New figures released by London Fire Brigade (LFB) show that over 90% of people who died in accidental house fires were over 50 years of age.
Of the 23 people who died in accidental fires last year, only two were under 50.
The figures, released on Wednesday (September 30), also reveal that smoking caused half of all fire fatalities but just 12% of all house fires and cooking caused 11% of deaths and 63% of all house fires.
Matches and candles were the cause of a third of all fire fatalities and as little as 8% of all house fires.
The statistics have been released to mark the start of Chief Fire Officers Associations (CFOA) home safety week, which is aimed at reducing fires involving older people.
Firefighters across London are holding events with older people’s associations to highlight the risks and educating people about how they can stay safe from fire.
LFB community safety group manager Mark Hazelton said: “It is a highly distressing way for older people's lives to be ended by fire and we’re working hard to identify those most at risk and give them a lifesaving home fire safety visit.
“In a high number of cases, these frail people were regularly receiving care services and support in their home.
“The brigade is committed to working with the agencies that provide this care so that they can better recognise the risk to which these people are exposed and design solutions to respond to their particular circumstances.”
