yeah I know, it's the US and it doesnt correspond to here, but the following figures make interesting (and frightening) reading
Taken from the US National Fire Protection Association 2007 Report
"The US Fire Problem
In 2007, there were 1,557,500 fires reported in the United States (down 5% from 2006). These fires caused 3,430 civilian deaths, 17,675 civilian injuries, and $14.6 billion in property damage.
530,500 were structure fires (up 1% from 2006), causing 3,000 civilian deaths, 15,350 civilian injuries, and $10.6 billion in property damage.
258,000 were vehicle fires (down 7% from 2006), causing 385 civilian fire deaths, 1,675 civilian fire injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.
769,000 were outside and other fires (down 9% from 2006), causing 45 civilian fire deaths, 650 civilian fire injuries, and $0.8 billion in property damage.
The 2007 U.S. fire loss clock
A fire department responded to a fire every 20 seconds.
One structure fire was reported every 59 seconds.
One home structure fire was reported every 79 seconds
One civilian fire injury was reported every 30 minutes.
One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 33 minutes.
One outside fire was reported every 41 seconds.
One vehicle fire was reported every 122 seconds."
Lots of complex reasons for the huge numbers, but you just have to wonder why it is so sometimes
