Fire safety warning is issued

Last year (2014/15) NIFRS attended 923 accidental house fires and unfortunately eight people lost their lives in accidental house fires.

While the biggest cause of accidental house fires is smoking materials – cigarettes, pipes, matches and lighters - fires can start for a variety of reasons such as cooking left unattended, faulty electrical appliances, candles etc.

Fire Safety is everyone’s responsibility and we all have a duty to keep ourselves and those we live with safe from the dangers of fire. This means being aware of the causes of fire and taking steps to avoid that danger, making sure there is a working smoke alarm fitted in the house and that everyone in the house knows the fire escape plan.

NIFRS carries out free Home Fire Safety Checks and last year Firefighters across Northern Ireland did 6,958 Home Fire Safety Checks and fitted 5,146 smoke alarms in people’s homes.

Alan Walmsley, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said, “There are a number of influencing factors which determine a person who may be at a higher risk from fire. These factors include if the householder is a smoker, has an alcohol / drug / substance abuse history, if they live alone, if they are aged over 65, if they have mobility issues or a sensory impairment.

“Anyone can request a HFSC on behalf of a neighbour or family member and we encourage the public to do so to help us identify those people at highest risk from a house fire. We are also working with other agencies and through our own risk profiling data to identify the most vulnerable people who could benefit from a Home Fire Safety Check.”

For a Home Fire Safety Check call 02892 600477 or submit a request via www.nifrs.org/fire-safety/free-home-fire-safety-check/.

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