ACCIDENTAL deaths in blazes across Lancashire have dropped by almost 30 per cent in two years - but fire chiefs have warned there are still too many.

Eight people were killed last year, the same figure as the previous 12 months and a fall of 27 per cent on the number in 2004/05.

But more than half of homes involved in a fire last year, 1,824, either did not have a smoke alarm fitted or had one that wasn't working.

The figures are contained in the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Best Value Performance Plan 2007/08.

Fire chiefs vowed to try and reduce the numbers of fires still further following the Audit Commission report of 2005 which found the incidence of fires and injuries in Lancashire were among the highest in the country.

The high numbers were blamed on the level of deprivation in the county.

A spokesman for the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Each year far too many people are killed or injured in fires and other emergency incidents and, historically in Lancashire, we have seen some of the highest levels nationally.

"We have made it our goal to tackle this and have been working extremely hard to deliver improvements in public safety through a much greater emphasis on prevention work.

"We recognise that we are still having far too many fires, particularly in the home, and too many people are being injured as a result.

"We are pleased to say however, that in recent years we have seen a great reduction in the number of fire deaths and injuries.

"Over the past two years fire deaths have reduced by 27 per cent and injuries by 56 per cent."

Acting watch manager at Burnley Fire Station Alan Ashworth said: "The reductions are great but we could get that figure down still further if more people had properly fitted and working smoke alarms.

"If people have a fire in their home and they have the early warning of a smoke alrm they stand a much better chance of getting out safely."

Other figures show were also 746 deliberate vehicle fires last year compared with 896 the previous year, a reduction of 20; 1036 incidents of arson, a reduction of around 100 on the previous year; and there were 964 hoax calls, compared to 1098 in 2005/06.

Earlier this year the Lancashire Telegraph was praised by fire service top brass after new figures revealed that our Turn It Off fire safety campaign had been a huge success.

Chief fire officer Peter Holland said that the Telegraph had made an "important" impact on home safety by helping to tackle ignorance of blaze risks.

Our campaign in the run-up to Christmas highlighted the danger of leaving electrical appliances on standby when not in use.

Free smoke alarms and home safety checks are available by calling 0800 169 1125.