House fires can be devastating and cause severe injury and loss of life, so it's absolutely vital to have smoke detectors fitted in the home.

New figures from the fire service say that of the houses where firefighters were called to fight blazes, one in five homes did not have a single smoke alarm.

They are inexpensive and discreet but their value is beyond price - the early warning provided by a smoke alarm can make the difference between everyone getting out of the home safely, and a tragedy.

Fire takes hold quickly and spreads through a house with alarming speed, and often by the time a sleeping family is aware of the fire their escape routes have been cut off.

Ask any firefighter who has attended a house fire and they will tell you that smoke alarms really do save lives.

It's perhaps something that we all intend to do but put off for another day, but it really is vital that every home has a smoke alarm - and preferably more than one.

What's more, many of us who do have smoke alarms will be guilty of not testing them regularly and even removing the batteries when they begin to bleep to tell us power is low.

Those of us with elderly relatives or neighbours should also find out if they're equipped with smoke alarms, and if not to help them get them fitted as soon as possible.

With free fire safety checks available for any home from West Yorkshire Fire Service, there really is no excuse for not making this the one New Year resolution you stick to.