stopped in 2021 in England; the last published figure is marked as such.
Where this sits: Fire and rescue, United Kingdom → Fire and rescue, Scotland → Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Figures from data/services/fire.json, generated 29 September 2026.
Use this data
The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in Sources for this page; most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence. Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under CC BY 4.0: reuse them, including commercially, if you credit Tekstak Ltd and link back to this page.
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Sources for this page
| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Our Financial Performance) | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | — | annual | Quoted with attribution (the publisher’s own terms) link only |
| Fire statistics data tables: FIRE0101, incidents attended by nation | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 22 July 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Fire and Rescue Incident Statistics 2024-25: tables and charts (incidents attended time series) | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | — | annual | Quoted with attribution (the publisher’s own terms) link only |
| Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics 2025-26: tables and charts | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service | — | annual | Quoted with attribution (the publisher’s own terms) link only |
| Fire statistics data tables: FIRE0501, fatalities and non-fatal casualties by nation | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 22 July 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.