West Midlands Fire Service attended 3,674 primary fires in its latest reporting year, compared with 881 at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Fatalities and non-fatal casualties from primary fires totalled 743 for West Midlands and 97 for West Sussex.
Average time from call to first appliance at a dwelling fire is 6:25 in West Midlands and 9:01 in West Sussex. Response times differ by several minutes, often reflecting geography — larger rural coverage areas mean longer average travel to incidents. On enforcement activity, West Sussex carried out the larger number of fire safety audits over the year (2,470 vs 1,552). Satisfactory-outcome rates were 57% for West Midlands and 34% for West Sussex, covering audits that closed without requiring informal action, formal notice, or prohibition. False alarms make up a notably larger share of call-outs in West Sussex (43% vs 36%).
Total Fires
Primary fires attended by fire and rescue services
3,674
West Midlands Fire Service
881
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Fatalities & Casualties
Deaths and non-fatal casualties from primary fires
743
West Midlands Fire Service
97
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
False Alarm Rate
Proportion of all incidents that were false alarms
36%
West Midlands Fire Service
43%
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Fire Safety Audits
Number of fire safety audits conducted by the authority
1,552
West Midlands Fire Service
2,470
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Audit Outcomes
Results of fire safety audits: satisfactory, informal action, formal action
1,550
West Midlands Fire Service total
2,482
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service total
Average Response Time
Average time from call to first appliance arriving at dwelling fires
