27/1/2006 - Home safety check helps prevent serious injuries

Two Carlisle residents are thanking Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service this week after a free home safety check helped them avoid a potentially serious incident.

Mrs. Codena of 21 Collingwood Street, Denton Holme, contacted Fire and Rescue Service HQ on Monday to request a home safety check. Carlisle’s Blue Watch visited Mrs. Codena the following day to carry out the check.

During the visit they discovered charring on top of the fire place and up the walls as well as potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The Fire and Rescue Service immediately reported the matter to Transco. Transco attended promptly and discovered that the gas fire was faulty and the residents were suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas fire which had been recently installed was condemned.

County councillor Geoff Hodgson, spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service says: 

“This highlights the value of the Fire and Rescue Service’s home safety service. It is not limited to fitting smoke detectors but involves a thorough inspection of all potential hazards within the home. Householders are given important and possible life saving advice.

Blue watch at acted in an exemplary manner and thankfully nobody has suffered serious injury as a result of the faulty gas fire. I would urge everyone to take advantage of the home safety checks by contacting their local fire station.”