FIREfighters are taking a safety message from door to door.

In a bid to reduce the number of deaths from fires in the home, Cleveland Fire Brigade aim to call on everyone living on Teesside.

There were 172 casualties and 1,377 house fires in Middlesbrough alone, in the last five years.

The brigade forecasts it will take personnel four years to visit all 230,719 homes in the conurbation, when they will advise on fire safety, escape routes and smoke detectors.

Dave Turton, brigade community fire safety development manager, said: "It's just about risk reduction. We want to get into people's homes to talk about risk assessment, escape plans and smoke alarms.

"If we don't do this, we don't think we are going to further reduce the fire risk.''

News of the door-knocking initiative comes on the eve of national Fire Safety Week which starts today and runs until next Saturday.

Free home fire safety checks are already on offer to people. Calling from door to door is taking it a step further.

Mr Turton said: "It is a sad fact that the majority of deaths and injuries from fire occur in the home and are preventable.

"Home fire safety checks are a crucial element of the brigade's strategy to reduce accidental deaths, injuries and damage to property by fire."

"Everyone is eligible to apply for a check to be carried out by firefighters, who will spend about half an hour to ensure that smoke alarms are fitted and that fire plans and evacuation routes are identified for householders.

"We aim to visit every home as part of this major initiative and encourage members of the community to contact their local fire station for more information, and to make an appointment for a free home fire safety check."

More than 400 people are killed and 12,500 people injured in house fires each year in the UK, and on average, 270 of those killed in fires did not have a smoke alarm.