Cost of living behind fire death increase?

A recent spike in fire fatalities in Ireland may be down to factors including overcrowded homes, the cost of living crisis, and poor construction, a Cork fire safety expert has said.

New figures from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) show 34 fatalities caused by fire in Ireland last year, a 36% increase on 2024. Five of those were in Cork.

For Cork fire safety engineer Richard McCann, last year’s increase is a cause for concern, with the elderly and those in poverty most at risk.

Mr McCann, who previously served as assistant chief fire officer with both Cork city and county councils, said poor quality construction dating back over 20 years could be one contributing factor.

He said: “There is a well-publicised issue of poor construction standards during the 'Celtic tiger' era in the early 2000s leading to many apartment buildings having to be vacated or have extensive and expensive repairs.

“However, going back in time, the yearly average fatality rate in the 1980s was in the order of 50 people per year. So, the regime of building control would appear to have had an immediate and significant impact with a sharp reduction in fatalities.”

According to Mr McCann, factors for last year’s 36% increase in fire deaths might include a general housing shortage, the over-crowding of existing accommodation, and poor maintenance due to the cost of living crisis.

“As always, it's the vulnerable who tend to be the victims, the elderly and those in poverty,” he said.

However, Mr McCann noted that many listed causes seem to be a result of human behaviours like smoking, burning rubbish, and chimney fires.

He also noted reports of a move toward more drinking at home and less in the pub as a potential factor in increased numbers of house fires, but suggested this might have a more gradual impact than that indicated by last year’s figures.

“Social behavioural change is always happening, but whether such can be a cause here of higher fire fatalities,” said Mr McCann.

He continued: “A similar outcome might also be seen in road fatalities. It's possible there is a society-wide increase in risk taking, possibly attributable to issues like global warming, emigration, inability of the young adults to buy a house, and lack of control over one's life.

“Helplessness equals carelessness?” he added.

According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, chimney fires were the leading cause of fires in homes in Ireland between 2021 and 2025, accounting for 40% of all fires where the cause was known.

Over the last five years, there have been 115 fatalities caused by fire in Ireland, 54% of whom were over the age of 65.