Grassland fires, 2011-12

Statistics include data for Wales for the financial year 2011 12. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 28 February 2012.

Fires:

• the Welsh Fire and Rescue Services attended 4,891 grassland, woodland and crop fires in 2011-12, a decrease of 31 per cent on 2010-11. Although the numbers of these fires are prone to fluctuation, this figure is the second lowest since 2001-02
• in 2011-12, there were 255 primary grassland, woodland and crop fires, a fall of 9 per cent compared with the previous year, and 4,636 secondary grassland, woodland and crop fires, a fall of 32 per cent
• in 2011-12 four-fifths of primary and secondary fires on grassland, woodland and crop were started deliberately
• almost three quarters, woodland and crop fires occurred in the spring months April, May and March in 2011-12
• of the grassland, woodland and crop fires in 2011-12, 54 percent were in South Wales, 29 percent were in Mid and West Wales and 17 percent were in North Wales

Casualties:

• there were 9 non-fatal casualties but no fatal casualties from grassland, woodland and crop fires in Wales in 2011-12

Damage:

• in 2011-12, more than half of grassland, woodland and crop fires damaged less than 20 square metres, a greater proportion than in the previous year, although the number of these fires has fallen by a quarter

Source:

• in over a third of the primary grassland, woodland and crop fires in 2011-12 the source of ignition was matches or candles

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 6699
E-mail: stats.inclusion@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next Update

February 2014 (provisional - to be confirmed on the Due out soon page)