| A spokesman responded to a call from Tayside’s Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter, who is calling for every school in Scotland to be fitted with a sprinkler system to slow down the spread of fire.
Mr Hunter was speaking after the Scottish Executive published figures that revealed over two thirds of school fires are started deliberately and that show no signs of decreasing this year.
“Fire safety is taken seriously and there are comprehensive alarm systems, extinguishers, and regular checks by the fire service in school buildings,” said a Dundee City Council spokesman.
“Pupils are regularly made aware of fire safety messages through classroom initiatives and close partnership working with Tayside Fire and Rescue.”
The Executive figures show there were 160 fires in Tayside and 111 in Fife schools in the last decade and between 70% and 80% were started deliberately.
Last year there were 12 fires in Tayside schools, up four on the previous year. Across Scotland last year there were 196 fires, the highest rate of call-outs since 1996.
Tayside Fire and Rescue is urging staff and pupils to remain vigilant to the threat of fire and that clear consideration should be given to the fitting of automatic sprinkler systems in schools.
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern, has added his name to an early day motion in the House of Commons to have all UK schools sprinkler protected.
Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter said fires seriously disrupt the education of young people. “This can be minimised by the installation of sprinklers and I am encouraged that this is now being recognised,” he said.
“However, until all buildings of this type are protected by sprinklers we will continue to work closely with young people and the education authorities to prevent fires from occurring.”
Each year, over 2000 schools in the UK suffer fires large enough to need action by the fire service. These range from small, external rubbish fires to more damaging internal fires that seriously affect the operation of the school. The odds on having a fire in a school are about one in 15.
“This is not the full picture,” a Scottish Executive spokesman said. “Many fires in schools go unreported, particularly if a staff member has extinguished it or it has burned itself out.
“The most recent estimate of the cost of school fires in the UK is £115 million per annum. This includes damage to the building and costs incurred by the fire service and police.
“The cost of a fire cannot simply be expressed in financial terms. The effect of a school fire can be devastating to the local community.
“School records and coursework may be irreparably damaged, classrooms and community facilities may be unusable for long periods and in extreme cases, entire schools may be destroyed.
“In Scotland, an average of four educational establishments suffer a reported fire every week.”
Standards of fire safety, together with management practices in schools, have ensured that fatalities and injuries caused by fire in school premises are rare.
The Scottish Executive says it’s committed to decreasing instances of deliberate fires. |
