A 32-year-old woman perished in this house fire in Wanganui in December. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle
Twenty people were killed in avoidable house fires in the past 12 months and in most cases, there was no working smoke alarm, the Fire Service says.
The most common causes of the fires in the 2012/2013 year were drinking and cooking, faulty appliances or electrical wiring, items too close
to a heater, and smoking.
Fire Service chief executive and National Commander Paul Baxter said it appeared the elderly, disabled, those impaired by alcohol and those living in rental or care housing were more at risk.
"We are concerned that older or impaired people make up many of these deaths. Five were in their 70s and 80s, eight in their 50s and 60s and two people had disabilities," he said.
The Fire Service worked extensively with communities and organisations such as Age Concern, Work and Income, city councils and other groups to provide advice and, home fire safety checks and install smoke alarms.
