Each year there are around 800 fire in care homes  

On average, three people die each year and a further 84 are injured

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 which covers all workplaces in England & Wales (including care and nursing homes) came into force in 6 October 2006. (Scotland has similar, but different legislation set out in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005). This legislation has put the emphasis on preventing fires and reducing risk, and makes it the responsibility of care home managers and owners to ensure that no one is ever injured or killed in a fire.

Each year there are around 800 fires in homes providing care for older persons in England and Wales. On average, three people die each year and a further 84 are injured. In the worst incident for many years, in 2004, one modern care home in Scotland suffered 14 deaths in the fire

Apart from the human tragedy that results from death and injuries, there are significant losses in respect of property damage. Major fires often result in businesses closing for good as they never recover.

There are of course many indirect costs including:

• loss of sleeping, communal and housekeeping facilities
• disruption to daily life
• possible increase in insurance premiums
• loss of records and personal information
• loss of employment if the premises do not reopen
• loss of a place called home.

Destruction of residents rooms and facilities are just part of the devastation that can be caused by fires. Care homes are places which we think are safe and where our elderly loved ones can live in a secure, peaceful environment: the impacts of loss of property and personal effects, disruption to basic living and the psychological damage of a safe place being at risk can be immeasurable.

Some of the most vulnerable in our society live in care homes – and they have a right to be protected.

But installation of a cost-effective fire safety system, including fire sprinklers, will minimise damage and put a halt to the enormous misery that fires in care homes can cause. Indeed, the latest government guidance recommends installation of sprinklers where structural constraints make other fire protection measures cost-prohibitive