DEATHS FROM FIRES have risen sharply in the past two months according to new figures released today.

The Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) say that 18 fatalities occurred in Ireland in December and January which is almost 50% of the total of 40 people who died in domestic fires in 2010.

There’s been a total of nine fatalities recorded already in 2011 with two in Cork, two in Clare, two in Wicklow, one in Tipperary, one in Dublin and one in Donegal.

In response the CFOA is calling for greater fire safety awareness after smoke alarms were either not present or not working in the majority of cases.

Chairperson of the CFOA Michael Raftery said in response to the figures:

Forty to fifty people have died in accidental house fires every year over the last twenty years and this trend has continued this winter. Sadly many of these fatalities could have been prevented.

The increase in fire deaths serves as a stark reminder to us all of the importance of installing working smoke alarms and the need to have an escape plan should it become necessary to evacuate.

Raftery also urged members of the public to check not only their own smoke alarms but those of elderly relatives or vulnerable neighbours.