Recession sparks fire death fears

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The economic crisis could lead to a rise in fire deaths and injuries, as well as damage to property, according to the Fire Brigades Union in Tayside.

The FBU has raised concerns about the increasing use of candles, portable oil-filled heaters and open fires, which people are using to save money.

A rise in the number of business owners burning down their property to claim insurance has also been predicted.

The union urged people not to forget about safety when trying to save money.

Serving firefighter and Tayside FBU secretary, Jim Malone, said: "We are in a downturn, people are becoming desperate as they try to provide their homes with electricity - they're bypassing safety, they're using candles on an almost nightly basis in some places.

"People are using oil-filled heaters, paraffin heaters etc. Also people will use more open fires, wood and coal and stuff, which also present hazards.

"These are challenges that firefighters in Tayside will be facing over the next 12-18 months while we're in recession and we will be faced with it on a regular basis."

Mr Malone also feared that some would turn to arson.

People are looking for cheaper ways to heat their homes when money is tight Jo StaggsRospa

"These would be desperate people taking desperate measures and obviously it's a fact of life that unfortunately some people within our communities feel that they've nothing else," he said.

"They're in despair and there's nothing else for them to do other than try to get some financial comeback from having years and years of working hard in a business."

Jo Stagg from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) said that the number of fire deaths in the UK had been falling, but she added that people should not become complacent.

She said: "We know that deaths in candle fires in the home are increasing. Candles are going through a bit of a resurgence in popularity at the moment.

"Also, we know that we have an ageing population and we've heard it suggested that there might be a rise in the use of portable heaters at the moment due to fuel poverty, so people are looking for cheaper ways to heat their homes when money is tight."