The number of fire incidents in North Ayrshire has fallen by nearly eight per cent year-on-year, it has been revealed.

And there was a welcome 22 per cent decrease in casualties.

Area commander Ian McMeekin, local senior officer for East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, delivered the welcome news at a meeting of the North Ayrshire Police and Fire and Rescue committee.

An analysis of operational responses across North Ayrshire for the period April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 identified a 7.7 per cent fall in activity levels when compared to the same period in 2022/23.

The area commander said: “Last year, we attended 2,673 incidents. That is an eight per cent decrease on the last year in the North Ayrshire area.

"Activity for special services saw a five per cent decrease, and for casualties there a 22 per cent decrease."

 A further review of activity over the rolling three-year average indicated a 0.5 per cent decrease in operational demand over the period.

False alarms accounted for 57.1 per cent of all demand, with fire-related and special service activity accounting for 26.2 per cent and 16.7 per cent respectively.

Most activity is from 3pm until 9pm, and cooking is still the main cause of accidental fires.

Commander McMeekin said: “We organise fire safety visits and smoke detection was seen in 83 per cent of occasions in place within the properties. This is something we will continue to work on.

“We worked with private homeowners to try and support people to get the required level.”

The figures do not take into account the major battery plant fire in Kilwinning, which occurred in April this year.