19 November 2009
Stay safe this Christmas – that’s the message High Wycombe shoppers will receive this weekend when a brand new store opens its doors to the public.
Businesses from across the district have joined forces with firefighters, safety staff and partner organisations to launch a brand new initiative for the Christmas period, hoping to encourage the community to enjoy Christmas safely – and visitors to the town’s Christmas light switch on ceremony tonight, will be able to get a sneak preview!
The shop, based in the Chilterns Shopping Centre, High Wycombe, will have a festive themed window display, but with fire safety in mind will also give examples of bad practice and hazards that are all to common in homes during the festive period.
Shoppers will be invited to take a tour through a winter wonderland, and visit a family home decked out for the festive period - but a surprise lurks round the corner! Behind the glittering baubles, shining stars and tinsel garlands lies an opportunity to see the effects of not considering fire safety, and what happens when things go wrong.
A purpose built area has been created by High Wycombe-based Chiltern International Fire, which shows the remains of a burnt out front room. Visitors will be able to see how the fire started through a video taken by Chiltern International Fire during the burn, showing how the fire started and developed as well as finding out how the fire could have been prevented.
At the end of the tour there will be opportunities to talk to members of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies that can offer advice and support both inside and outside the home, and take part in a quiz to win prizes donated by shops within the centre. All quiz entrants will take a special goody bag home with them. There will also be an opportunity for all Buckinghamshire residents to sign up for a free home safety check.
The initiative is being coordinated by Jo Oliver, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety partnership manager for the Wycombe District. She said: “We will be inviting shoppers to take a walk through a Christmas safety wonderland, where they will be able to see for themselves the potential hazards that can help turn a wonderful family Christmas into something much less cheerful.
“The last thing firefighters want to do is turn up to an incident which results in anyone having to leave their home, but for someone to have to leave their home as the result of a fire around the Christmas period is something we are keen to try to help them avoid.”
Jo added: “The support we have received from the local shops and businesses to get this up and running has been fabulous. Thanks to them we can offer lots of fun with gifts and prizes, but with the help of Chiltern International Fire and their burnt out room we can also provide a more serious message which we hope will leave a strong impression and provide a hard hitting talking point for anyone that visits.”
A special “sneak preview” evening has been organised to coincide with the Christmas light switch on in High Wycombe Town Centre tonight (Thursday 19 November). Shoppers will be invited to have a look in and around the unit and sign up for the Home Safety Check, but will need to return following the official launch to take part in the quiz and collect a free goody bag.
Councillor David Rowlands, Chairman of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, will be cutting the ribbon at the formal opening of the shop at 11am on Saturday (21 November).
The shop will be open to the public on the following days and times:
- Thursday 19 November (sneak peak preview evening) - 4pm to 8pm
- Saturday 21 November - 11am to 3pm
- Thursday 26 November - 11am to 3pm
- Friday 27 November - 11am to 3pm
- Saturday 29 November - 11am to 3pm
- Thursday 3 December - 11am to 3pm
- Friday 4 December - 11am to 3pm
- Saturday 5 December - 11am to 3pm
- Thursday 10 December - 11am to 3pm
- Friday 11 December - 11am to 3pm
- Saturday 12 December - 11am to 3pm
- Thursday 17 December - 11am to 3pm
- Friday 18 December - 11am to 3pm
- Saturday 19 December - 11am to 3pm
Chiltern International Fire
With more than 30 years’ experience, Chiltern International Fire is one of Europe’s leading authorities on fire, providing a range of services to clients around the world. Services include consultancy, research, training and testing to British, European and international standards. In addition, it will undertake fire safety audits, upgrading and assessment of fire performance. All major tests are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The company also offers a first class facility for Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV), Breathing Apparatus (BA) and Compartment Fire Behaviour training for fire service personnel. It is part of the BM TRADA Group.