Are you going to be fire safe this winter?

Fire fighters are urging people to make fire safety a priority this winter following a serious house fire in Kensington.

Firefighters were called to Esher Road on Sunday 8thNovember. Three fire engines were needed to tackle the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. Thankfully no one was seriously injured in the blaze, although a family pet sadly died and the house was left badly damaged.

MFRS attended 350 accidental fires in the home between October 2019 and the end of February 2020, with cooking-related fires, smoking-related fires and domestic appliances the most common causes. A number of fires in the home were also caused by heating equipment.

Mark Thomas, Group Manager for Prevention at MFRS, said: “We know that there is a lot going on this year and people are obviously pre-occupied with the pandemic and whether or not they will get a ‘normal’ Christmas but it’s really important that fire safety remains a priority – a fire in the home is the last thing anybody needs right now.

“At this time of year, people take steps to make the house warmer and cosier and we completely understand that need for comfort right now but in doing so, we can also be opening ourselves up to dangers and greater risk of fire.

“There are simple things that everyone can do to reduce the risk of fire in the home though – things like never leaving cooking unattended, ensuring candles are placed in suitable holders away from curtains or any other flammable items and making sure that cigarettes are extinguished properly. Take time to check your electrical appliances are in good working order – if wires are damaged or frayed, do not use them. Don’t leave appliances like dishwashers, washing machines or tumble dryers on overnight. 

“If you have an open fire, make sure you always use a fire guard and check the fire is completely out before you leave the house or go to bed. It’s really important to make sure chimneys, flues and heating appliances are clean and well maintained too. If you have portable heaters, make sure they are kept away from curtains and furniture and NEVER use them to dry clothes. Make sure heaters are unplugged when you go to bed and NEVER use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket.

“The most important step to take is to make sure that you have working smoke alarms in your property and that everyone in your household knows what to do and how to escape in the event of a fire.”

Throughout the winter period, MFRS’ operational crews will be distributing Home Safety Advice leaflets across Merseyside, concentrating on areas of deprivation and where we know there are vulnerable people living.