The number of claims that insurers receive after a house fire fell sharply last year. From 67,165 to 59,011. This continued a downward trend that has been visible since 2018. Only in 2020 was a slight increase to be seen, presumably due to the fact that more people worked from home due to corona. This is evident from the Home Fire Risk Monitor that the Dutch Association of Insurers has published today.
Richard Weurding, General Director of the Association, attributes the favorable development to the fact that the government, insurers, fire brigade and burns foundation have been calling attention to the importance of prevention such as the installation of fire detectors for years, recently a legal obligation. "We also see a decrease in fire damage after New Year's Eve, because heavy fireworks are prohibited and better enforcement is being done."
According to Weurding, the question is whether the overall downward trend will continue, because the sharply increased fuel price entails new risks. In search of cheaper alternatives, sales of firewood and alternative electric heaters have risen sharply. Weurding: "There are also experiments with candles in clay pots and heating lamps. That's understandable, but if you're not careful, it can turn out badly." The Netherlands Fire Brigade also points out this danger and advises chimneys to be wiped regularly and not to burn wet wood.
The main reason to draw attention to fire prevention is to prevent injuries and fatalities. The Dutch Burns Foundation did not see a decrease in the number of victims last year. "It is very nice to see that the number of claims of house fires is falling. But unfortunately, we cannot yet see these results reflected in the figures of the burn centers," says director Rob Baardse. This year's fire prevention weeks are all about fire detectors and the importance of checking whether they also work and hang in the right place.
Click on the image to open the risk monitor.
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