FIRES at homes in East Ayrshire increased by 17 per cent last year, the Chronicle can reveal.

Sixty-nine blazes took hold in residents’ properties between April 1 and December 31, 2018, a meeting of councillors was told.

This represents a jump of 17 per cent from the same period the previous year.

Fire chief Jim Scott said there has been an “increase in accidental dwelling fires”, and blamed many of the blazes on cooking in the kitchen.

Thirty-three per cent of fires in the home were caused by distraction and another 12 per cent by alcohol or drug impairment.

Firefighters had to battle the blazes directly during 39 per cent of the cases. No action was needed in 29 per cent of incidents.

The highest number of them took place in Kilmarnock South where there were 12 fires in people’s properties.

Luckily, fewer people have been hurt in the incidents with the number of casualties diving by 28 per cent to 13.

Mr Scott, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service local senior officer, said most of the people who attended hospital were only treated for minor injuries, and no lives were lost.

The majority of casualties received first aid at the scene. Eight per cent were treated for serious injuries at hospital.

The number of fires started deliberately stands at 476, which is a decrease of 10 per cent. There were 123 deliberate fire-setting incidents in Ballochmyle, 64 in Kilmarnock South, 69 in Doon Valley and 59 in K ilmarnock East and Hurlford.

The figures were revealed at the East Ayrshire police and fire and rescue committee this week and cover nine months of last year.

Firefighters rushed to a total of 1836 incidents in East Ayrshire, which is up by five per cent. Crews attended 1010 of them and there were 662 different types of blazes.