The biggest cause of fatal domestic fires is smoking materials (cigarettes and matches).

Total number of domestic fires in 1999 was 58,000 .

650 people were killed in total, 400 of these in accidental dwelling fires.

80,500 malicious false alarm calls were made in 1999, putting people at risk.

52% of domestic fires start in the kitchen, the majority are chip pan fires.

About 1 /3 of deaths in domestic fires are caused by burns, the rest by inhaling smoke and poisonous gases or lack of oxygen.

The majority of deaths occur when people are asleep.

In a typical fire situation, the temperature at floor level is around 20ºC whilst at 1.5 metres it is 120ºC.

The temperature at an average adult's head height will be higher than boiling water.

In a recent survey of 500 fatal domestic fires, 421 of the people who had died either did not have a smoke alarm, or had one that did not work.

The communities most at risk from fire are also those least likely to have working smoke alarms.

Those most vulnerable to fire are the elderly living alone or those with insufficient mobility to be able to escape from it.

Smoke alarms should be fixed to the ceiling at least 30cm (12 inches) away from any wall or light fitting and as close to the centre of the room, hallway or landing as possible.

They should be checked once a month and the battery changed annually. Click here