Hoarding Incidents
Where applicable, we publish responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This one, Hoarding Incidents, is detailed below.
Other FOI's
Ref: FOI/23117
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information requested on 6th September 2023.
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request.
1. In the last 5 years, how many incidents have your Fire and Rescue Service been called out to attend, where hoarding was identified?
Please break down the data as follows:
1st July 2018 – 30th June 2019
1st July 2019 – 30th June 2020
1st July 2020 – 30th June 2021
1st July 2021 – 30th June 2022
1st July 2022 – 30th June 2023
2. For each year, how many of those incidents led to injury, and how many to deaths? Please state whether the injured/deceased where civilians or firefighters in each instance.
3. For each year, in how many of those incidents was access to the fire or emergency obstructed due to hoarding at the property?
Reply
Please see below the requested data.
| Year | Count of Incidents with Hoarding | Sum of Public Injury | Sum of Public Fatality | Sum of FF Injury |
| 1st July 2018 – 30th June 2019 | 46 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st July 2019 – 30th June 2020 | 62 | 18 | 1 | 2 |
| 1st July 2020 – 30th June 2021 | 59 | 24 | 3 | 0 |
| 1st July 2021 – 30th June 2022 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1st July 2022 – 30th June 2023 | 37 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Please note hoarding is recorded in workbooks when it contributes to the cause, spread or resulting injuries during a fire, which would include if it obstructed access. However, the data doesn’t allow identification of which factor of these it was.
Request.
4. Can you also please provide information regarding the number of incidents you have attended for each level of the Clutter Image Ratings?
Reply
This information is exempt under section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as we do not hold this information. We do not record the clutter image rating so no analysis.
If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.