Fire deaths in England reach record low thanks to smoke alarms

The number of people killed in fires in England has fallen to its lowest level on record, figures from the government's Department for Communities and Local Government revealed Thursday.

Increased safety awareness and the installation of smoke alarms in millions of homes is said to be behind the dramatic drop in fatalities.

During 2014-15, a total of 258 people lost their lives in fires, 6 percent less than the previous year and 30 percent lower than a decade ago. But far fewer than the near 800 who died in fires in 1985. Of those who died almost two-thirds, or 163 people, died in house fires.

Government Fire Minister Mark Francois said there is a similar reduction in the number of people injured in fires, which has fallen to less than half the number of casualties in 2004. In the past year, 3,235 casualties have needed emergency hospital treatment for burns and fire injuries.

The minister said the results were a testament to the success of fire safety campaigns and the hard work done by fire and rescue authorities around the country, and others, to increase awareness of fire safety and prevent fires from breaking out in the first place.

The figures show that last year, fire and rescue services in England were called for 154,700 incidents, the second lowest number of fire incidents ever recorded.

Francois added: "People are safer than ever before, with deaths from fires in the home at record lows - thanks to the combined efforts of households, fire and rescue authorities, the government and business. It is great news this downward trend in fire fatalities and casualties is continuing but we must not be complacent because one death is a death too many," before urging people to remain vigilant about fire safety and prevention.

"The best way to protect a household from a fire is to install at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and then to test these monthly," he said. Endit