fire accident or fire incident?

Which is correct, fire accident or fire incident?

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Hi Sitifan,

There is a difference in meaning rather than a question of correctness. ‘Incident’ refers to something that has happened - an incident in which a fire broke out. ‘Accident’ refers to something that happened as a result of chance or carelessness - the fire started by accident when someone threw a lighted cigarette on the ground.

Alan

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Dear Sitifan,

How are things with you in Taiwan? In addition to Alan’s explanation you might want to read

Please let me know what you think.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: You didn’t shut down your computer, did you?

Why use the word “almost”?
Can anyone give me an example of an incident which is not an accident?

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Hi,

Yes. An incident was reported last night in the high street when a man was arrested by the police for causing an obstruction on the road The man did this on purpose, it wasn’t an accident.

Alan

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Sorry!!! I mad a serious typo.
I think that all accidents are incidents. Why say that “almost” all accidents are incidents?
Can anyone give me an example of an accident which is not an incident?

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You ll have to take up the ‘almost’ with the original poster. To answer your question - I think an incident is really only an incident when it is of some relatively serious nature. If I spill coffee over my keyboard, it’s an accident but that hardly warrants the description of ‘incident’.

Alan

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