Issued on: Monday 21 October 2019

Celebrate Safely this Diwali

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are encouraging people to celebrate safely during the up-coming Diwali celebrations.   

As part of the Celebrate Safely campaign, a team of firefighters from Eastern Fire and Rescue Station have joined up with a local Hindu temple to create a video, urging residents to take extra care this Diwali.  

Working with Shree Sanatan Mandir, in Leicester, the video was produced in Gujarati, and warns of the dangers of leaving candles or divas unattended.

Darren Pick, Watch Manager for Eastern Fire and Rescue Station, said: “Unfortunately, we still attend a number of preventable incidents every year caused by unsafe use of candles which have been left unattended.

“These incidents can have a devastating impact on individuals, families and our community, and we want to help reduce that risk. By producing a video in Gujarati and in partnership with the local temple, we hope to reach a wider audience with our Diwali safety messages.”

The video, is available to watch on Eastern Fire and Rescue Station’s Facebook page, or through YouTube using this link, https://youtu.be/eUL8PY2493U .

Firefighters will also be attending local schools delivering Celebrate Safely advice and showing children the video. Children will be encouraged to go back and share these safety messages with their family and friends.

Darren Pick added: “It is a common misconception that a diva cannot be extinguished, but in the video, there is a very important message from the priest, who reassures that the scriptures say a diva can be extinguished after prayers.

“We want everyone to enjoy the celebrations, but we need everyone to enjoy them safely.

“We urge you to think about the advice given, consider the changes you could make and look to use safer alternatives when not performing puja or prayers.”

The Celebrate Safely campaign, takes place across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and provides useful safety tips and advice, during the many celebrations and events at this time of the year.

It involves Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council and the district and borough councils.

The campaign also reminds people of the following safety advice during Diwali:

  • Only use enough ghee or oil for your diva to last your puja or prayers
  • Do not leave candles or divas unattended and keep any flames at a safe distance from curtains, decorations and loose clothing
  • Consider swapping candles for battery-operated LED tea lights
  • If you are cooking a Diwali feast, remember not to fill your pan with more than a third of oil
  • If your cooking starts to smoke, turn the pan off and allow it to cool
  • Never leave your cooking pans unattended with the heat switched on
  • If you are out celebrating Diwali, remember to turn off any cooking appliances and extinguish any candles
  • If you are celebrating Diwali with fireworks, we recommend going to an organised event

For more tips on how to celebrate safely this Diwali, visit, www.celebratesafely.com.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Interviews can be arranged through prior arrangement with Corporate Communications on the details below.

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.

During 2018/19, the Service attended 762 road traffic collisions, of which 125 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to ­2,569 fires. We carried out 6,746 home safety checks and fitted 4,790 smoke alarms. 279 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,068 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 134 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project. 

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 over 30 percent. 

Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 210 5592
Corporate.communications@leics-fire.gov.uk

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