As many as 5,000 fires have been prevented in homes of vulnerable people, according to a study from London Fire Brigade.
The new research, which is the first of its kind in London, investigated the impact of home fire safety visits from firefighters. They analysed 400,000 home fire safety visits that have taken place in the last six years and estimated that these have prevented around 5,000 fires.
Home fire safety visits are carried out by firefighters, and they are deliberately targeted at those who have been identified as most at risk — some 700,000 homes.
Of the homes that have received a home visit the risk of fire was found to be 2 per 10,000, whereas those who had not received a visit had a significantly higher incidence of fires at 36 per 10,000. The groups most at risk include the elderly, smokers, addicts, disabled people, and those living alone.
London Fire Brigade is currently facing impending cuts with 552 firefighter posts to be removed, and nine fire stations to be closed. Campaigners have said that the fire service’s ability to carry out home visits will be impaired by the job cuts and that the number of fires will rise without them.
However, despite these cuts, the Brigade has also announced that it has increased the target for home visits to 219,000 by March 2016, with 80 percent of those visits taking place in the homes of vulnerable groups.
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The chair of London Fire Authority’s Strategy Committee, Councillor Sarah Hayward, said:
This new research is evidence that the Brigade’s home fire safety visits are preventing thousands of fires and saving lives, particularly amongst some of the capital’s most vulnerable people.
Joining forces with local councils and other partners has enabled the Brigade to reach those most at risk. Home fires are devastating so it’s vital that this important work continues.
Londoners need to look out for friends and neighbours by following some simple fire safety advice. If you know someone who you think could be at risk of having a fire at home, please speak to them about arranging a free home fire safety visit — you may well save their life.
The Brigade is also working with care workers to encourage them to report any signs of fire risk, such as faulty smoke detectors or cigarette burns on carpets.
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