Boilers in airing cupboards catching fire?

[doormouse1]

Having new bolier fitted shortly.
Intended to construct airing cupboard around boiler (with the insides removable for maintenance etc.).
I've noticed a few reports of houses buring down after fires started in airing cupboards containing boilers.

Would anyone have an informed opinion if such a cupboard increases the risk of fire, or do boilers occasionally catch fire anyway.

I know my other half will jam in full with clothes. Would a back to the cupboard, keeping the clothing at least 6" from the boiler front, be enough to keep things safe.

Would anyone know how much of a fire risk new boilers are. Installing fire alarms shortly, is it worth sticking one above the boiler?

If it seems like I'm being oversafe, it may be due to having first baby around.

 

[Agile]

Boilers virtually never catch fire!

Users often cause fires by stuffing clothes around boilers which is illegal.

A boiler should have a clear space for ventilation around them. Most only need about 50 mm on the sides but more is safer and aids maintenance.

Its illegal to fit a boiler where clothes can fall against them.

In any case modern boilers are so efficient that the space around them hardly gets warm anyway! So dont expect to be heating clothes from the boiler!

Tony