Fire chiefs issue Easter warning to householders

Published Thursday, 29th March 2018

CLEVELAND Fire Brigade is urging residents to take extra care at home during the Easter holidays.

Last year (7 April to 24 April), there were 14 fires compared to 6 over the Easter period (25 March to 11 April) in 2016. The causes of these accidental house fires ranged from tablet chargers to cooking and electrical fires. There were also fires that spread to properties from BBQs and chimineas that were too close to properties.

Dave Turton, Head of Community Safety, said, “We are urging householders to be extra vigilant and take precautions at a time when people traditionally start home improvements as the weather improves. Children are also off school so there may be extra distractions when cooking and tablets and laptops may be in greater use and overheat.

“It is vital that every home has working smoke alarms. They are proven to save lives and should be fitted on every level of your home and tested at least once a week. These will alert you immediately to any hint of a fire and give you plenty of time to get out of danger and ring 999.

“Cleveland Fire Brigade is committed to doing all it can to prevent fires in the home and we urgently need people to follow our advice to help keep them and their loved ones safe from fire.”

Fire safety in the home advice:

Kitchen

  • Stand by your pan – NEVER leave cooking unattended. It is the cause of 46% of kitchen fires
  • Chuck out your chip pan – it could save your life. Chip pans cause 24% of kitchen fires
  • Keep your cooker clean – burnt food can and does cause fires

Electrical

· Unplug appliances and electrical equipment when not in use, unless they are designed to be left on, like your fridge or freezer

· Regularly check for worn or frayed wires – always ensure cables are secured properly to the plug before plugging anything in

Cigarettes

  • Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully
  • Never leave discarded cigarettes on your garden decking or in plant pots
  • Empty ashtrays frequently – wet the contents before emptying them into a metal bin outside the home
  • Never tip ash into a wastebasket or a bin you don’t know the contents of

BBQs

  • Empty BBQ ashes into a metal container or onto soil not into dustbins or wheelie bins – warm or hot ash can melt the plastic and cause a fire
  • Keep BBQs and chimineas away from property and flammable items

Candles

  • Always place your candles and tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder
  • Place candles and tea lights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire

For further information and safety advice visit www.clevelandfire.gov.uk or follow Cleveland Fire Brigade on Facebook (/clevelandfb) or Twitter (@clevelandfb)