Fire safety advice saves lives
Life-saving advice from Warwickshire fire fighters has helped two residents from Leamington escape serious injury after a fire in their home.
Two fire crews from Leamington were called to the house on Cross Lane in Cubbington at 8:25am on Friday 27 August to reports of a small fire in the kitchen.
The occupiers had been alerted by smoke alarms fitted by county fire fighters just three months earlier as part of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Home Fire Safety Checks.
The free service offers residents advice in the home, which is tailored to individual circumstances and is aimed at managing fire hazards in the home.
Each check identifies some of the factors which can increase the risk of fire or injury in the home such as: Are plug sockets overloaded? Are matches or other sources of ignition out of reach of children? Have people got a fire escape plan? Is there a working smoke detector fitted at each level of the house?
In cases where no smoke alarms are fitted or where there is not a smoke alarm at each level of the house, crews will offer to fit further smoke alarms free of charge.
Crew Manager Andy Paxton said: “Kitchen fires can take hold very quickly. Luckily in this case, the occupiers were alerted to the fire very early on because they had smoke alarms fitted and were able to act immediately.
“It could have been a very different story indeed if they hadn’t had these installed or if they weren’t working.”
Area Risk Officer Ken Probin said: “Although accidents do happen, precautionary measures such as our Home Fire Safety Checks help to minimise the risk to life and damage to property.
“This case is a prime example of how education and intervention measures play a part in keeping the residents of Warwickshire safer.”
To find out more about Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service or to find out how to book a Home Fire Safety Check, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue.