The 12 months from July 2024 to June last year saw 17 people killed in preventable house fires.

That was the highest number in a decade, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said.

Seven of those deaths occurred during winter.

With the clocks due to go back an hour on Sunday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging people to install smoke alarms in the rooms where they sleep.

“Many of the deaths in that year were the result of not having smoke alarms in the right places,” community education manager Tom Ronaldson said.

“We are urging people to not only check their alarms, but to make sure they have smoke alarms in every room where someone sleeps.”

It was also important to look out for older neighbours, family and friends who might not be able to install their own alarms.

“More than 60% of avoidable residential fires in the last five years involved people over the age of 60.

“We encourage you to check in on the older people in your lives and near you to make sure their smoke alarms are less than 10 years old, still working, and that they have one in the room where they sleep.”

Every winter, Fire and Emergency saw an increase in house fires as people heated their homes, he said. That included households that had smoke alarms, but not necessarily in the right places.

“Most New Zealand homes have smoke alarms, but now is the time to make sure you, your family and your community have them in the right places and that means in every bedroom, living area and hallway.”

- Content supplied by Fire and Emergency NZ