Burning times

[ETA]

So, three (reported in the Random News thread) pubs burned down in the space of a week in Kent, Cornwall and Wiltshire.

Are there any statistics available on severe pub fires? It would be interesting to see whether this is statictically insignificant clustering, or whether there is any correlation to the economic climate. I'm not for one moment implying anything nefarious, by the way - such correlations can be spurious, but there may be a link - hard times may mean less spending on fire precautions, heating systems or electrical works, for example, or it may just be coincidence. Perhaps the weather has driven smokers into vulnerable areas. Maybe the increase in the number of pubs serving food has meant more kitchen fires. Or maybe the distribution of pub fires really is random and we've only just noticed.

[Pubsignman]

Few more here, all in the last week or two:

Middlewich
http://www.middlewichguardian.co.uk/...inderton_Arms/

Wrexham
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nort...5578-28405666/

Rusper
http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/..._pub_1_2541860

Llanddewi Brefi
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-12800493

York
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8906...t_at_York_pub/

Varying degrees of damage done - some clearly accidents and others under police investigation.

[Farway]

One here, went up on early on Thursday

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41709/