Fire brigades responded to 2,314 vegetation fires last year across forests, bogs and grass areas as blazing vegetation accounted for around one in every 10 brigade attendances.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) has said that this level of fire activity underscores the importance of responsible land management and public awareness of the risks of both wildfire and the inadvertent ignition of vegetation.
New NDFEM figures put the total number of fires attended by brigades at 21,794 fires in 2025, of which 4,131 occurred in people’s homes.
The most common fire incident type was the outdoor burning of rubbish, despite the activity’s prohibition under law.
Burning rubbish outdoors can carry fines of up to €5,000 on prosecution but some 6,778 fire service attendances still related to outdoor rubbish burning last year.
A further 8,573 fire brigade call outs related to false fire alarms, leading the NDFEM to call on the public to ensure fire alarm systems are correctly installed, maintained and operated to help reduce unnecessary emergency responses.
Fatalities up
Fatalities across all fire categories increased by nine last year to 34, with smoking in the home representing the leading known cause of fire deaths.
The average age of a fire-related fatality was 63 as two in every five of these deaths had victims aged over 65.
Males were also disproportionately more likely to die from fire, with 26 of the 34 deaths being men.
Risk warning
Minister for Housing James Browne said that the NDFEM data serves as a reminder of the “very real risks that fire poses to people and communities across Ireland”.
“Tragically, behind these statistics are lives that have been lost and bereaved families,” Minister Browne commented.
“Our fire services work tirelessly to respond quickly and effectively when incidents occur but these figures remind us of the importance of doing everything on a personal and individual level that we can to prevent fires and keep our loved ones, homes and businesses safe.”
Director of the NDFEM Keith Leonard said that the figures show that the home remains the highest-risk location for fatalities, with older people being particularly vulnerable.
“We continue to urge everyone to take simple but vital steps to reduce risk, including maintaining working smoke alarms and being mindful of fire hazards such as smoking materials,” Leonard said.
“Smoke alarms remain the single most important life-saving device in the home. While many homes are equipped with alarms, it is essential that they are properly maintained and regularly tested to ensure they operate effectively when needed.”
The fire incident figures do not represent all potential causes of fire, as not all counties report specific “causes of fire” within their jurisdiction. All counties do collect location data and this gives a strong direction of where fire safety awareness needs to be targeted. NDFEM is currently reviewing how and what data is collected, taking into consideration new emerging technologies.