Tuesday 13
November
11.00hrs
Almost half of all homes in the former Avon area that have
experienced a fire in the last seven months have not had a smoke
alarm, Avon Fire & Rescue Service has revealed.
During this year’s
Fire Safety Week, which takes place from 14 - 21 November,
AF&RS is urging local residents to make sure they have a
working smoke alarm on every level of their home.
And for those who
think they are protected by a smoke alarm, the service is
encouraging them to make sure they check it regularly – almost 15%
of homes where fire had broken out had a smoke alarm in the
property that hadn’t activated.
These worrying
statistics are putting lives at risk, said Andy Colgan, AF&RS
Head of Community Safety.
He added: “We can
never stress highly enough the importance of having a working smoke
alarm in your home – they really can mean the difference between
life and death.
“Smoke alarms will
often pick up the traces of smoke before you do, giving you an
early warning of danger and precious time to get out of your home
safely.
“We will fit smoke
alarms for free as part of our Home Fire Safety Visit scheme,
during which we will also discuss how you can reduce the risk of
having a fire break out in the home.”
*For more
information or to book a Home Fire Safety Visit,
click here or call 0800 1693 999.