A CAMPAIGN to try to reduce the 670 house fires in County Durham every year is being launched next month.
Latest Government statistics show six people died and 102 people were injured in fires in the region in 1999.
The Fire Safety Week campaign, starting on September 1, hopes to encourage everyone to get and maintain a smoke alarm.
A spokesman said: "Fitting a smoke alarm is one of the most important and simplest things we can all do to protect our families from fire.
"But they only protect you if they work! Testing them regularly is important and something many of us forget."
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