Blackburn with Darwen false alarm callout stats revealed

According to the Fire Industry Association, a false alarm is when there isn’t actually a real fire but the alarm goes off.

Data provided by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service through a Freedom of Information request showed Blackburn with Darwen was the borough with the highest number of false callouts this year, up to the end of September.

Cooking was the most common cause of callouts in the borough (Image: Pixabay) In this period, there were 316 callouts, while the borough with the lowest number, Rossendale, had just 106.

Burnley was second on the list with 239 callouts, then Hyndburn with 174, Ribble Valley with 164, and Pendle with 114.

The leading cause of callouts in Blackburn with Darwen was to do with cooking, which also includes callouts for burnt toast, which led to 118 callouts.

Accidents or carelessly set-off alarms accounted for 44 callouts, while there were 25 caused by smoking.

The worst affected wards in the borough were Audley with 45, Queen’s Park with 55, and Wensley Fold with 63.

In Audley and Wensley Fold, the leading cause again was cooking/burnt toast, accounting for 29 and 26 callouts respectively.

Smoking was the leading cause in one Blackburn ward (Image: Pixabay)

In Queen’s Park though, this only led to five callouts, with accidents and smoking accounting for the most with 11 each.

As the cold weather hits this winter, other causes could be added to this as people seek alternative ways of keeping warm.

A fire service spokesperson said: "Reducing the number of false alarm callouts is crucial for ensuring that firefighters can respond promptly to genuine emergencies.

"We encourage everyone to be vigilant and mindful of their surroundings. Simple steps like regularly checking and maintaining smoke alarms, using electrical appliances as per the instruction manual, and not leaving cooking unattended can make a significant difference."