21 November 2006

Watch out this winter because the cold weather can increase the risk of a fire in your home, says Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. It’s asking people to take some simple precautions – and to help make sure elderly relatives, friends and neighbours are kept as safe from fire as possible.

It’s also reminding them that they are entitled to a free home fire safety check, and free smoke alarms. Terry Ridgley, who heads the community safety team, said: “At this time of year, people are more likely to light coal or log fires and use electric blankets and portable heaters. Sometimes they are using things which haven’t been used or maintained for a year or more.”

Terry offered householders the following safety tips:

Chimneys

• Have your chimney swept before lighting a fire if you haven’t used it for some time. Sweep it at least once a year if you burn coal, or at least twice a year if you burn logs.

• Always keep a fire guard in front of a burning fire, and put the fire out before going to bed or leaving the house.

• Never use petrol or paraffin to light your fire.

Heaters

• Keep heaters away from curtains and furnishings and never use them for drying clothes.

• Portable gas heaters should have the cylinders stored and changed outside, or in a well-ventilated atmosphere. Paraffin should be stored outside in a metal container.

• Ideally heaters should be located backed up against a wall – secured, if possible, to stop them falling over.

• Gas and paraffin heaters should only be used in well-ventilated areas as they consume oxygen from the atmosphere and can cause death by asphyxiation if not adequately ventilated.

Electric blankets

• Do not use an electric blanket that has scorch marks or exposed elements.

• Overblankets are designed to be left switched on, but underblankets must be switched off before getting into bed.

• Make sure your electric blanket has the British Standards Kitemark complying to BS 3456 and has BEAB printed on it.

• Never use a hot water bottle in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off.

• If you buy a new electric blanket, make sure it has overheat protection.

Cooking

• In the event of a power cut, make sure any alternative cooking equipment is working properly and safely before you use it.

• Don’t leave the kitchen while the hob is on. If you are called away, take any pans off the heat and turn the hob off.

• Keep clothing and tea towels away from the cooker, and keep electrical leads away from the cooker and water.

• If deep fat frying, never fill the pan more than one third full. You are heating oil to extremely high temperatures – ideal conditions for a fire that is difficult to put out.

Candles

• In the event of a power failure, use battery operated lights or torches as an alternative light source.

• Never leave candles unattended. Extinguish them before you go to sleep, and before they burn into the holder.

• Keep candles away from draughts, curtains and sources of heat or direct sunlight, and keep out of the reach of children and pets. Leave at least 10cm between candles when burning.

• Burn candles in or on a suitable non-flammable holder on a heat-resistant surface and make sure there is ample headroom for the heat of the flames. Make sure the candles are stable and can’t be knocked over.

• Never burn candles on a television or bath tub, and never burn outdoor candles indoors.

Finally, make sure you can still make an emergency call in the event of a power cut. Some telephones will not work if the power has gone off.

If you would like Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service to carry out a fire safety check in your home, and fit free smoke alarms, please ring 01296 744477 or send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk to arrange an appointment.