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Households Most at Risk
From Fire to get Free Smoke Alarms |
Last
Updated:
Friday, 22 October, 2004 16:49
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| •Smoke
Alarm . |
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One and a quarter million households mainly in deprived areas in
England will be offered free smoke alarms and fire safety advice
in a 25 million fire prevention package announced by Fire Safety
Minister, Phil Hope.
Local fire and rescue authorities already carry out some free home fire safety
checks.
Now, new funding will support a massive expansion of this work over the next
four years and enable them to offer more free smoke alarms.
Priority will go to vulnerable people, mainly the elderly, young families and
black and ethnic minority groups, who, statistics show, are more at risk of house
fires.
The new scheme is expected to drive down fires, deaths and injuries in the home
and could save more than 20 lives a year.
Mr Hope, said the extra funding reaffirmed the Government's commitment to place
a greater emphasis within the fire and rescue service on life-saving fire prevention
activity:
"Fire and rescue services around the country know well where the fire risks are
in the communities they serve - and that only too often they have to pick up
the pieces from entirely preventable domestic fires.
When facing up to risks and dangers, most people want personal contact and practical
help from someone they trust and this funding will offer just that, especially
to deprived areas and communities."
Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase, Director of Safety and Standards for the Chief
Fire Officers' Association, said that good, professional advice, coupled with
the installation of smoke alarms, were proven to be effective in reducing deaths
and injuries from fire:
"We believe that this type of proactive community fire safety work has already
saved many lives throughout the country.
With the extra resources being provided by the ODPM, fire and rescue authorities
will be able to achieve even more success in eliminating fire deaths and injuries.
By targeting help towards the elderly and the vulnerable we can make a real difference
and prevent a great deal of misery and suffering."
Most recipients are expected to be owner-occupiers or those renting in the private
sector since, tenants of housing associations and local authorities usually have
fire safety measures in place.
The new drive also complements provisions in the Housing Bill, which aim to ensure
that private tenants in some types of rented accommodation are protected by smoke
alarms.
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