The first ever ‘Fire Safety Week Wales’ is being launched on Monday 22nd September to raise awareness of fire safety and the free Home Fire Safety Check service offered by the three Fire and Rescue Services in Wales.
From 22nd September - 26th September and in partnership with Firebrake Wales, Firefighters will be uniting across Wales to urge the country to make sure they have working smoke alarms fitted at home.
Almost half of all homes in Wales that have experienced a fire during the past year did not have a smoke alarm, Wales’ Fire and Rescue Services have revealed. Between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 nearly 2,000 homes were affected by fire across Wales.
In South Wales there were 830 accidental dwelling fires during this time, 367 did not have smoke alarms, 78 had smoke alarms which did not activate and 385 had smoke alarms which activated.
During the week long publicity campaign, the three Fire and Rescue Services in Wales will be offering practical advice on how to make homes and communities safer. The week will also focus on raising awareness of the free Home Fire Safety Check scheme offered by local firefighters and staff across Wales and is accessed through one all Wales phone number 0800 169 1234.
Social Justice Minister, Dr Brian Gibbons said:
“I am fully supportive of the Wales Fire Safety Week and the important messages that the three Fire and Rescue Services in Wales are trying to convey. It is essential that people get smoke alarms fitted in their homes. It is a simple fire safety measure that could save lives. I would also encourage people to take advantage of the free Home Fire Safety Checks on offer from their local Fire and Rescue Services.”
Head of Community Safety for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Area Manager Martin Henderson explained:
“This is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the lethal dangers of not protecting yourself from fire. For those who think they are protected by a smoke alarm, the Service is encouraging them to make sure they check it regularly. In the last year nearly 250 homes where fire had broken out had a smoke alarm in the property that hadn’t activated. These worrying statistics are putting lives at risk.
We can never stress enough how important a working smoke alarm is in your home – they really can mean the difference between life and death.
Smoke alarms will often pick up the traces of smoke before you do, giving you an early warning of danger and precious time to get out of your home safely.
During a fire in the home, you can become disorientated and so we would also like to stress just how important it is to plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows what to do if there is a fire.
We will fit smoke alarms for free as part of our Home Fire Safety Checks, help plan an escape route, and discuss how you can reduce the risk of having a fire break out in your home.”
Anyone wishing to book a free Home Fire Safety Check can call 0800 169 1234 to request a visit.
Kim Smith, Chief Executive Officer for Firebrake Wales, said:
“Firebrake Wales is pleased to be part of the first Fire Safety Week for Wales. We want people to be more aware of the risks of fire and take practical steps to make their homes and communities safer.”
Firebrake Wales is a registered charity committed to reducing the incidence of deaths and injuries in fire through raising awareness, providing information, promoting research and encouraging collaboration between the public, private and voluntary sector on fire safety to make Wales a safer place.
Cwmbran Firefighters will be at Asda in Cwmbran at the following times
Mon 22 Afternoon
Tues 23 Afternoon
Wed 24 Morning
Thurs 25 Morning
Fri 26 Afternoon
Mon 22 2 - 4 pm
Wed 24 from 09:00 until 12:00 to distribute leaflets and offer fire safety advice to the public.