Date of Request
17/10/2025
Request
To whom it may concern,
I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information on accidental primary fires attended between 1 August 2020 and 31 August 2025, classified by Property Type using the most detailed IRS categories or equivalent local systems. This data is routinely recorded and is reasonably held.
Fields requested (counts per Property Type):
- Source of Ignition (IRS: “What was the source of ignition?”)
- Item First Ignited (IRS: “What item/material was damaged first?”)
- Item Responsible for Spread (IRS: “What item, if any, was mainly responsible for the spread?”)
- Cause of Ignition (IRS: “What was the cause of the fire?”)
- Location of Origin (IRS: “What type of room/compartment did the fire start in?”)
Data preferences:
- Preferably split by month and year; otherwise, aggregated totals for the full period are acceptable.
- Incident counts only, ideally in machine-readable format (CSV/XLSX or equivalent). If this is not possible, please provide the most usable format and indicate the format provided.
- Include full text and IRS codes; if IRS codes are not used, provide equivalent local classifications. Clearly indicate missing fields or periods.
Cost Limit / Section 12:
If the full request exceeds the statutory cost limit, please prioritise provision of the data according to the numbered fields above.
If any requested data is not held or only partially available, please provide what is held and clearly indicate missing fields or periods.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Response
Good Morning,
We thank you for your request for information, which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
The Service can confirm that the information that you have requested is held as per the attached document.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance and Committee Services on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk. In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see Subject).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk.
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for information.
Kind regards,
Information Governance Team