Avon Fire & Rescue Service reminds households to follow fire safety advice

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) is taking the opportunity to remind residents across the area of the importance of staying safe at home during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Whether you live alone, with friends, or family, Avon Fire & Rescue is urging locals to take a moment to find out how they can make their home safer and also to consider others when having bonfires.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton said: “Firstly, I would like to reassure residents across the Avon area that we will continue to provide both an emergency service and on-going safety advice.

“However, due to an increase in both social isolation and home-working, many residents will be spending more time indoors and we are keen to highlight our important fire safety advice within the home and with bonfires at this time.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be releasing key fire safety messages to ensure residents and businesses remain safe during this period.

 “We would like to direct you to our website where there are simple safety checks that you can carry out.

“In advance, we would like to thank you for following this safety advice, to keep both yourselves, friends and family safe.

“Of course, this advice is important at any time but particularly during this time.”

Six key steps to follow now for a safer home include:

• Protect your home with working smoke alarms
• Take extra care in the kitchen – “Look While You Cook”
• Check your electrics
• Smoke safely
• Make sure you sleep safe and carry out those all-important nightly safety checks
• Plan a safe escape

Key bonfire safety tips include:

• Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges
• Never use flammable liquids to start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries. This could produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury
• Warn your neighbours beforehand – so they are aware and can make necessary preparations
• Only burn dry material, do not burn anything which is wet or damp, this causes more smoke
• Check there are no cables (telephone or electricity wires) above the bonfire
• Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of fire
• Before lighting your bonfire check that no wild creatures like hedgehogs are inside