Alcohol ‘a factor in 40% of fire deaths’

ALCOHOL was a factor in almost 40% of fire deaths in the past two years, according to statistics from the National Safety Council (NSC).

The research also found that the majority of the 500 people killed in fires over the past decade could have been saved if their homes had functioning smoke alarms.

Statistics show 482 people died in fires in the Republic and 168 in the North.