UK Housing News
Top UK cities where residents feel unsafe due to lack of fire safety measures
New data highlights fire safety concerns in the UK, pinpointing cities where residents feel least safe in their own homes
On average, over 9% of UK residents in cities don’t feel confident in their ability to escape a fire, with over 3% not feeling safe from fires in their own homes.
The fire safety measures in place can vary drastically and can lead to a lack of confidence in a resident’s protection from fires. Furthermore, residents in cities are often more susceptible to fires, due to the proximity of buildings and the higher population density.
A recent survey conducted by Firechief Global, which involved 3,000 UK respondents (aged 16+), including over 1,000 renters, aimed to gauge where residents feel most unsafe due to lacking fire safety measures. Respondents were from 17 cities across the UK: Newcastle, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Sheffield, Belfast, Bristol, Plymouth, London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Let’s take a look at what was found.
How safe do residents from various cities feel from the risk of fire in their own homes?
People in Glasgow and Edinburgh feel the safest from fires in their own homes, with statistics showing 99% of residents have confidence in their home fire safety. These numbers are closely followed by Southampton (98%), Brighton, Newcastle, and Cardiff (97%).
This sense of security contrasts sharply with Belfast and Norwich, where safety concerns are significantly higher. More than one in twenty people in Belfast feel unsafe in their own homes, with 7% of residents indicating they feel 'not that safe' or 'not safe at all.' In Norwich, 6% of respondents expressed similar fears.
When considering the overall population sizes, these percentages reveal a stark reality: over 24,000 residents in Belfast and 8,000 residents in Norwich do not feel secure from the threat of fire in their own living spaces. Highlighted by these statistics is the variation between cities in how safe residents feel; it suggests more needs to be done by local governments, councils, and fire and rescue services in specific areas to ensure their residents feel safe from fires.
How Confidence In Escaping A Fire Varies By City
With multiple options representing varying degrees of confidence ranging from ‘very confident’ or ‘not confident at all’, results indicate slightly more variation between cities when compared with the previous questions.
Newcastle stands out with an impressive 96.21% of residents expressing confidence in their ability to escape a fire safely. Brighton closely follows, with 95.65% of respondents feeling assured about their fire escape capabilities. Cardiff also demonstrates a high confidence level, with 92.73% of residents reporting a strong sense of security.
Glasgow has the highest percentage of respondents who are not confident in their ability to escape safely, at 15.97%. Interestingly, this entirely juxtaposes the results of the first question where Glasgow scored highest for feeling safe in their homes from fires.
Birmingham, Manchester, and London also report slightly lower confidence levels, when compared to other cities, with 10-12% of respondents feeling uncertain about their preparedness to escape a fire.
The overall trend remains positive, with most cities maintaining confidence levels above 90%. However, these findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and enhanced fire safety measures to address the gaps and ensure that all residents feel secure in their homes.
Laurie Pollard, Managing Director at Firechief Global, expressed some concern over the survey results:
"The data is a sobering reminder that there are still many UK residents who feel vulnerable in their own homes due to inadequate fire safety measures. It's imperative that we take immediate action to ensure that all residents have access to proper fire safety tools and regulations that are enforced. We must prioritise fire safety and protection for all residents."
Safety measures in focus: are UK homes equipped?
Smoke Alarms: While smoke alarms are widely installed, cities like London and Belfast have alarmingly low installation rates, falling below 20%. This is concerning, given that smoke alarms are crucial for the early detection of fires.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Installation rates are significantly lower than smoke alarms, posing a serious risk to residents, as carbon monoxide is a silent and deadly threat. Raising awareness and encouraging installation, especially in high-risk cities, should be prioritised.
Fire Extinguishers: Fire extinguisher installation rates remain low, emphasising the need for education and accessibility. These devices are critical for containing small fires before they escalate.
Heat Alarms: Adoption of heat alarms varies, with Scottish and Welsh cities like Edinburgh and Cardiff showing higher installation rates, reflective of more stringent legislation about these alarms.
Fire Blankets: Fire blankets prove to be the least common safety measure, yet they are essential for controlling fires in cooking areas, as well as being vital aids for escape during a fire. Promoting their use through education could be beneficial.
Laurie Pollard continued:
"Ensuring that every home is equipped with basic fire safety measures like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is not just a regulatory requirement but a moral obligation. We urge local authorities, landlords, and residents to work together to address these shortcomings and improve safety for all."
Firechief Global is calling for immediate intervention to address the gaps in fire safety measures across UK cities. The company emphasises the importance of adhering to the relevant regulations and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the functionality of fire safety equipment.
Laurie Pollard concluded:
"Fire safety is a fundamental right, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every resident feels safe in their home. Let's take this data as a call to action and commit to making our communities safer for everyone."
Laurie Pollard, Managing Director
