SWEEP UP THIS SEPTEMBER FOR CHIMNEY FIRE SAFETY WEEK
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are urging residents to get their chimneys swept this September and support Chimney Fire Safety Week 2017 (Monday 4 – Sunday 10 September).
Winter is fast approaching and having your chimney swept regularly, before the colder weather sets in, can help protect you, your loved ones and your property. Chimney fires accounted for over 5,000 national incidents dealt with by fire and rescue services between April 2016 and March 2017, 83 of which were in Leicestershire.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Safety team will be working with partner agencies to raise awareness about the risks associated with using open fires, and will be providing vital safety advice to help keepthe public safe.
The team will be delivering chimney fire safety leaflets to coal merchants and timber yards in Leicestershire and they will be encouraged to hand them out to customers. We will also be hosting a number of events in various locations around the county, where carers and members of public will be invited to come along and find out more about chimney and open fire safety. The two confirmed events to date are:
Ashby de la Zouch (Ashby Fire and Rescue Station)
Tuesday 5 September, 10:00 – 16:00 hours
Rutland (Rutland County Council, Council Chambers)
Thursday 21 September, 14:15 – 15:15 and 17:30 – 16:30 hours
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service also advise you to make sure you have working smoke alarms, as these will give you the early warning you need, if the worst was to happen and a fire broke out. Every household is encouraged to test their smoke alarms at least once a month and have at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home. People should also ensure they have working a carbon monoxide detector installed.
Don’t forget to be a good neighbour and call on elderly people living nearby to ensure they are protected too. If you have an elderly relative, friend or neighbour who you think might be vulnerable to fire in their home and may benefit from a Home Fire Safety Check, please contact us – the details can be found by visiting www.leicestershire-fire.gov.uk/contact-us.
Paul Weston, Area Manager Safer Communities, said: “The safety of our local communities is central to everything we do in Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.”
“Due to the number of chimney fires over recent years, we know it will be beneficial for us to go out into the local communities and teach them about chimney and open fire safety.”
“By doing this, we hope to decrease the number of fires caused by chimney and open fires this winter, hopefully leading to safer and better protected local communities.”
This campaign is being supported by local gas distributor Cadentgas who have provided FREE carbon monoxide detectors for attendees at any of our events for this campaign.
For more fire safety advice, feel free to visit www.leicestershire-fire.gov.uk/your-safety/at-home.
ENDS
Notes to editors
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About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire related incidents have reduced by 46 percent.
During 2015/16, the Service attended 666 road traffic collisions, of which 174 were extrications freeing 208 people trapped inside their vehicles and completed 5086 home fire safety checks, fitting almost 4481 smoke alarms. Staff organised or supported almost 1431 events aimed at promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, whilst also visiting 332 schools to deliver fire and road safety education to pupils.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
0116 229 2178
corporate.communications@lfrs.org
