Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) is supporting the national Fire Kills campaign to encourage people to test their smoke alarm this October.
Firefighters are reminding people to test their smoke alarm because they can only save lives if they work.
Smoke alarms provide a warning that fire has broken out and could give occupants of a house vital extra minutes to escape, especially at night.
Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke from a fire can cause a person to lose consciousness or even die.
Between April 2015 and March 2016 AF&RS attended 539 house fires. There was no smoke alarm fitted in 185 (34%) of these, however this has improved by 7% compared with last year where 41% of homes had no smoke alarm.
AF&RS Group Manager for Risk Reduction, Matt Peskett, said: “Smoke alarms really are unsung heroes, activating at the first sign of fire and giving occupants time to escape, especially at night.
“The alarms should be tested regularly to check the batteries are working. It takes just a few seconds but could save the lives of you and your family in a house fire.”
British Summer Time ends on Sunday 30th October with the clocks being put back one hour. The changing of clocks provides households with an opportunity to check the batteries in their existing alarms.
Smoke alarms advice from Avon Fire & Rescue includes:
- Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home.
- Smoke alarms are cheap and easy to install.
- Most smoke alarms are fitted with a battery that lasts 10 years. Test the battery to make sure it is working every week.
- Never disconnect or remove the batteries.
- Mains-powered alarms are powered by your home electricity supply.
- Don’t put alarms in or too near kitchens or bathrooms where smoke or steam can set them off by accident.
AF&RS offers free Home Fire Safety Visits where our staff offer fire safety advice and fit free smoke alarms if required.
To book a Home Fire Safety Visit for yourself or someone you care about visit www.avonfire.gov.uk, call 0117 926 2061 or text VISIT to 07507 319 694.
