Smoking warning after fire death

Firefighters believe the fire in Williamstown was caused by a cigarette

Fire chiefs are warning smokers not to light up in bed following a spate of house fires in south Wales in which eight people have died.

The warning came after the death of a woman in a house fire in Williamstown in the Rhondda on Saturday.

Early tests have shown that the probable cause of the blaze was a discarded cigarette.

South Wales Fire Service said eight of the last 11 fatal house fires were accidentally started by cigarettes.

Emergency services were called to the house at about 1220 GMT on Saturday following the fire in a first floor bedroom.

On Monday, as officer continued their investigation into the blaze, fire crews said that cigarettes, lighters and matches, are the biggest killers in accidental house fires and urged people to be more vigilant.

A lot of people don't think it is going to happen to them but there is always that possibility it could happen and it happens very frequently Nigel Marchant, South Wales Fire Service

Nigel Marchant, the senior divisional officer for risk reduction for South Wales Fire Service, said: "Most people are aware of the serious health risks associated with smoking, but we want more smokers to realise that they are also putting themselves in grave danger of fire.

"If people are going to smoke, we would like them never to smoke in bed, to make sure they use proper ash trays and to never to leave lit cigarettes lying around."

He said the fire service offered a free home safety check and install fire alarms in people's homes.

"We want people to be more careful after they've been drinking or are tired and to check fire alarms every week," said Mr Marchant.

"A lot of people don't think it is going to happen to them but there is always that possibility it could happen and it happens very frequently," he added.