MAKE sure you have enough smoke alarms to keep your property safe - that's the message from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

New research shows that that one smoke alarm may not be enough to provide you with the best chance of escaping a fire in the home.

Despite 88 per cent of homes in England having at least one working smoke alarm, the alarms alerted householders to a fire in only a third of cases. The most common reason a smoke alarm failed to activate was because the fire was outside its range.

Station Commander Alan Haley said “We must all make sure that we have enough smoke alarms to cover our whole homes. If you don’t have enough, or they’re not in the right place, you might not be alerted in time.

“The vast majority of us now have at least one smoke alarm in our homes, but early detection and warning is vital to reduce the devastation a house fire can cause. That’s why it’s so important that you have enough smoke alarms and that they are in the right place to have the best chance of alerting you and your loved ones to a fire.

“You should make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home, preferably in hallways and landings. Placing smoke detectors near to sleeping areas and in rooms where there are electrical appliances could give you the extra warning you need.

“It’s also important to remember that smoke alarms don’t last forever. The power might work, but the mechanism deteriorates with time. So whether they are battery operated or wired to the mains, to work at their best they should be replaced every ten years.”

The fire service can be contacted for fire safety advice on 0800 032 1155.