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Fire Statistics in Commercial Properties in the UK
May 15th, 2026
Last updated: May 1st, 2026
Fire remains a serious risk for UK businesses, even though long-term figures show improvement. The latest official figures for England show that fire and rescue services attended 175,918 total fires in the year ending December 2025, a rise of 29% compared with the previous year. Much of that increase was linked to outdoor and secondary fires during hot and dry weather, but commercial buildings still form an important part of the wider picture.
The Commercial Picture
For a clearer view of commercial premises, the year ending March 2025 is useful because it separates “other building fires” from dwelling fires. In that period, there were 13,134 other building fires in England, down slightly from 13,297 the year before. These are fires in buildings that are not dwellings, which can include offices, shops, hospitality venues, factories, warehouses, healthcare premises and other non-residential sites.
More specific workplace fire analysis puts the number of workplace fires in non-residential buildings at 6,665 in 2024/25. Industrial premises accounted for the largest share, with around 1,656 fires, followed by food and drink premises at around 1,275, and retail premises at roughly 1,177. Offices and call centres made up a smaller share, with around 348 fires.
The causes vary by sector. In restaurants, cafés and commercial kitchens, cooking equipment and grease build-up are obvious risks. Ventilation systems and fire protection methods play a crucial role.
In industrial and warehouse environments, machinery, electrical systems, stored materials and hot work can all increase the chance of a fire. Retail premises often include electrical equipment – which should be regularly tested. Problems like stock storage and busy public areas create a different set of risks.
Electrical faults are one of the most important causes to watch. Workplace fire analysis using MHCLG data identifies electrical distribution faults as the largest single identifiable cause, linked to around 18% of workplace fires in 2024/25. These include issues with wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers and distribution boards.
Detection is another key issue. In other building fires during the year ending March 2025, smoke alarms were not present in 44% of cases. A further 10% had an alarm present, but it did not operate, while 5.4% had an alarm present that did not raise the alarm.
The Damage Left Behind
Fire damage can also spread beyond the first item involved. In other building fires, 22% had no fire damage, 31% were limited to the item first ignited, and 21% were limited to the room of origin. That still leaves 26% classed as larger fires, showing why early detection, clear escape routes, maintenance and staff training matter.
Response times underline the need for businesses to act before firefighters arrive. In the year ending March 2025, the average response time to fires in other buildings was 9 minutes and 3 seconds. By the year ending December 2025, this had risen to 9 minutes and 13 seconds.
For businesses, the message is fairly simple. Fire risk is lower than it was a decade ago in many commercial settings, but it has not gone away. The fact that the statistics point to improvement likely comes from awareness and fire safety measures.
Good fire safety depends on regular risk assessments, maintained alarms, safe electrical systems, clear exits, staff training and proper housekeeping. The statistics show that many fires start from everyday systems and routines, not rare freak events.
Considering Fire Safety in Your Business
Robinsons Facilities Services has carried out building maintenance and compliance services for commercial premises across Yorkshire for decades.
- Accredited to ISO 9001 (UKAS-certified), SafeContractor, and CHAS.
- In-house engineering team supported by a vetted supply chain of specialist contractors.
- All fire stopping products fire-rated and tested to applicable standards.
- Works fully certificated and documented for the responsible person.
- Access to the 24/7/365 out-of-hours call-out facility for PPM contract customers requiring urgent attendance.
Sources:
GOV.UK / MHCLG: Fire and rescue incident statistics, year ending December 2025
GOV.UK / MHCLG: Detailed analysis of fires and response times, England, April 2024 to March 2025
GOV.UK / MHCLG: Other building fires, fatalities and non-fatal casualties, year ending March 2025
Fire Marshal Training: Workplace Fire Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights
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