Conclusions of the Committee

Having conducted its study, the Central Statistical Committee offered the following conclusions (conclusions 7 and 8 are of particular interest):

1. The increase in the number of fires in recent years can be attributed, for the most part, to improved reporting.
2. The recurrence of fires depends on the population and is nearly proportional to the number of households.
3. The intensity of fires depends on climatic factors and average size (in area) of the villages in question.
4. The sum of losses is directly proportional to the intensity of the associated fire and is therefore the result of the same factors.
5. Fires occur more frequently in towns than in villages, but cause less damage than in the countryside.
6. The greatest percentage of fires occurs in autumn; the greatest percentage of losses occurs in summer.
7. The increase in fires caused by arson is more significant than the increase in the incidence of fires in general.
8. The greatest number of incidents of arson occurs in provinces in which the conditions for damaging fires are least favorable.