Cumbria has second lowest cigarette fire rate in England

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 06:24 · Archive

Cumbria has the second lowest rate of accidental house fires caused by cigarettes among England's 43 fire and rescue service areas.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has achieved the second lowest rate of accidental house fires caused by cigarettes among the 43 fire and rescue service areas in England, according to data published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Over the three years to March 2026, cigarettes caused 18 of the 589 accidental house fires in Cumbria, placing the county 3.1 per cent below the England average. In the most recent year to March 2026, two of the 202 accidental house fires recorded in Cumbria were started by smoking materials.

Cumbria's performance stands out in the North West, where it has the lowest share among five fire and rescue service areas. Lancashire recorded 4.9 per cent of accidental house fires caused by smoking materials, Cheshire 6.3 per cent, Greater Manchester 7.7 per cent, and Merseyside 9.9 per cent. Cleveland recorded the highest share nationally, with 11.4 per cent of accidental house fires caused by smoking materials.

Scott Cameron, group manager for prevention and protection at CFRS, said the fire service visits thousands of homes throughout Cumbria each year to raise awareness of fire risks, with information about the dangers of cigarettes as part of that work. He said the figures reflect the impact of these efforts but acknowledged more work remains to achieve further reductions.

"While it is pleasing to see the impact of that work reflected in these figures, there will always be more work to do until the number of fires caused by smoking materials in our communities is reduced to zero," Cameron said.

How it is being reported

• County has some of lowest data for cigarette fires as crews visit thousands of homesCumbria Fire and Rescue Service says it visits thousands of homeowners each year as county is named second lowest in England for cigarette fires.Cumberland News · 3 Nov, 05:00
• County has some of lowest data for cigarette fires as crews visit thousands of homesCumbria Fire and Rescue Service says it visits thousands of homeowners each year as county is named second lowest in England for cigarette fires.NW Evening Mail · 3 Nov, 05:00
• County has some of lowest data for cigarette fires as crews visit thousands of homesCumbria Fire and Rescue Service says it visits thousands of homeowners each year as county is named second lowest in England for cigarette fires.Westmorland Gazette · 3 Nov, 05:00
• County has some of lowest data for cigarette fires as crews visit thousands of homesCumbria Fire and Rescue Service says it visits thousands of homeowners each year as county is named second lowest in England for cigarette fires.Whitehaven News · 3 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Scott Cameron · Cumbria · England · North West

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