South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR), as part of the Fire Kills Campaign, is urging people to test their smoke alarms after research showed that only 28% of all households who own one test them on a regular basis.

Head of Prevention and Protection Steve Helps of SYFR said: “You’re at least seven times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have any working smoke alarms.  However, only 28% of the people who own an alarm say they take the time to test it at least monthly.”

There were 229 fire-related deaths in the home last year. The Fire Kills campaign hopes that by encouraging everyone to test their smoke alarms more deaths could be prevented.

Steve Helps added, “I’d encourage people in South Yorkshire to make sure you test your smoke alarms today and get into the habit of testing them each month as they can save you and your family’s life.  In the event of a fire, working smoke alarms will give you the valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.”

The campaign is running for one month across outdoor, print, digital, social media and radio to raise awareness during the winter months when there is an increase in fire-related incidents and deaths.

To help keep you and your loved ones safe, SYFR offers these simple steps:

• Test your smoke alarms now or when you get home
• Make sure you fit smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly, even if they’re wired into the mains.
• Whatever happens, never remove the batteries in your smoke alarms unless you are replacing them. Some require new batteries every year.
• Plan and practise an escape route and make sure that everyone in your home knows it.
• In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.
• Test others smoke alarms who are unable to test their own

For more information visit www.gov.uk/firekills