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Barrow firefighters have joined forces with their local library service to help make contact with hard-to-reach people in the community.

Firefighters will help library volunteers to deliver and collect books to people with mobility problems or ill health in the community and provide free home fire safety checks and general safety advice at the same time.

Jon Griffiths, Barrow Station Manager, said: "There are people in the community who are disabled or have mobility problems and therefore will take longer to escape a fire and this project is a great way of getting in touch with those people.

"One of our staff was putting up a poster in Barrow library about fire safety and we found out that we could help deliver library books to people unable to access the library due to mobility problems.

"So, by joining forces, not only are we giving more disadvantaged members of the community access to a range of library services, we can ensure they are given help and advice on fire safety in their own homes."

Ruth Walsh, Senior Librarian at Barrow library, said: "The home delivery service takes the library out to people who are unable to use the library due to mobility problems and this gives the fire service a great opportunity to reach part of the community that sometimes gets missed. 

"We are very excited that the library service and the Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are working together for the benefit of the community.

"Recently Cumbria Library Service carried out a survey to everyone who receives library books via our volunteers and one of the most popular comments was that the service was a lifeline. Working with the fire service on this project ensures that the service is a lifeline in more ways than one.

"We have a wonderful team of library staff and volunteers who keep this excellent service running. The volunteers often enjoy a chat when delivering the books and I think the people using this service would agree that it isn’t only the book delivery that they look forward to.

"Many of the people we deliver books to are vulnerable to basic health and safety needs that many of us take for granted in our own homes and we are very happy that by working with Barrow Fire Service this will be addressed."

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is committed to help create a safe environment for all the residents of Cumbria and strives to educate people to help prevent fire and road related deaths and injuries. This is done by identifying and working particularly with those groups who are most at risk ensuring that appropriate safety measures are in place.

Home fire safety checks are not limited to fitting smoke detectors but involve a thorough inspection of all potential hazards within the home. Householders are given important and possible life saving advice.

Every home in Cumbria is eligible to apply for a free home safety visit to help you deal with any potential fire hazards in your home and will assist you to design a fire plan so that you and your family will know how to react if you have a fire. They will also fit, where applicable, a battery powered smoke alarm free of charge.

This service for the residents of Cumbria is completely free, normally takes about 30 minutes and is undertaken by members of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

To arrange a visit please ring free-phone 0800 358 4777 or contact your local fire station. For library services, please contact your local library, or visit www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226334.