Fire crews urge people not to ignore neighbour’s alarms

Firecrews in Southport are asking residents to take action if they hear a neighbour’s smoke alarm and call 999 if they suspect a fire.

The new appeal comes after Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service revealed that in recent months, they have attended a number of accidental house fires when a smoke alarm has been ignored.

They say this leads to a delay in their emergency response time and has led to deaths at homes across Merseyside.

Any delay, say fire officers, in contacting them can potentially mean the differ- ence between life and death in the event of a fire.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Group Manager Mark Thomas said: “Smoke alarms
are designed to provide early warning when a fire starts in a home and it is vitally
important that anyone who hears the alarm acts immediately.