Shock as fire deaths double in twelve months during coronavirus lockdown
Pauline McNeill said: “With 53 people losing their lives in house fires last year, it is clear that much more needs to be done to keep people safe in their own homes.” Chief fire officer Martin Blunden last year linked a spike in the number of deaths to people spending more time at home during the pandemic.At that point sixteen people had died in house fires during a three month period, an increase from eight.Fresh statistics show that the full year figure for 2020/21 is 53, whereas in the previous twelve months the number was only 27.Of the 53, 46 related to houses and a further seven were linked to “non dwelling” property.It is also higher than the 45 fatalities in 2018 and 44 from the year before.McNeill said: “Yesterday was the