Greater Manchester tops England’s public building fire stats as experts call for urgent safety checks

Monday, 19 January 2026 15:50

By David Murphy

Greater Manchester has recorded the highest number of fires in public buildings in England over the past five years, according to new figures released by fire safety consultants.

Data from Rhino Safety reveals that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded to 285 fires in public buildings per 250,000 people, the highest rate in the country. The region ranked above Staffordshire (278), Buckinghamshire (271), Nottinghamshire (267), and Shropshire (266).

The figures show that prisons were the most affected type of public building, accounting for over 18% of commercial fires in Greater Manchester. Hospitals and retail premises followed, making up 11.2% and 10.8% respectively. Other affected sites included fast food establishments, pubs, retirement care homes and warehouses.

Health and safety expert Simon Walter has warned that businesses must not ignore the threat. “Safety should still be the number one priority,” he said, urging local firms to review alarm systems, secure their buildings after hours and ensure all fire safety equipment is functional.

Deliberate fire-setting was identified as the biggest cause, accounting for nearly 44% of incidents across Greater Manchester. Accidental causes including faulty wiring, fuel leaks and misused equipment made up most of the remainder.

While some causes were left unspecified, the most frequently listed source of ignition was faulty wiring, plugs or cabling, responsible for 11% of all incidents. Naked flames such as lighted paper followed at 8.4%, with smoking materials accounting for nearly 7%.

The fire risk profile for public buildings across the region includes:

Prisons: 18.4%
Hospitals: 11.2%
Retail buildings: 10.8%
Industrial manufacturing (non-factory): 4%
Takeaway or fast food outlets: 3.8%
Pubs and bars: 3.7%
Retirement homes: 3.6%
Warehouses and storage: 3.5%
Offices and call centres: 3.2%

Walter also highlighted user error, which includes careless handling of heat sources or misusing appliances, as a leading avoidable cause. “These are incidents that can easily be avoided with more fire safety education and training for all staff,” he said.

He advised all businesses to keep Fire Risk Assessments up to date and to rely only on qualified electricians for premises work.

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