Understanding when fires occur is as critical as knowing where they happen, with timing data revealing clear patterns linked to daily routines, seasonal behaviour and environmental conditions. New analysis by UK-based passive fire protection specialist System Building Services Limited (SBS Limited) highlights specific hours, months and locations where fire risk is significantly higher.
SBS Limited analysed national Fire and Rescue Service incident data from 2024/2025 across England to identify temporal and seasonal trends. The study examined three key variables: time of day, month of the year and type of location, aggregating incidents and calculating their proportion of total fires to support more targeted fire prevention strategies.
The analysis shows that fire incidents peak during the early evening. The single highest-risk hour is between 19:00 and 20:00, accounting for 8.99% of all incidents, closely followed by 18:00–19:00 at 8.95% and 17:00–18:00 at 8.40%. Combined, the three-hour window between 17:00 and 20:00 represents more than a quarter of all fires recorded nationally.
Fire risk continues to remain elevated until late evening, with the period from 16:00 to 22:00 accounting for the majority of daily incidents. In contrast, early afternoon hours see significantly fewer fires, with incidents between 13:00 and 14:00 accounting for just 4.47% of the total.
“The evening spike in fire incidents aligns closely with when most people return home from work and begin cooking, using heating systems, and engaging in other routine activities,” said Brian Michie, Managing Director at SBS Limited.
“This time period combines multiple risk factors: increased use of cooking equipment, heating appliances being switched on as temperatures drop, and more people present in buildings. Understanding these patterns allows both individuals and organisations to heighten their awareness during peak risk hours.”
Seasonal analysis reveals that August records the highest number of fires of any month, with 16,679 incidents, representing 11.71% of the annual total. Other summer months also feature prominently, with June and July together contributing nearly 20% of incidents. Overall, the three summer months account for more than 31% of all fires recorded during the year.
March ranks as the second-highest month for fire incidents, while November also shows elevated figures, creating secondary peaks during seasonal transitions. Winter months record the lowest incident rates overall, despite increased use of heating systems.
“The summer spike can be attributed to several factors: dry weather conditions increasing outdoor fire risk, more people using barbecues and outdoor cooking equipment, and longer daylight hours meaning more outdoor activity,” Michie explained.
“The March peak likely reflects the transition from winter heating systems, combined with spring weather patterns that can create dry conditions. November's elevated numbers coincide with Bonfire Night and the start of increased heating use as temperatures drop.”
Location data highlights that refuse-related fires dominate national statistics. Fires involving refuse containers, refuse sites and waste storage account for more than 31% of all incidents, significantly exceeding any other single category. Dwellings account for 17.78% of fires, while grassland, woodland and crop fires represent 15.32%.
When combined, outdoor and secondary fires account for nearly 59% of all incidents, compared with just over 18% occurring in residential properties.
“The high incidence of refuse-related fires highlights a significant but often overlooked risk area,” said Michie. “Many of these fires are preventable through proper waste management, secure storage of flammable materials, and regular clearance of combustible waste.”
Summarising the findings, Michie said the data provides clear guidance for targeted prevention efforts.
“These patterns reveal that fire risk follows predictable rhythms tied to how we live and interact with our environment. What this data provides is actionable intelligence for fire prevention, allowing awareness and resources to be focused where they can have the greatest impact.”
