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.

Up to 33 of last year's fatalities took place in domestic settings and just two of the homes involved had working smoke alarms.

According to a telephone poll conducted by Millward Brown IMS, on behalf of the NSC, 42% of the respondents, who all smoked, intended to entertain more at home because of the smoking ban.

The study also revealed that 31% were more likely to drink alcohol at home while 35% were more likely to smoke at home.

"As 58% of fatalities took place between 8pm and 8am, the research highlights the possibilities of increased incidences of fire outbreak during these hours," NSC chairman Eddie Shaw said.

"Smoke alarms are an effective aid to alert people to fires and give them the valuable extra minutes to escape to safety," Mr Shaw said. "However, installation of smoke alarms is not enough the battery should be checked once a week, otherwise they are ineffective."

At the launch of Fire Safety Week at the Central Fire Station in Cork, Mr O'Keeffe said: "A staggering number of Irish fires have alcohol-related causes. We need to look at how our drinking habits are leading to unnecessary deaths.

"We need to send out a strong message about the importance of safety in the home when smoking and drinking."