Firefighters in Barrow are targeting older people in a new campaign warning of the potential dangers of neglecting fire safety.
This Thursday (8 November), firefighters will be joining forces with police and neighbourhood wardens to deliver a day of fire and accident prevention advice to residents of the town’s Ramsey Park sheltered housing complex.
During the day, firefighters and community safety officers will be providing home safety checks and fitting free smoke detectors where required. Fire crews will also be giving advice on how to avoid chip pan fires, and other potential kitchen hazards. Figures show that nationally, 17 people on average are killed or injured each day in kitchen fires.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service’s dedicated Older Person’s Advocate for the south of the county, Dennis Cooke, will on hand to offer advice and will be bringing along a one to one loop system to aid communication with people who are hard of hearing.
Two special fire safety presentations have been timed to coincide with the regular coffee-morning in the Ramsey Park communal area where firefighters will be laying on free refreshments.
Residents who come along to either presentation will be entered in prize draw with the chance to win two food hampers supplied by Marks & Spencer and the county’s Fire and Rescue Service.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service Watch Manager, Paul Milburn said: "Older people are particularly vulnerable in the event of a fire. This awareness day is about helping people to prevent those fires from happening in the first place."
For more advice and to arrange a free home safety check, people can contact the Fire & Rescue Service's freephone number 0800-358-4777.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337