by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
‘THERE'S no going back for a life. You can’t wind
the clock back if someone is killed’. This was the
stark message from Inishowen fire chief James
McKenna as he promoted Fire Safety Week.
The Buncrana Fire Station Officer revealed that
carelessness remains the single biggest cause of
blazes in homes here.
“We’ve attended a number of fires recently where
people have left candles too close to curtains
causing fires to break out. This is particularly a
problem coming up to Christmas when homeowners often
light lots of scented and decorative candles around
the house,” he said.
“Another major cause is cooking. People are
continuing to use ordinary chip pans, which are
absolutely lethal; they should not be used. Another
one is leaving clothes too close to the fire to dry.
Simple things like leaving the iron switched on
while answering the door or mobile phones charging
on soft surfaces can also lead to dangerous blazes,”
James added.
Several hundred people attended a special safety
demonstration at Buncrana Fire Station last Monday
night when local fire fighters displayed various
fire rescue equipment and handed out information
leaflets.
James said every home should have an escape plan for
its occupants in the event of a fire. He said there
are a number of tips to help prevent blazes from
breaking out.
“The most important thing is to have a minimum of
two working smoke alarms. They should be fitted only
on the ceiling, never on the wall and never near
corners. If batteries run out they should be
replaced immediately,” he warned.
“Electric blankets must be switched off before
people go to bed while no one should ever smoke in
bed. It is also vital that keys are left in PVC
doors so that family members can get out at night in
a hurry. There have been cases of people dying
because they could not get out the door,” James
added.
Fire Safety Week continues until October 10. For
more information and safety advice check out
www.firesafetyweek.ie . |
