Table 7.1. The location and motive of fires in the West Midlands metropolitan county 1999/00 to 2002/3

Location and motive	1999/00	2000/01	2001/02	2002/03
Accidental fires
Dwellings	3,452	3,091	2,935	2,709
Other buildings	1,419	1,212	1,302	1,163
Vehicles	1,019	903	831	783
Outdoor (e.g. refuse, grass)	2,697	1,511	1,864	1,803
Other (e.g. postboxes, recycling collection bins)	112	123	154	117
Accidental total	8,699	6,840	7,086	6,575
Arson fires
Dwellings	980	975	1,069	939
Other buildings	1,148	1,028	1,096	941
Vehicles	4,244	4,380	4,898	4,753
Outdoor (e.g. refuse, grass)	10,162	10,358	13,467	14,719
Other (e.g. postboxes, recycling collection bins)	507	453	561	525
Arson total	17,041	17,194	21,091	21,877
Grand total	25,740	24,034	28,177	28,452