An ambitious campaign has been launched to put smoke alarms in every house in Lincolnshire.

The Lincolnshire Echo has teamed up with the county’s fire brigade to help save lives.

Their campaign is calling on local businesses to sponsor smoke alarms and get them fitted in the homes of people considered to be most at risk or in need.

Smoke alarms purchased will be sent to divisional fire stations for distribution, in the first instance, to the elderly, disabled, and those in council housing or on benefits.

The first company to get on board with the new scheme is Nottingham Building Society, which has set the ball rolling with a £1,000 donation.

The Echo revealed that 58 per cent of fire service call outs were to households where no alarm was fitted, yet the equipment can cost as little as £3 – less than a packet of cigarettes.

The campaign was launched with interviews with families whose homes could have been saved if they had had an alarm.

And fire safety experts gave their views on the benefit of having a smoke alarm fitted.

The campaign is also backed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which recommended checking batteries every month.

And although the campaign is aiming to get smoke alarms in every home, special groups are being targeted.

Assistant divisional fire officer Chris Ward told the Echo: “Figures show that those most at risk are those in community houses and those in rented accommodation because often people who do not own a property tend not to bother with it.

“People who are disadvantaged in some way – for example, the mentally or physically disabled – and also the elderly are groups seen at risk.”

He appealled through the paper for more businesses to step forward to help

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