Live fire demonstration highlights risk to residents
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service visited residents at an older people’s scheme in Bideford on Wednesday 22 November to share tips for keeping fire safe this winter.
Residents from Marlborough Court, a scheme managed by Westward Housing, also got the chance to watch a live oil pan fire demonstration - showing how quickly pans can set alight when water is used to put out a fire caused by oil.
The visit coincided with the launch of our winter safety campaign, called ‘Treasured People’, which aims to lower the number of cooking incidents and false alarms we are called out to.
We see a rise in false alarms during the winter, mainly due to smoke alarms sounding without an actual fire taking place. These are often the result of cooking disasters and faulty or poorly maintained smoke alarms.
Data shows that, in the Devon and Somerset region, people in the over 65 age group - particularly those living on their own - are more likely to experience false alarms.
Westward Housing
Tracey Copp, Health and Safety Manager at Westward Housing, said: “The Westward Housing residents at our Marlborough Court older people’s scheme learned a great deal about fire safety during their visit from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
“Learning about the risks of chip pan fires was made even more realistic by having a firefighter provide a live demonstration to show the dangers. Hopefully, our customers won’t panic if this ever happens to them but will remember the great advice they were given.”
Check-in on your loved ones this winter
Liam Lucassi, one of our firefighters who met with the residents in Bideford, said: “We look forward to visiting members of our community and providing advice on how to be safer.
“We understand that life gets busy, and it can be easy to forget things such as cleaning smoke alarms so they don’t go off unnecessarily, and setting timers so we don’t get distracted while cooking.
“We’re encouraging people to check in on neighbours, family members, and loved ones who are over 65. You can help people by visiting them, checking their smoke alarm is working and has been recently cleaned, and reminding them how to cook safely. A simple chat could save a life.”
Our winter campaign ‘Treasured People’, will run until the end of January 2024, raising awareness of the importance of keeping fire safe during the colder months. Find out more about the campaign, and how you can support treasured people in your life.
