Firefighters urge residents to take extra care!
Firefighters in Nuneaton and Bedworth are asking residents to take more care when using electrical items after attending a number of serious incidents where homes have been severely damaged.
The concern at the moment is for the safe use of portable heaters and microwaves. One of the most recent incidents included a house fire in Downing Crescent in Bedworth, where a portable heater being used in the bedroom set light to the bed linen. Luckily the resident managed to escape unharmed. However, due to there being no smoke alarm in the property, the fire quickly spread and the upstairs of the property was severely damaged.
Watch Manager, Scott Barter said:
“We are concerned about the amount of incidents we have attended recently involving electrical items such as portable heaters and microwaves. When using any electrical item you do need to take extra care, especially if they haven’t been used for a couple of months. If you are concerned about the safety of any of your item in your home, then get them checked by a qualified electrician.”
Fire safety in the home is essential and although it may not be high on your list of priorities, it could literally save your life. By following a few guidelines you could reduce the risk of having a fire in your home.
Microwave
* Don’t put anything metallic inside the microwave.
* Don’t dry clothes in the microwave.
Electric heaters
* Keep them clear of curtains and furniture
* Sit at least three feet (one metre) away from a heater
* Buy them from reputable shops
* Don’t dry washing on or near heaters or on fire guards
* Don’t cover the air grilles of storage heaters, fan heaters and convection heaters
For further information on fire safety or to book your free home fire safety check, then log onto http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue.