The average house fire causes around £25,000 worth of damage or, in the worst case scenario, it can cause death or serious injury. And as the weather improves and people start socialising more, cleaning out their gardens and having barbecues, the risk of house fires due to alcohol consumption, discarded cigarettes or bonfires is massively increased.

But there are several very simple steps that can be taken to reduce these risks. A working smoke alarm is the biggest tool in preventing injury from fires. Statistics show that you are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got one.

Mike Wellings, at Greater Manchester Fire Investigation Team, has the job of investigating fatal and near-fatal fires across the city.

He says it takes ‘minutes, rather than tens of minutes’ for a smouldering cigarette to develop into a full-blown house fire.

“You need contact with a substance that is combustible – usually that’s a cushion – as perhaps a cigarette is dropped down the side of a sofa,” Mike explains.

“Often the fire is alcohol-related. Alcohol dulls
people’s senses and it makes them unaware of their surroundings.

“They may fall sleep and then wake up in a room full of smoke but they would not realise where they are, because they are completely disorientated.”

Chippy

Mike explains that it is crucial for drinkers to ensure that all cigarettes are extinguished before they go to sleep and that they are disposed of in a non-flammable container. “You’d be surprised how many people put cigarettes out in a plastic container or a bin liner,” he says.

He also has a few words of caution for anyone who comes home after a night out drinking and considers frying up some chips to make a quick snack.

“If you want chips, go to the chippy!” Mike advises.

“Or eat some cold food. Don’t start cooking under the influence of drink.”

Greater Manchester Fire Service carry out free fire risk assessments in the home and advise on reducing those risks and putting together an
escape plan should a fire break out.

They have already fitted more than 200,000 free smoke alarms in homes throughout Greater Manchester and are keen to do more. Arranging a fitting is easy and free via the helpline on 0800 555 815.

Waste

But fire risks are not restricted to the home. The fire service also wants to make people aware of the dangers of garden waste as the weather warms up.

The service advises that starting a bonfire to get rid of dead plants, grass cuttings and autumn leaves is not the best way to deal with waste.

Instead, they say that most waste can be recycled easily by composting – a safe and ecologically sound solution.

But the number one cause of house fires in Greater Manchester is still smoking.

Those who smoke in the home are nearly 35 per cent more likely to have a fire than non-smokers or those who do not smoke in the home.

And although numbers of fires due to cigarettes dropped by 35 per cent across the region between 2008 and 2009, there were still 194 avoidable blazes caused as a result of discarded cigarettes.

Accidental

Sarah Hardman, drug and alcohol advocacy worker at Stretford Fire Station, joined the fight against fires in 2007.

Her role was created in response to six fatal drug and alcohol-related fires in the borough in one year.

Since she joined, that figure has been halved. Sarah believes the reduction is probably because of increased awareness of the risks of accidental fires while under the influence of drink and drugs, and partly due to a drive across the NHS to tackle addiction issues. Sarah has had 285 referrals from GPs and Trafford Drugs and Alcohol Team since she joined.

But she agrees with Mike that there is still a real need to be vigilant. “More than 90 per cent of the accidental house fires we see are as a result of drinking alcohol,” Sarah explains.

“Fires can be caused so easily by people falling asleep in front of the TV with a cigarette in their hand.”

Encouraging people to give up smoking is also now part of her role. She has started a trial drop-in clinic at Stretford Fire Station to encourage both fire service staff and members of the public to stop smoking.

The message is that quitting the habit is good for your lungs and heart, but it can also massively reduce your risk of suffering a fire in the home.

“We want people to think about the way they smoke in the home,” Sarah says.

“We are really keen for people to have a smoke-free home.”