Electrical equipment and installations can be involved in fires through faults, misuse or contact with combustible materials. Official statistics record the source of ignition separately from the cause of the fire. This guide uses the latest England data to explain electrical distribution fires, incidents involving domestic appliances and the precautions relevant to homes and workplaces.
Updated 15 October 2026. Incident figures cover England, 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. An appliance recorded as the ignition source does not necessarily indicate a product fault. The economic-cost estimate relates to England in 2019/20.
Key facts and figures
- 3,410 accidental dwelling fires in England in 2025/26 had electrical distribution recorded as the ignition source.
- 23,795 accidental dwelling fires from all ignition sources were attended in England in 2025/26.
- 17% of other-building fires involved electrical distribution: 2,304 incidents in England in 2025/26.
- 1,342 accidental dwelling fires involved the five white-goods categories described below, in England in 2025/26.
- 579 accidental dwelling fires involved tumble dryers as the ignition source in England in 2025/26.
- £12 billion was the estimated economic and social cost of all fires in England in 2019/20, at that year's prices.
Electrical fires: understanding the recorded causes
Electrical distribution was the recorded ignition source in 3,410 of England's 23,795 accidental dwelling fires in 2025/26, or about 14%. The category includes wiring, cabling and plugs, batteries and generators, and power sources for heating equipment. Other electrical appliances appear in separate categories.
An ignition-source category does not identify the cause of a fire by itself: misuse and faults can involve the same equipment. Cooking appliances accounted for 42% of accidental dwelling fires overall, while misuse was the largest recorded cause category.
Domestic electrical fires
Domestic appliances can involve heat, electrical components and nearby combustible materials. The figures below count accidental dwelling fires where the named appliance was recorded as the ignition source. They include different recorded causes and should not be read as counts of defective products.
The table uses the same England reporting period for each appliance: 2025/26.
| Ignition source in accidental dwelling fires (England, 2025/26) | Fires |
|---|---|
| Tumble dryer | 579 |
| Washing machine | 409 |
| Fridge/freezer | 141 |
| Dishwasher | 119 |
Check appliances and leads for damage, follow the manufacturer's instructions and keep ventilation openings clear. Stop using equipment that shows signs of overheating or damage and arrange appropriate advice or repair.
Workplace electrical fires (2025/26)
England recorded 13,679 fires in other buildings in 2025/26. Electrical distribution was the ignition source in 2,304 (17%), the largest specified source category. Other buildings include commercial, industrial and public premises, but also private garages and sheds, so this is broader than a workplace total.
The electrical-distribution category extends beyond fixed wiring to other equipment such as batteries and generators. A workplace fire risk assessment should consider installations, appliances, charging arrangements and how equipment is used, alongside maintenance and staff training.
The white goods problem
Five appliance categories together accounted for 1,342 accidental dwelling fires in England in 2025/26: tumble dryers (579), washing machines (409), fridge/freezers (141), dishwashers (119) and combined washer/dryers (94). This is a sum of recorded ignition-source categories, including all recorded causes; it is not a count solely of faulty appliances.
Register appliances, follow manufacturers' instructions and act promptly on product recalls. Keep equipment maintained and avoid using damaged plugs, cables or appliances.
Long-term fire trends
Other-building fires in England were 15% lower in 2025/26 than in 2015/16: 13,679 compared with 16,028. The category nevertheless rose 3.7% compared with 2024/25. This trend concerns all other-building fires, not electrical incidents alone.
All fires attended in England increased by 19% in 2025/26, while fire-related deaths fell by 9.3%. MHCLG attributes much of the increase in fires to outdoor incidents during relatively hot, dry weather. The national increase should not be attributed to electrical equipment without separate evidence.
The cost of fire
The Home Office estimated the economic and social cost of fire in England at £12.0 billion in 2019/20, using 2019/20 prices. This historical estimate covers fires generally, rather than electrical fires alone. Businesses may face damage, lost trading time and recovery costs, making prevention and continuity planning relevant alongside insurance.
Prevention: inspection, testing and maintenance
Electrical precautions should reflect the equipment, environment and how it is used. Inspection and testing can identify some hazards, but the appropriate schedule depends on risk.
- Fixed installations. Arrange inspection and testing by a competent person at intervals appropriate to the installation, its condition and use. Follow the resulting recommendations rather than assuming one interval suits every commercial building.
- Portable equipment. Combine user checks, visual inspection and testing where needed. HSE does not prescribe a universal annual portable appliance test for every item.
- Product safety. Buy from reputable suppliers, follow instructions, register appliances and act on recalls. Remove damaged or suspect equipment from use.
Staff should know how to report faults, recognise warning signs and respond to a fire alarm. Training supports safe day-to-day use alongside technical maintenance.
Make sure your workplace has trained fire wardens in place.
Explore the Fire Warden / Fire Marshal Course →Sources & references
- MHCLG FIRE0602: ignition sources, England (Excel)
- MHCLG FIRE0301: fires by building type, England (Excel)
- MHCLG: detailed analysis of fires, England, year ending March 2026
- Home Office: Economic and social cost of fire, England 2019/20 (published 2023)
- HSE: portable electrical equipment maintenance and testing
Mark writes about workplace fire safety, compliance and online training for Fire Marshal Training, part of Online CPD Academy.