Four people died in separate fire incidents across Nottinghamshire during 2025, according to a report to be presented to members of the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority next week.
The annual fatal fires review, prepared by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, covers incidents attended between 1 January and 31 December 2025 and provides an overview of the circumstances surrounding fatal fires and the service’s response to them.
The report states that four people lost their lives in four separate incidents during the year. One fatal fire occurred in April 2025, while the remaining three took place in July. Two of the incidents occurred within domestic properties, one took place in a woodland area and another involved a heavy goods vehicle cab at a business premises.
File image
The incidents were spread across the county, with one in Bassetlaw, one in Broxtowe, one in Rushcliffe and one in Ashfield. Three of the people who died were adult men and one was an adult woman. Two of the fatalities involved people aged over 65, with the youngest person aged 53 and the oldest 88.
Investigations into the incidents identified a range of causes. One involved a gas explosion with an undetermined ignition source, while another was linked to a naked flame ignition. A third fire was determined to have been started deliberately using a naked flame and a possible ignitable liquid, and the fourth involved ignition of a liquified petroleum gas vapour cloud while cooking.
© westbridgfordwire.com
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says none of the individuals involved in the fatal fires were previously known to the service through referrals, previous interactions or safe and well visits.
The report also highlights that three other incidents initially treated as fire fatalities during 2025 were later removed from the service’s statistics after investigations concluded the deaths were due to natural causes. These incidents took place in Mansfield in April and September and in Annesley in July.
Overall, the number of fire deaths recorded in 2025 was lower than the average seen in recent years. Between 2021 and 2024 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service attended an average of eight fire fatalities each year, with 11 deaths recorded in both 2022 and 2024.
Following fatal fires, the service convenes a Serious Event Review Group to manage its response, review operational learning and plan community safety work. The group also examines whether the service had previous knowledge of the individuals involved and ensures the welfare of crews and control staff who attended the incident.
Community reassurance and engagement work is also carried out after serious incidents. In the two fatal fires that occurred in domestic properties during 2025, firefighters contacted 206 nearby households with fire prevention advice. As part of this work, crews carried out 45 safe and well visits and installed 19 smoke alarms.
File image
The service also continues to work with partners including Nottinghamshire Police, Trading Standards and local councils to investigate incidents, share learning and target prevention campaigns. In one case during 2025, Trading Standards carried out laboratory testing on a toaster involved in a fatal fire to determine whether a product safety issue or misuse may have contributed to the incident.
Looking ahead, the service says further prevention work will be carried out in 2026 based on the risks identified in recent incidents. This includes targeted safety campaigns for heavy goods vehicle drivers who cook in their cabs, as well as awareness work around lithium-ion battery risks linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.
Members of the Fire Authority’s Community Safety Committee will be asked to scrutinise the report and endorse the service’s approach to learning from fatal fires and strengthening prevention work across Nottinghamshire.
