FIRE chiefs have made good on a promise to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidental fires across East Lancashire.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had been charged with trying to ensure there were no more than 33 such casualties in 2006/07 in Blackburn with Darwen.

There were just 20 across the borough throughout the year.

But the same figures show there were 113 serious arson attacks, against a target of no more than 94.

Similarly the number of minor fires was 1,149, where the limit was set at 855.

Elsewhere though only 74 vehicles were torched, where 104 was the target.

The targets are part of Blackburn with Darwen Council's local agreement with the fire service.

Firefighters also kept the number of people killed or injured in accidental house fires in Lancashire County Council's area, covering Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn, to 72 over the past year. The target was 140.

The number of serious fires was 1,364 - the target was 1,458. Only 4,505 minor blazes were reported - the limit was 4,757 countywide.

If the service slashed accidental fire casualties across Lancashire it will qualify for higher levels of performance-related reward' grants from the Government in 2008/09.