‘Stop fire starting’ – campaign urges public to be aware of fire safety as majority of those who die aged 65 or older

The campaign has been launched to go along with the start of National Fire Safety Week, which will run this week from September 30 to October 6.

This year, the theme of the campaign is 'stop fire starting', encouraging members of the public to be vigilant of fire safety, carry out regular safety checks and remove possible causes of fire from the home.

Figures from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) show smoking materials like cigarette ash were the most common cause of fire fatalities in Ireland last year.

More than 60pc of people who died in fires were people aged 65 or older, while the risk of serious house fires was much higher for older people who live alone.

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien announced €750,000 in funding for fire safety education and equipment to go along with the launch of Fire Safety Week.

"People can ensure that they and their loved ones are safe by identifying possible causes of fire in the home," Mr O'Brien said.

"Much of fire damage can be prevented by taking time to do routine fire safety checks, particularly at night, and following fire safety advice. By being aware of these causes and taking proactive measures, we can keep stop fires starting.

"As education in fire safety is so vital, we have invested €500,000 to roll out a new primary schools' programme this year.

"We are also repeating our investment of €250,000 in providing smoke alarms to the more vulnerable members of our community, which includes a €100,000 investment in providing specially adapted smoke alarms for the hard of hearing.

"We've also updated our dedicated fire safety website and are running a new media campaign to make people aware of the dangers of fire. We aim to create a culture of vigilance and awareness of fire-safety."

The NDFEM is also emphasising the need for working smoking alarms to be installed and tested regularly. More than 70,000 homes in Ireland have no working smoking alarm, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Fire Safety Week is run jointly by the NDFEM and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).

Speaking at the launch of Fire Safety Week in Co Kildare, NDFEM director Keith Leonard said: "We must be always alert if we are to eliminate potential hazards that could cause fire.

"Being vigilant, keeping mindful of fire safety and practising good fire safety habits is essential.

"We encourage people to follow fire safety advice, do a routine fire safety check at night and have a working smoke alarm on every level of their home."

The assistant chief fire and rescue officer of NIFRS Brian Stanfield said the service attended 728 house fires in 2023, with cooking and electricity supply the biggest causes.

"This Fire Safety Week we're encouraging all households to consider the potential fire hazards in their homes. House fires can be devastating so there is real value in understanding the possible causes.

"We are advising households to have a clear fire escape plan and to carry out their own home safety checks as part of their bedtime routine, such as testing smoke alarms and unplugging sockets, to keep you and your loved ones safe."