Smoking ban 'could lead to more fire deaths'

MORE people could die in house fires because smokers are choosing to socialise at home since the smoking ban was introduced, the National Safety Council warned yesterday.

As National Fire Safety Week was launched, Minister for State at the Department of the Environment, Batt O'Keeffe said up to 40% of fires are linked to alcohol.

Last year, 37 people died in fires across the country, compared to 51 in 2002. However, fire officers fear the figure could rise again as National Safety Council (NSC) research has shown a third of smokers are socialising more at home since the ban came into effect.