Warm and dry weather led to an increase in the number of fires in Hertfordshire last year (2025/26), according to the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's annual report.

In total, data in the report shows that firefighters were called out to 2,462 fires in 2025/26 – which is 472 more than in 2024/25.

Of those, 1,186 were classed as primary fires – which are fires that occur in a dwelling (412). Other buildings (184), other outdoor structures (217) or vehicles (373).

That's 10% more than the 1,073 primary fires that were recorded in the county in 2024/25.

And the increase, according to the report, can "mainly be attributed to the warm, dry weather experienced throughout the year".

Yet despite the increase in the number of primary fires, the data shows that crews were more likely to arrive on the scene within target response times than the previous year.

According to published attendance times, a first fire engine should attend a property fire within 10 minutes on 90% of occasions.

And, according to the report, in 2025/26 this occurred on 91% of occasions – which is an 8% increase on the 83% recorded in 2024/25.

The second attendance target – that says that a second appliance should arrive within 13 minutes on 90% of occasions – was met on just 86% of occasions.

Nevertheless, that's higher than the 83% recorded in 2024/25.

Fires that do not include property, but can include rubbish, trees, stubble, gardens, roadside furniture, cables and BBQs are classed as secondary fires.

The fire service recorded 1,276 secondary fires in 2025/26 – which is 359 more than the 917 recorded in 2024/25.

According to the report, there were 999 deliberate fires recorded, of which 276 were classed as primary and 723 as secondary.

And across the county, there were two fire-related deaths recorded in 2025/26 and 63 fire-related injuries.

In addition to the fire-related incidents, according to the report, in 2025/26 the service dealt with a further 4388 'special service' incidents.

These are incidents that do not involve fire – that can include traffic accidents, lift rescues, flooding, animal rescue and hazmat incidents.

And there were 6,054 false alarms attended by crews – including 3651 triggered by automatic fire alarms.

The annual report was presented to a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel earlier this month (September 14).

Following the meeting, executive member for public health and community safety Cllr Ajanta Hilton (Liberal Democrat, St Stephen's) said the service had "stepped up in every possible way".

"I couldn't be prouder of the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service," she said. "They really have stepped up.

"We have increasing false alarms, increasing deliberate fires, more RTCs, more incidents that they need to go to.

"But they have stepped up in every way possible to really show their dedication to the service, dedication to the public and dedication to safety."

Cllr Hilton stressed that the service's performance was not just a reflection of the firefighters, but of the control room, "all working more efficiently to use the resources as effectively as possible".