Smoke alarms in bedrooms provide great protection

Older people are significantly more at risk from fire and need to take steps to protect themselves.

One of the ways you can best do this is to fit a working smoke alarm in the hallway on each level of your home, plus an alarm in your living room that will provide early warning in case of fire.

Additional alarms in bedrooms – particularly for those with poor mobility or who are bedridden – provide even greater protection.

Once alarms are fitted, they should be tested every week and maintained.

More fires start in the kitchen than any other room in the house, with deep frying using fat or oil, presenting a major risk. Using a thermostatcontrolled electric deep-fat fryer is a much safer option, along with fitting a heat alarm.

Leaving a pan unattended on a cooker is another significant cause of fire, and cooking when tired or if you’ve been drinking alcohol means you are more likely to fall asleep and less likely to wake up if a fire does start.

Smoking, particularly when drinking, is another major cause, with overloaded plug sockets, lit candles and poorly maintained electric blankets also among the hazards associated with house fires.

If you are concerned about fire safety within your own home or that of an elderly loved one or neighbour, you can arrange for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to carry out a free Home Fire Safety Visit, following which they can also fit smoke alarms free of charge if required.

To arrange you can: Call 0800 0731 999 Text ‘FIRE’ to 80800 from your mobile phone Visit firescotland.gov.uk to find the number of your local fire station, or complete an online form.