We can avoid many fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

We can avoid many  fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

Recently, we have highlighted fires in Domestic properties caused by:  a freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and laptop. All common items in any home.These fires have caused injury and death and could be avoided.
In Commercial properties it is a Legislative requirement to have Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) carried out on a regular basis. There is no such requirement for personal electrical items in the home to be tested.

In this age of austerity, the incidence of fires in electrical appliances will rise due to people not being able to afford new appliances as their current appliances grow old and people trying to carry out DIY repairs.

It is too easy to check YouTube for tips on repairs but unless you are competent you may create a dangerous situation which could affect you and your family.

Here are some tips on how to keep your home safe:

Electrical Safety

Follow this safety advice to avoid a fire caused by electrical appliances in your home

 Did you know faulty electrics such as overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year?

General Advice

• Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
• Don’t overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one socket where possible.
• Unplugging appliances when you are going to bed or not using them helps to reduce the risk of fire.
• High powered appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug socket.

Electrical Appliances

• Never put anything metallic in the microwave
• Do not leave your washing machine on overnight or when you go out
• Clean the filter on your tumble dryer regularly and remove fluff
• Clean behind the fridge/freezer in order to avoid the blocking of air vents

Electric Blankets

• Don’t leave electric blankets folded when storing them over summer months as this damages the internal wiring – store them flat or rolled up.
• If your electric blanket isn’t thermostat controlled, unplug the blanket before you get into bed.
• Don’t buy second hand blankets; check your blanket regularly for wear and tear.

Please read about our changes in electric blanket testing for 2012

LFB outlines cost saving proposals

14 Jan 2013

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has outlined a number of proposals to save money over the next three years while ensuring that frontline services are maintained and fire safety is upheld.
In its Draft Fifth London Safety Plan, it sets out a number of ways in which £28.8 million worth of cost savings can be made without reducing response times to incidents around the capital.
At present, the first fire engine arrives at an emergency within an average of six minutes of a call being made, while the second, if required, usually arrives within eight minutes.
The brigade is confident that it can close down 12 fire stations and reduce the number of fire engines from two to one at seven stations without affecting these response times.
Among the stations to be closed under these new proposals are Westminster, Clapham, Bow, Southwark, New Cross and Knightsbridge.
Chingford, Hayes, Peckham and Leytonstone are among those that would lose a fire engine, while four stations - Hendon, Orpington, Stanmore and Twickenham - would all gain one.
LFB claims the plans are designed to ensure that fire engines are located where they are most needed in order to keep the city's residents as safe as possible.
This will involve moving some of them to areas in outer London, where response times are currently slower than they are in central London.
Commenting on the plans, Ron Dobson, commissioner of the LFB, said: "Like virtually every other public service, the brigade needs to make savings.
"In the last four years, we have cut £52 million without reducing frontline services. Additional savings cannot be found without making significant changes to how we keep London safe.
"In the last decade, demand for the Brigade's service has changed dramatically and it's time to reflect that in how our fire stations, engines and staff are organised."
He added: "I am confident these savings can be made while keeping London safe."
Also outlined in the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan are proposals to start charging for persistent false fire alarms, encourage the installation of sprinkler systems where it is deemed appropriate and to look into the possibility of setting up a Twitter feed for emergency calls.
All of the plans will be discussed by members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority on January 21st and final decisions will be made on June 20th following a public consultation.

There are no known plans of Station closures in Scotland, although that may change after the re-organisation with 8 Fire & Rescue Services being formed into 1 Scottish Fire Service. We will keep you informed.

Business owners given fire safety warning following newsagent fine

14th Jan 2013

Small business owners in Greater Manchester have been warned about the importance of upholding fire safety laws after a newsagent in the region was handed a fine.
Yakub Patel, who runs Hayhurst News on Walshaw Road in Bury, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (In Scotland it is The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 )

Appearing at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court on Thursday January 10th 2013, he was issued a £1,000 fine and ordered to pay costs of £1,994.
Inspectors from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority visited Mr Patel's store in July 2011 and found that the second floor of the three-storey building was being used as a flat, while the first floor housed an office and a store room.

There was no fire alarm inside the building and the only means of escape from these upper floors had been left unprotected from smoke or the spread of fire.
Furthermore, the back gate leading out of the premises was secured with a padlock, which meant that in the event of a blaze anyone attempting to escape would have been trapped in the yard.
Mr Patel also admitted that he had not carried out a fire risk assessment on the property - something that is mandatory for owners of all commercial premises in England and Wales under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (In Scotland it is The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 )

Officers served a prohibition notice preventing the 61-year-old from using the second floor and restricting his use of the second floor, with which he complied.
He has since arranged for work to be carried out inside the shop to rectify the problems identified, and has spent more than £32,000 on a fire alarm system that fire safety professionals say goes beyond the level required.
These actions were taken into account when magistrates issued his fines.
"Unfortunately Mr Patel has learned the hard way that as a business you must consider fire safety," said Peter O'Reilly, director of protection and prevention at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
"I would urge all small businesses to review their fire risk assessments and if they don't have one to do it as soon as possible."

This could happen to any of you. Be careful with your Laptop it could cause death.

• 

  A couple from the USA lost their 25 year old son in a fire at home on June 4th. The son who had graduated with an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two weeks earlier had come home for a while. He had lunch with his dad at home and decided to go back to clean up his hostel room. His father told him to wait, to meet his mother, before he went back for a few days. He decided to take a nap while waiting for his Mom to come back home from work. Some time later their neighbours called 911 when they saw black smoke coming out of the house.

  
  Unfortunately, the 25 years old died in the three year old house. It took several days of investigation to find out the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by the laptop resting on the bed. When the laptop was on the bed cooling fan did not get the air to cool the computer and that is what caused the fire. He did not even wake up to get out of the bed because he died of breathing in carbon monoxide.
  This from his Mother:
  
  "The reason I am writing this to all of you is that I have seen many of us using the laptop while in bed. Let us all decide and make it a practice not to do that. The risk is real. Let us make it a rule not to use the laptop on bed with blankets and pillows around. Please educate as many people as you can.
  Please pass to everyone you know, you might save a life" 

Washing machine causes house fire in Langrick

A house in Langrick has been severely damaged by fire following a blaze this morning.

The kitchen of the home in Meer Booth Road was gutted by the flames, and the rest of the house suffered smoke damage as a result of the fire at about 9.30am.
Fire crews believe it was caused by an electrical fault in the washing machine.

How safe are the electrical appliances in your home?  Commercial properties by Regulation need to test Their Portable Appliances on a regular basis. Domestic properties can have old washing machines, televisions, tumble dryers which can be dangerous and cause a fire in your home. 
Get you portable appliances checked and stay safe.
Fire Isk Assessments & Training Ltd

Fire crews rescue elderly residents from burning block of Glasgow flats

Two elderly people were rescued from a burning block of flats in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The fire, at the corner of John Wood Street and Bay Street in Port Glasgow, was attended by crews from two stations after it was reported around midnight.
Six fire-fighters using breathing apparatus and high-pressure jets rescued two elderly residents and extinguished the fire, described as "well-developed".
The residents received oxygen therapy at the scene before the arrival of the ambulance service. They were taken to hospital suffering from slight smoke inhalation.
A Strathclyde Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "Fire can strike anywhere and it is vital every home has at least one working smoke alarm. If fire does break-out then an alarm will give you and your family potentially life-saving minutes to get to safety.
"We are asking any member of the public who is concerned someone - like a vulnerable neighbour, friend or relative - may be at increased risk from fire, to contact us so we can help ensure their home is fire safe. Fire fighters want to prevent fires starting in the first place and will happily arrange free Home Fire Safety Visits to protect our communities."
To arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit for you or someone you know, call Strathclyde Fire & Rescue on 0800 0731 999 or text "check" to 61611. You can also get in touch by calling your local community fire station.
From STV

Lakanal House fire: Victim's 'hour-long 999 call'

A woman who died in a fire at flats in south London fell unconscious while on a 999 call pleading for help for almost an hour, an inquest heard.

Catherine Hickman, 31, made the call from her 11th-floor home in Lakanal House, Camberwell, on 3 July 2009.
She told the operator: "Oh my God, listen, I can see flames at the door."
An inquest is being held into her death and those of Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter and Dayana Francisquini, 26, and her two children.
Jurors heard how faulty electrical equipment started the fire on the ninth floor of the 14 storey block, which housed 98 maisonettes.
It spread to other flats including number 79, where Ms Hickman lived, and flat 81, where Ms Udoaka and her baby daughter Michelle had gathered with Ms Francisquini, six-year-old Thais, and Filipe, three.
'Orange everywhere' Counsel to the "super inquest" James Maxwell-Scott, went through a series of 999 calls made as the fire took hold.
He said: "It is clear that this call lasted nearly an hour and that the line was still open to fire brigade control when Ms Hickman lost consciousness."
She spoke to the operator a number of times, explaining that more and more smoke was getting in to her flat.
Mr Maxwell-Scott told the hearing at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton that at 16:23 BST: "Catherine Hickman told the operator that black smoke was coming right up outside the window and that she could hear a noise.

Almost 100 families were left homeless by the fire

"She said: 'What should I do, should I get out?' The operator told her to go into a room where there was less smoke."
Mr Maxwell-Scott said: "She asked whether she should go downstairs or out into the corridor and the operator said that she ought not to open the door because she did not know what was on the other side."
At 16:30, she told the operator: "It's orange, it's orange everywhere" and that smoke was coming through the floorboards and she could not open any windows.
Jurors heard she told the operator she could see flames at the door before saying: "I'm getting really hot in here."
By 16:55 the operator told fire crews she had stopped talking and they could not hear her breathing.
No charges Ms Udoaka had also called the emergency services to say she and her baby were trapped and "everywhere is choked with smoke".
Mr Maxwell-Scott said she was told to use a towel or blanket to stop the smoke coming in.
Jurors were shown photographs and a short video detailing how the lethal fire spread with thick smoke pouring from the top of the building and the internal corridor filled with smoke.
One image showed a resident trying to put together a makeshift rope to lower himself off a balcony to escape.
Jurors also heard that last May it was decided that there was no realistic prospect of any prosecution for manslaughter against Southwark Council or any company in relation to the fire.
Almost 100 families were made homeless by the fire.
The inquest, being heard by Assistant Deputy Coroner Frances Kirkham, is expected to last until the end of March.
The inquest continues.
From BBC 14th  January 2013

Freezer causes fire in Hampshire Co-op store

 Jan 2013

Investigators believe that a faulty freezer may have been the cause of a serious fire at a Co-operative store in Hampshire on Saturday January 5th.
The blaze broke out inside the retail outlet in Waterlooville at around 2.50pm and staff immediately called the emergency services after seeing smoke issuing from the back of a freezer unit.
More than 30 firefighters from Waterlooville, Horndean, Cosham and Southsea arrived on the scene to find the single-storey building well alight.
They used four sets of breathing apparatus, four water jets and an aerial ladder platform in their efforts to extinguish the flames.
At one point they had to withdraw from the building over fears that the roof would collapse.
Tony Deacon, group manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We have seen from fires in similar shops in this area how quickly the roof can be compromised.
"Our initial crews on the scene reported all members of the public had been evacuated from the building and we then quickly withdrew our initial crew due to the concern over the roof.
"The roof then collapsed once the flames got into the roof space and we were left to tackle the fire from outside the building."
The store was completely destroyed by the blaze, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Three people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and one of them was later taken to hospital as a precaution.
It comes as the London Fire Brigade is warning of the dangers of fridges and freezers with regard to fire safety, pointing out that modern appliances contain large amounts of plastic and highly flammable insulation, causing large fires that spread quickly.
"London Fire Brigade wants to see tougher standards so that the highly flammable insulation in fridges and freezers is better protected from fire," said deputy commissioner Rita Dexter.
"In the meantime, our advice is that if people notice any strange noises coming from their fridge or freezer, they should call the manufacturer or an electrical repair expert immediately."

From FIA

Remember to have PAT Testing carried out regularly on all your electrical appliances.

Animals killed in Staffordshire cattery blaze

 Jan 2013

A total of 20 cats have died following a fire that broke out at a cattery in Staffordshire in the early hours of Friday January 4th.
The incident occurred at around 5.30am at the Pine Trees Cattery on Stafford Road in Cannock.
Six fire engines were sent to the scene and three water jets were used to tackle the flames, which had engulfed the building by the time crews arrived.
Station manager Dermot Hogan said the building itself has been destroyed, since it was predominantly made of wood.
He also stated that the fire had started accidentally and was not being treated as suspicious.
"A fire investigation was carried out to establish how the fire started and we believe an electrical fault within one of the pens is to blame," he remarked.
The Pine Trees Cattery's website states that the facility offers heated chalets and family pens for the cats in its care, and only takes inoculated animals.
A dedicated page has been set up on the site to provide visitors with information about the fire, on which the owner states that three of her own cats were among the casualties.
"All cats have now been identified and accounted for, and the two surviving cats are with the vet," Lynn Durnall noted in a statement.
"Both are expected to recover although one will take a little longer due to his burns.
"All of the deceased cats are also being held at the local vets E.C. Straiton's in Penkridge and will be kept there pending the wishes of the owners."
From FIA

A 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be carried out on all commercial properties in Scotland, including pubs, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
If the assessment is deemed to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Duty Holder can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

Somerset pub destroyed in blaze

10 Jan 2013

A pub in Somerset was destroyed when a blaze ripped through the building in the early hours of Sunday January 6th, prompting numerous calls to the emergency services.
Firefighters arrived at the Bell Inn, part of the Hungry Horse chain, on Preston Road in Yeovil at around 4.20am and immediately requested back-up.
Eight fire engines attended the scene as crews battled to extinguish the flames within the two-storey building, which had engulfed the ground and first floors, as well as the rear of the roof.
Further appliances were drafted in later on in the morning, with crews arriving from across the region to help in the effort.
The pub was said to be "severely damaged" by the blaze, although fortunately no one was injured. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
According to the Western Gazette, the owners of the Bell Inn have promised to rebuild the pub later this year. In the meantime staff will be redeployed to other establishments.
Geoff Collins, a local man who witnessed the inferno, told the newspaper: "It is devastating for the area as it is the best family pub in Yeovil.
"It has a large car park, huge playground at the back, the food area is always busy and they had a great line up of live music booked throughout the year."
He added: "The smoke was so thick you couldn't see the pub. At first we couldn't see flames but eventually we saw fire in the bar area. I can only guess that was as the fire moved around."
From FIA

A 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be carried out on all commercial properties in Scotland, including pubs, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
If the assessment is deemed to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Duty Holder can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

Cannabis farm triggers fire in industrial unit

10 Jan 2013

A cannabis farm was found to have caused a fire inside an industrial unit in Lancashire, which broke out during the evening of Tuesday January 8th.
Firefighters were called to the converted barn on Ratten Lane in Hutton near Preston shortly before 8pm. They used tools to gain access to the building, which had been split into three storage units, and discovered that the entire unit was alight.
Another eight fire engines from across the county were then dispatched to the scene, along with an aerial ladder platform and a hazardous materials unit.
According to the Lancashire Evening Post, it is believed that the barn was being used to grow cannabis, and that an electrical fault within the hydroponic set-up started the blaze.
Detective sergeant Ian Derbyshire told the newspaper: "It would appear on further investigation that the property had been used to house what would appear to be a reasonably sized cannabis farm.
"An investigation is ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information to come forward."
Crews spent four hours tackling the flames before declaring that the fire had been brought under control and that their involvement on the scene was being reduced.
They also confirmed that run-off water from the operation has been successfully contained and that there was minimal damage to the environment.
No one was inside the building at the time of the incident, nor were there any reported injuries.
It comes after a number of homes in Salford, Greater Manchester had to be evacuated as a fire safety precaution following a blaze at a suspected cannabis farm.
The blaze broke out inside a terraced house, damaging lofts in two neighbouring homes. A 28-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of growing cannabis.
Detective sergeant Rachel Smith said: "This incident once again demonstrates the reckless danger inherent in producing cannabis. This cannabis farm has not only been producing illegal drugs but it has put nearby people in potential danger."

From FIA

If you have a Cannabis Farm, make sure your electrics are PAT Tested regularly. ;-)

09 January 2013

SFR battles industrial blaze in Glasgow

Govan fire is successfully brought under control

Firefighters from across Glasgow battled to extinguish a blaze at an industrial building in the city's Southside.
Three appliances from Polmadie, Cowcaddens and Maryhill rushed to Fairley Street in Govan around 6:20 this morning (Wednesday, January 9). The crews arrived to find the property engulfed by thick smoke and were quickly bolstered by an additional appliance from Pollok.
Forcing entry with cutting equipment, six firefighters donned full breathing apparatus and immediately moved to combat the blaze. The crews fought their way to the source of the fire and found a large quantity of industrial materials were alight.
With the use of both a main water jet and a high-pressure hosereel jet, the firefighters set about bringing the flames under control. With the fire completely surrounded, the team successfully extinguished the flames and used a Positive Pressure Ventilation fan to clear smoke from the building.
No persons were injured in the incident, the cause of which is under investigation by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

From SF&RS

Pensioner hospitalised after fire

Latest news

Published on Sunday 6 January 2013 12:34

An 83-year-old woman has been taken to hospital after a fire at a home.

Firefighters were called to a home on Silverdale, Hesketh Bank, just after 2pm on Saturday.
The elderly woman had escaped the blaze before fire crews arrived.
Crews from Penwortham and Tarleton fire stations attended the scene and said ‘significant’ damage had been caused to the ground floor of the home.
They were at the scene for around five hours.
An investigation is now underway into the cause of the blaze and fire crews have urged people to make sure they have smoke alarms fitted after discovering no working alarm at the property.
Watch manager Tom Cookson said: “On arrival we were met with a well developed fire on the ground floor in the living room.
“The living room has received substantial damage by fire, heat and smoke. The rest of the ground floor, and the rest of the house, has received substantial damage by smoke.
“The lady was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
From Lancashire Evening Post


“We would urge anyone without a working smoke alarm in their home to fit a minimum of one on each floor. Call us for free fire safety advice.” 01259 216713

Three people rescued from house blaze in 'racially motivated' attack

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Three people had to be rescued from a house fire after a racially motivated attack.
The deliberate blaze started at around 5am on Sunday in Earls Court, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

When fire crews arrived, they had to rescue three people from inside the home and put out the flames.
Central Scotland Police said they are treating the incident as racially motivated and want to speak to anyone who has any information.

A spokesman said: "Three occupants were removed safe and well, however damage was caused to the property as a result of the fire.

"It is being treated as a racially motivated incident and anyone with information should contact Central Scotland Police."
From STV

Baby treated for smoke inhalation after dishwasher catches fire

A man and his four-month-old baby had to be treated for smoke inhalation after their dishwasher caught fire.
Fire crews were called to the flat in Drumsheugh Place, Edinburgh just after 10pm on Saturday.
When they arrived they found the blaze had broken out in the kitchen appliance.
A 43-year-old man and his baby son were suffering from smoke inhalation and were given oxygen from firefighters.
They were checked over by ambulance staff but did not need to go to hospital.
Crews put out the flames and removed the dishwasher from the flat.
From STV