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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended 2,046 primary fires in its latest reporting year, compared with 1,216 at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Fatalities and non-fatal casualties from primary fires totalled 261 for Devon and Somerset and 121 for Hertfordshire.

Average time from call to first appliance at a dwelling fire is 9:38 in Devon and Somerset and 8:04 in Hertfordshire. Response times differ by several minutes, often reflecting geography — larger rural coverage areas mean longer average travel to incidents. On enforcement activity, Devon and Somerset carried out the larger number of fire safety audits over the year (1,448 vs 504). Satisfactory-outcome rates were 27% for Devon and Somerset and 86% for Hertfordshire, covering audits that closed without requiring informal action, formal notice, or prohibition. False alarms make up a notably larger share of call-outs in Hertfordshire (45% vs 42%).