Skip advert
Advertisement

Rise in vehicle fire fatalities a “major worry” says AA boss

135 people perished in vehicle fires over the last half a decade, despite the number of incidents falling

Burnt out BMW 1 Series

Fatalities in vehicle fires have risen despite the number of incidents having fallen annually since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the reasons for such an increase puzzling experts.

Cases of vehicle fires fell between 2019 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Since then, statistics have remained consistently low, however, the number of fatalities has remained stubbornly high, with 135 deaths caused by vehicle fires over the last five years. As many as 35 people died in vehicle fires last year alone – 25 of which were in cars.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Compare this to the five years before the pandemic in which an average of 22 people died per year in vehicle fires, between 2022 and 2024 this number has risen to 28. This is despite the number of vehicle fires annually falling by 13.8 per cent from 21,878 in the five years pre-Covid to 18,906 in the past two years.

Statistics released by the Home Office also show that vehicle fires are nowadays likely to be accidental, as opposed to acts of arson; between 61 and 63 per cent of incidents are now considered accidental, as opposed to between 51 and 54 per cent before Covid.

AA spokesperson, Tony Rich, called the rise in fatalities a “major worry”, but struggled to give a concrete reason as to why there are now fewer vehicle fires than before.

“A lower percentage of deliberate fires is a big indicator, perhaps due to improved security systems now appearing in older cars,” he explained. “Fewer people smoking may be a factor. A less obvious one though is the impact of more modern, much simpler and safer ‘plug-in’ technology for adding electrical items to a car, such as in-car entertainment, dash cams, mobile phones and sat-navs.”

Auto Express has approached both the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Brigades Union for comment but is yet to receive a response.

Get more car news, video, pictures and exclusive content on our Facebook page...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Consumer reporter

Tom is Auto Express' Consumer reporter, meaning he spends his time investigating the stories that matter to all motorists - enthusiasts or otherwise. An ex-BBC journalist and Multimedia Journalism graduate, Tom previously wrote for partner sites Carbuyer and DrivingElectric and you may also spot him throwing away his dignity by filming videos for the Auto Express social media channels.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives
Kia's UK boss, Paul Philpott standing next to a Kia EV6

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives

Brand CEO says ZEV mandate is a threat, asking for clarity from the Labour government
News
6 Jan 2025
Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants
Finance contract, car key and calculator on desk

Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants

Scandal involving car finance commission could see motorists entitled to billions of pounds in payouts
News
19 Dec 2024
Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns
Emissions tests questioned

Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns

The DfT is currently investigating as many as 47 models across several brands that are suspected to use diesel defeat devices
News
14 Nov 2024
MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars
MOT

MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars

More than a third of light commercials failed their first MoT last year, new figures show
News
12 Nov 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: BYD Seal – signed, sealed and delivered for less than £305 a month
BYD Seal - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: BYD Seal – signed, sealed and delivered for less than £305 a month

The BYD Seal is a Tesla Model 3 rival, and a very good one at that. It’s our Deal of the Day for 31 March
News
31 Mar 2025
Best April Fools' Day jokes by car companies 2025
Best April Fools' day jokes 2025

Best April Fools' Day jokes by car companies 2025

We round up this year’s best car-related April Fools’ jokes, along with a few of the more famous japes from years gone by
Features
1 Apr 2025
Skoda Enyaq review
Skoda Enyaq 85 - front

Skoda Enyaq review

If you're looking for an all-electric family SUV that will fit effortlessly into daily life, the Skoda Enyaq is an excellent choice
In-depth reviews
31 Mar 2025