News release text
Sevenoaks firefighters will be passing on life-saving advice next week when they talk to local residents about how they can stay safe from fire in their homes.
Crews will be on the green at Hillingdon Rise on Thursday 7 March between 10am and 12 noon, with a dedicated community safety display vehicle providing visual and interactive demonstrations. They will also give out tips and information on the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home, making a fire escape plan that everyone in your home knows and how to prevent a fire.
Firefighters have been called to 15 fires in homes in the area since 1 December 2012 compared with 10* in the same period last year.
Sevenoaks Watch Manager, Danny Barrett, said: “These fires have been caused by simple things such as leaving cooking unattended, electrical fires and chimney fires but they can turn into a major blaze within minutes with potentially devastating effects.
“We want to reassure residents that we are here to help and to remind them of the simple steps they can take to protect their homes.”
Follow these simple tips to help keep your family safe from fire:
Don’t leave cooking unattended. Turn off the heat if you leave the room
Keep the oven, hob and grill clean - a build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire
Switch electrical appliances off when they’re not being used
Don’t overload electrical sockets
Get your chimney swept regularly and consider having the condition of your chimney checked to ensure it is safe
Fit smoke alarms on every floor of your home, and test the batteries weekly
