Following the deaths of two young children in a house fire in Belfast last weekend, the National Safety Council has renewed its appeal for working smoke alarms to be fitted in all homes.
The council estimates that 42 people were killed in domestic fires last year. The majority of those deaths occurred in homes without smoke alarms.
Mr Pat Costello, chief executive of the National Safety Council, said yesterday: "Winter has consistently proven to be the worst time of year for fires, with children and old people being its greatest victims. There are many simple measures people can take to prevent a tragic fire accident in their homes. Common sense is probably the best tool."
A working smoke alarm gives an early warning that fire has broken out, preventing the suffocating effect of smoke and fumes which overcome people in advance of the flames.