Fire alarms in the home became compulsory at the beginning of this decade, after which fire-related deaths dropped for two years. Now the death rate has started to rise again.
The Ministry of the Interior believes many fire alarms purchased at the turn of the century have either reached the end of their operating life or contain flat batteries.
About 100 people perish annually in fires. Alarms save dozens of lives every year.
Tougher rules governing domestic fire alarms come into effect next autumn. One alarm must be fitted for every sixty square metres of space. Larger apartments, accordingly, will need at least two alarms.
Finnish News Agency