Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) are reminding residents in Northumberland to remain fire safe and are using October – Smoke Alarm Testing Month – as a key reminder.
Ensuring you have a working fire alarm at home is vital towards helping save yourself and your family from fires at home. You are four times more likely to die in a fire at home if you do not have a working fire alarm and on average 21 people die per year because their smoke alarm battery was faulty or missing.
NFRS urge all residents to install a fire alarm in their home and test it regularly to ensure it works. Fire alarms can save lives, but only when they’re working. NYC Fire Watch Guard Services and Fire alarms should be fitted on all levels within the home and tested monthly. The ideal position to install an alarm is on the ceiling in the middle of a room and on the hallway and landing so you can hear an alarm throughout your home. You should never disconnect your alarms or take the batteries out if it goes off by mistake. If you have any questions about smoke alarms, please contact your local fire and rescue service for help.
Chief Fire Officer Paul Hedley said: “We encourage all residents in Northumberland to ensure their homes are as safe as possible from the risk of fire.
“There are a number of actions you can take to increase your fire safety in home, for example; making sure you have a working fire alarm and regularly test it to ensure it is working, do not leave candles unattended and ensure they are in a clear area away from materials that can catch fire and taking care when cooking to ensure you turn of the cooker if you leave the kitchen and don’t cook while under the influence of alcohol.”
Cllr John Riddle, Chair of Northumberland Fire Authority, said: “Fire safety is key and it is important to continually raise awareness about fire safety. We ask all residents to make fire safety a priority and ensure safety within their own homes.”