Data from the Home Office reveals a significant decline in fire incidents at non-domestic buildings in County Durham. Between 2019 and 2023, fire and rescue services attended 513 incidents, representing a 15% decrease from the previous five years.
The decline underscores the effectiveness of the work that County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue does with local organisations to raise awareness about fire safety practices. Coupled with the introduction of new regulations – such as the October 2023 update to the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme, which mandates comprehensive fire risk assessments for all businesses – this demonstrates the impact of proactive measures.
Ansvar, an expert provider of insurance for the charity, care, not-for-profit, and faith sectors, is emphasising the importance of continued vigilance.
Adam Tier, Head of Underwriting at Ansvar, commented: “The decrease in fire incidents across County Durham extremely positive news and highlights the impact that greater awareness and regulation reforms can have, particularly for protecting smaller businesses and organisations in the non-profit sectors, where operational continuity is paramount. Unlike large commercial companies, who may operate across multiple locations or have an ability to utilise hybrid working, many charities and not-for-profit groups cannot continue to function if their premises are rendered unusable due to fire.”
Adam Tier continued: “Organisations can take obvious steps like ensuring all areas are equipped with fire alarms and smoke detectors, conducting regular risk assessments, and providing fire safety training to staff and volunteers. However, there are also less obvious measures that can significantly enhance preparedness and resilience against fire incidents. We are encouraging organisations to incorporate these into their fire safety plans for comprehensive protection.”
While preventative measures are crucial,” Adam Tier added, “specialist insurance tailored to the unique needs of the not-for-profit sector can provide essential protection in the event of a fire. This helps ensure organisations can recover quickly and continue their important work within the community.”
Ansvar is part of the Benefact Group, a charity-owned specialist financial services organisation. The Benefact Group is the UK’s third-largest corporate donor, underscoring Ansvar’s dedication to supporting the wider charitable community.