The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many children died in house fires in each year since 2001. (269307)
The attached table provides the number of deaths of children aged under 16 years who died from smoke, fire or flames in the home, in England and Wales, from 2001 to 2007 (the latest year available).
Deaths 2001 24 2002 39 2003 30 2004 20 2005 24 2006 25 2007 15 1 For the purposes of mortality statistics, children are defined as persons under the age of 16. Figures exclude deaths at ages under 28 days. 2 The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X00-X09, X76, X97 and Y26 where the death occurred in a private home. These include deaths given a verdict of accident, assault, suicide or undermined intent. 3 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 4 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.