FIRE chiefs concerned at the massive rise in the number of people who have died or been seriously injured in fires in the Northwich area have launched Operation Early Warning in a bid to prevent more fatalities.

They want to see all houses fitted with at least one or two smoke alarms and for people to become generally more aware of fire safety.

In recent weeks four people have died and two were left fighting for their lives following fires in the Northwich area. This unprecedented figure has taken everyone by surprise - particularly as before that there had not been any fire-related deaths in Cheshire for nine months.

County fire spokesman Evan Morris described recent events as unprecedented and said the fire service had devoted a huge amount of time to fire prevention.

'We are taking the issue very seriously indeed,' he said. 'There has never been a time when we have put so many resources into trying to make people safer. In the last couple of years in the Vale Royal area alone we have carried out 1,500 fire safety checks and fitted more than 1,600 free smoke alarms.

'The average death rate in fire is one per 100,000 population per 12 months and yet in Northwich with a population of just over 44,000 we have had four fire deaths in just over four weeks.

'Morally we have to do something about that. We cannot keep dragging bodies out of fires.'

By launching Operation Early Warning they aim to prevent more deaths and injury by encouraging people to take extra precautions such has having smoke alarms fitted. He said: 'Currently more than 50% of all property fires we attend are in places were they either haven't got a smoke alarm or the smoke alarm isn't working.

Lyndon Loweth, community safety officer for Cheshire, said the public should be made aware that fire deaths are preventable.

'When people ring us up for help we will do a complete home risk assessment and fit the smoke alarms free of charge. Smoke alarms won't stop fires but they will prevent death and injuries.'

And he also wants people who smoke to become more aware of the dangers: 'A large proportion of fires are caused by smoking and we urge all residents to be extra vigilant.'