Scots have worst fire death rate

More than half the calls to the fire brigade were false alarms

Scotland has the UK's highest rate of deaths and injuries caused by fire, according to official statistics.

The figures for 2007 showed that the number of fires dropped to its lowest level in a decade.

However, the number of deaths increased to 57 - up from 52 in 2006. That had been the lowest figure for 10 years.

More than half of the 43 house fire fatalities were in homes where a smoke alarm either was not fitted or did not work.

The statistics showed that there were just under 46,000 fires reported in Scotland in 2007, with the number of non-fatal casualties rising by 5% to 1,722.

Scotland had the highest rate of fire deaths and injuries per million of the population in the UK.

The majority of deaths still occur in homes not fitted with a working smoke alarm Fergus Ewing Community Safety Minister

Twenty people died in fires accidentally started by material associated with smoking.

Of the 43 deaths in house fires, 18 were in properties where there was no smoke alarm, while a further 11 deaths occurred in homes where a smoke alarm was present but did not operate.

However, the overall number of fires in Scotland fell from 50,520 in 2006 to 45,912 in 2007.

The number of more serious fires - classed as primary fires - also dropped for the eighth year in a row to 13,805.

Firefighters responded to 53,840 false alarms in 2007, which was 54% of their total call outs.

There were 4,920 malicious false fire alarms, the lowest figure for 10 years.

Safety visit

Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said: "I welcome the reduction in the numbers of fires.

"It is disappointing that there has been a rise in the number of fire deaths, although there were fewer fire deaths in the home.

"It is also disappointing to note that the majority of deaths still occur in homes not fitted with a working smoke alarm. Any death from a fire is a tragedy and prevention is the best way to tackle Scotland's poor record."

He urged people to request a home fire safety visit from their local fire brigade.

And he also called on smokers to be "particularly vigilant" of the dangers of fires.

Mr Ewing said: "Careless handling of smokers' materials continues to be one of the major causes of accidental fire deaths in the home.

"I would encourage smokers to be particularly vigilant, especially if they've been drinking or are tired."