CALLS to protect services and prevent any more station closures have been made after it was revealed Cumbria has one of the highest fatality rates from fires in England.

Data published by the Home Office shows that seven people died in fire-related incidents across the county between April 2015 and March 2016, the highest it has been since 2011/12.

Firefighters attended a total of 4,524 incidents, with 698 of those being classified as “primary fires” – serious blazes that take place in buildings, cars or outdoors.

It means proportionally Cumbria had one of the highest fatality per 1,000 fires rates in the country, along with Cambridgeshire.

Ben Jones, organiser at Cumbria Fire Bridges Union, said the increase from four deaths in 2014/15 to seven in 2015/16 could be put down to the affect from cuts to firefighter numbers.

He said: “It’s tragic. Seven is very high for such a small population and it comes alongside the cuts that have been coming.

“Cumbria is very high and you can’t help but think that’s due to the closure of Dalton Fire Station and the loss of many retained firefighters.

“The only way we are going to tackle this is with more funding.

“If you look at Barrow we have got one fire appliance for the biggest town in Cumbria so our travel distances and travel times are greater.

“These figures prove our worst fears. We are consistently campaigning for no reduction in any form in any part of Cumbria. We are running on the bare bones as we are.”

All seven deaths to occur in Cumbria are listed as being dwelling fires, according to the government statistics.

There were also 21 non-fatal casualties from fires in the county, with injuries ranging from burns which needed hospital admission or paramedic treatment at the scene.

Cumbria County Council reversed a decision to close five additional fire stations, including Walney, in February.

A spokesman for Cumbria and Fire Rescue Service said: “From the beginning of April 2015 to the end of March 2016 there have been seven fire fatalities in Cumbria, six of these occurred in full time station areas with one being in a retained station area.

“On average there are four fire fatalities per year in Cumbria and it is acknowledged in 2015 there has been a peak compared to previous years.

“Each fire fatality is thoroughly investigated with any identified learning or trends being discussed and communicated through performance meetings.

“There have been no specific issues identified that have contributed to the higher levels of fire deaths in 2015.”

Nationally, there were 303 fire-related deaths in 2015/16, an annual increase for the first time in five years.

FATAL FIRES IN BARROW IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

- Yvonne McCorquodale, 66, died a week after a house fire in Newbarns Road, Barrow, on July 15 2015. Tributes to the mother-of-two described her as "full of wisdom and advice".

- 75-year-old Kenneth Olliver died at Wythenshawe Hospital following a fire in his flat at Admiral Court in Hope Street, Barrow, in September. An inquest was told the blaze was started by a cigarette.