The risk of fire breaking out in the home significantly increases during winter according to Clare's Chief Fire Officer, who today (Monday, 6th October) called on the people of the County to ensure their smoke alarms are in good working order.
Adrian Kelly was speaking at the launch of National Fire Safety Week 2014. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is hosting the 13th annual all-island initiative from today through to next Monday, in association with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and locally with Clare County Fire & Rescue Service.
Mr. Kelly noted that unclean chimney flues and unguarded open fires are amongst the most common causes of domestic fires in Clare each winter.
He continued: "On investigating chimney fires we generally find it is due to unclean flues, too much fuel being put on a fire or the wrong fuel, such as plastics and paper, being burned. In relation to open fires, householders must ensure that they are never left unguarded as it only takes a spark to cause a house fire. Meanwhile, the Christmas period also brings a spike in call-outs to house fires and an increased fire risk, primarily due to open fires being used for extended periods, power sockets and extension leads being overloaded, flammable decorations and the use of candles."
Mr. Kelly noted that the theme of this year’s National Fire Safety Week campaign is “Let's STOP fire together”.
He explained: "The ‘STOP’ in the campaign slogan captures the key behaviours that will help people stop fires starting and therefore reducing the number of casualties and deaths as a result of fire. S is for Smoke alarms, T is for Testing smoke alarms weekly, O is for Obvious dangers, P is for Plan your escape."
Clare County Fire & Rescue Service has the following fire safety advice for the public:
- Install smoke alarms in your home to give you an early warning, check your smoke alarm every week & use long life lithium batteries with your smoke alarm if possible
- Close all your doors at night and check that electrical appliances are switched off
- Avoid overloading electrical sockets
- Use an effective spark guard with open fires
- Clean your chimneys twice a year
- Keep a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket nearby and know how to use them
- Use electric blankets sensibly – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly - Avoid smoking in bed
- In the event of a fire in your home Get Out, Stay Out And Call the Fire Brigade Out. The phone number to call out the Fire Service is 999/112
Play your part during National Fire Safety Week and check out www.firesafetyweek.ie or the fire safety and prevention section of Clare County Council’s website, www.clarecoco.ie.
Adrian Kelly was speaking at the launch of National Fire Safety Week 2014. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is hosting the 13th annual all-island initiative from today through to next Monday, in association with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and locally with Clare County Fire & Rescue Service.
Mr. Kelly noted that unclean chimney flues and unguarded open fires are amongst the most common causes of domestic fires in Clare each winter.
He continued: "On investigating chimney fires we generally find it is due to unclean flues, too much fuel being put on a fire or the wrong fuel, such as plastics and paper, being burned. In relation to open fires, householders must ensure that they are never left unguarded as it only takes a spark to cause a house fire. Meanwhile, the Christmas period also brings a spike in call-outs to house fires and an increased fire risk, primarily due to open fires being used for extended periods, power sockets and extension leads being overloaded, flammable decorations and the use of candles."
Mr. Kelly noted that the theme of this year’s National Fire Safety Week campaign is “Let's STOP fire together”.
He explained: "The ‘STOP’ in the campaign slogan captures the key behaviours that will help people stop fires starting and therefore reducing the number of casualties and deaths as a result of fire. S is for Smoke alarms, T is for Testing smoke alarms weekly, O is for Obvious dangers, P is for Plan your escape."
Clare County Fire & Rescue Service has the following fire safety advice for the public:
- Install smoke alarms in your home to give you an early warning, check your smoke alarm every week & use long life lithium batteries with your smoke alarm if possible
- Close all your doors at night and check that electrical appliances are switched off
- Avoid overloading electrical sockets
- Use an effective spark guard with open fires
- Clean your chimneys twice a year
- Keep a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket nearby and know how to use them
- Use electric blankets sensibly – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly - Avoid smoking in bed
- In the event of a fire in your home Get Out, Stay Out And Call the Fire Brigade Out. The phone number to call out the Fire Service is 999/112
Play your part during National Fire Safety Week and check out www.firesafetyweek.ie or the fire safety and prevention section of Clare County Council’s website, www.clarecoco.ie.
