Friday 31 August 2012

40% Glasgow homes deemed to be a high fire risk.

 
MORE than one in three Glasgow homes are at a high risk of fire.
Firefighter Ross Henderson in the living room that had no sprinkler system or smoke detector fitted
Firefighter Ross Henderson in the living room that had no sprinkler system or smoke detector fitted
Fire safety experts visited almost 6000 properties across the city in the past year – and close to 40% were deemed potentially dangerous.
Firefighters found everything from stacks of newspapers blocking doors to people smoking in bed.
      
Watch Commander Kevin Rennie, who works in community safety for Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "We have visited 5700 homes and nearly 40% of those were deemed high-risk.
"We are working to tackle these homes as they present a danger, not only to the householder, but also to any neighbouring properties."
Fire bosses in Glasgow carry out free home fire safety visits in a bid to reduce accidental fires.
During the past five years, house fires in Glasgow have dropped by 13% from 990 in 2001/02 to 866 in 2011/12.

Last year there were 191 casualties as a result of these fires – giving an average rate of one injury in four fires.
This is a figure fire chiefs hope to dramatically reduce by visiting as many homes as possible to advise and support householders.
Mr Rennie added: "We are doing well but there's still a lot to be done. One in four accidental dwelling fires is going to have a casualty –that's still too many.
"But these fires are reducing in number and we aim to continue to reduce them year on year.
"Everybody's aim would be to get fire and casualty numbers down to zero, but the biggest success we can hope for is to reduce them as much as possible.

"We want to keep people as safe as possible and get the community safety message through."
High-risk homes are those in which people drink heavily, smoke, cook late at night or are extremely cluttered – what firefighters call "high fire loading".
Officers assess what they can do to make properties safer. In homes where the householder is a smoker they can offer fire-retardant bedding and tell smokers of the dangers of smoking in a bedroom. They can also provide metal bins containing sand for people who drop ash and cigarette butts on sofas or carpets.

If a resident is thought to need extra support, firefighters can get social workers involved or contact local councils or housing associations.
Officers also fit smoke alarms. Last year these were fitted during 60% of home visits, as many at-risk householders did not have them.
The latest figures from Strathclyde Fire & Rescue show there were no working smoke alarms in 20% of accidental house fires. In some cases a smoke alarm was present, but no longer worked, had had the battery removed, or there were not enough smoke alarms.
Mr Rennie said: "A working smoke alarm can give an extra two or three seconds for someone to get out of their house and call us.

"This may not seem like very much but literally every second counts in a fire and can make a difference between life and death.
"A working smoke alarm really does save lives."
As part of the campaign to reduce house fires, bosses want residents to take advantage of free home fire safety checks.
Fire officers will come out to a property, assess whether new smoke or heat alarms are required and work with householders to make their homes safer.
Mr Rennie added: "Fire devastates whole families, can lead to a lifetime of pain, physical and mental scars, and destroy your home.
"We also see people without insurance who lose everything and have to start from scratch again.
"Compare that to a home fire safety visit, which takes about 20 minutes and is free."

The weekly check that could save your life.
* Working smoke alarms really do save lives and could make the difference between life and death .
* Once you have a smoke alarm, check it regularly, at least once a week, to ensure it is working.

* A home fire safety visit can be arranged by contacting your local fire station, calling the free phone number 0800 0731 999 or texting, 'Check' to 61611.

From:
catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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