Masanao Hirose, who oversees fire prevention at the Setagaya Fire Station, wants more households to deploy a special safety system set up by the Tokyo Fire Department.

"During the 10 years between 1991 to 2000, 60 percent of all fires in the Tokyo metropolitan area broke out in homes," the 55-year-old Hirose said.

"About 90 percent of all deaths caused by fire also occurred in households. Of the 769 victims who died at home during this period, 448 were older than 65."