KINGSTON, Jamaica—Property loss as a result of fires in 2025 was estimated at $9.9 billion representing 2.2 per cent of the estimated value ($446.8 billion) of property at risk.

This is stated in the 2025 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, an annual publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

According to the survey, there were 2,711 malicious false alarm calls to the fire services in 2025, an increase of over 54.0 per cent when compared to 2024.

Of that total, Kingston and St Andrew (KSA), St Catherine and Manchester combined, accounted for almost 45.0 per cent. PIOJ said there were 11,048 genuine fire calls that were responded to in 2025, an increase of 13.0 per cent relative to 2024.

Consistent with the previous year, St Catherine and KSA accounted for the highest number of reported fires combined, totalling 2,357 and 2,110, respectively. PIOJ noted that St Thomas and Trelawny were among the eight parishes which recorded an increased number of fires, with St Thomas moving from 440 in 2024 to a troubling 798 last year.

Meanwhile, the number of persons directly impacted by fire was 1,965, an increase of 12.8 per cent when compared to 2024. This was the second consecutive year of increase.

“The rise was primarily due to a 15.0 per cent increase in the number of individuals rendered homeless,” said PIOJ. The planning institute explained that civilian adults comprised the majority of those affected, accounting for 73.5 per cent of the impacted population, while children made up 26.1 per cent.

In contrast, fire-related deaths declined for the second consecutive year to 19.

The survey found that non-structural fires remained the dominant fire category, recording 9,491 incidents, 85.9 per cent of the total and an increase of 16.2 per cent. The increase was largely attributed to the rise in the categories “bush” and “refuse sites” fires, which rose by 26.2 per cent and 24.5 per cent, respectively.

On the other hand, structural fires totalled 1,555 incidents, a decrease of 3.1 per cent.

PIOJ said St Catherine accounted for the largest number of bush fires, with 1,424 incidents, followed by St Ann with 645. KSA and St Catherine recorded the highest number of structural fires with 325 and 257, respectively, or 37.4 per cent of the total fires occurring in that classification.

-Lynford Simpson