The number of accidental house fires in Aberdeen has dropped by nearly 20% this year, according to a new report.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service drew up the document for the council’s public protection committee.
This year, there have been 60 accidental house fires in Aberdeen compared to 71 the previous year.
Bruce Farquharson, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s local senior officer for Aberdeen, said: “Prevention is our number one priority – by stopping incidents from occurring in the first place we have reduced the number of preventable fires.
“We work with our partners to help householders remain safe, especially those who are at the highest risk.
“If you ask any firefighter they will tell you the best fire they ever fought is the one they prevented from happening.”
The report reads: “Our plan details our priorities and reducing Accidental Dwelling Fires sits with our priority for ‘Domestic Safety and Wellbeing’.
“3.3 Domestic Safety and Wellbeing focuses on reducing unintentional harm in the home environment which includes accidental dwelling fires.
“In addition to the personal trauma from a fire in the home, there is an impact for a wide range of public services.
“3.4 Working with our partners in Aberdeen, we have identified vulnerable groups and individuals at risk of harm.
“By working with our partners and sharing information, we reduced risks in the community by direct intervention or indirectly through partner liaison.”
In a local breakdown of areas, the Rosemount and Midstocket ward was the highest for accidental fires with 11 followed by 10 in George Street and Harbour.
Rosemount and Midstocket councillor, Bill Cormie, branded the figures for his area “very worrying”.
