While the number of fire deaths in London are falling almost one in three fatal accidental fires in Londoners homes have alcohol as a contributing factor.
The statistics have been released by London Fire Brigade as part of a safety campaign to highlight the fire dangers of excessive alcohol consumption – especially with the festive season approaching.
The statistics reveal:
London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety Andy Barrett said, “People are more likely to take risks when they drink and lose control of their sensory awareness. These factors lead to a slower response time which can be deadly if a fire starts.
“It is a sad fact that people are dying in fires even though they may have working smoke alarms and have taken other precautions. They simply can’t react due to their lack of awareness.”
“With the festive season coming up we want Londoners to enjoy themselves but to take fire safety into account and to take the correct precautions.
“People know about the dangers of drinking and driving but we don’t think about how many people are actually killed or injured in fires directly or indirectly due to alcohol.
Many of the common reasons for fires involving alcohol are cigarettes not put out properly and candles or unattended cooking after people have fallen asleep. A person affected by alcohol is not always in a position to escape from a fire and so can often be badly injured or killed.
The Brigade advises Londoners to keep the following tips in mind
