ACCIDENTAL fires in the home have remained fairly static over the past year.

Cowdenbeath Area Committee was told by Station Manager, at Lochgelly Fire Station, Mike Youngson, that during 2018-2019 there had been nine accidental house fires in the Cowdenbeath-Kelty ward and 22 in Lochgelly, Benarty and Cardenden.

Said Mr Youngson: "68 per cent of accidental house fires originated in the kitchen and involved cooking, with 74 per cent of damage being restricted to the immediate area or limited to the item first ignited.

"58 per cent of those addressed affected had a detection system and 78 per cent of these operated effectively and raised the alarm which led to a trend of reduction in severity of damage."

He added though: "There is still a substantial number of premises without detection equipment."