Fire Safety
Last updated: 05/11/2009
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Over 80% of all
casualties occur as a result of fires in the home. The majority of
these fires are accidental and could have been prevented by
following a few simple measures which help to reduce the
risks.
Our aim is to help you protect your home from fire
and explain the importance of fire safety. To
prepare you for an emergency by explaining what happens when you
dial 999, and give advice on how to escape from a fire in your home
- plus so much more!
Free Home Fire Safety Checks
In Cornwall, we are committed to reducing fire deaths by
ensuring that every home in the county has a working smoke alarm.
To make sure this happens, firefighters now carry out free home
safety checks and fit free smoke alarms.
Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service has already fitted
over 15,000 free smoke alarms in our local
communities. We have also given occupiers a
free fire safety check, known as a 'Home Fire Risk
Assessment'.
What is a 'Home Fire Safety Check'?
When you book a home fire safety check, firefighters will
visit your home at an allocated time and accompany you around every
room in your property with the aim of:
- Identifying and making you aware of the potential risks in your
home
- Making sure you know what to do in order to reduce or prevent
these risks
- Helping you put together an escape plan in case a fire breaks
out in the future
- Ensuring you have a working smoke alarm and if you don't, we
will fit a 'free' smoke alarm
(type of alarm will vary depending on the need)
The home fire safety check will take about half an hour of your
time. Firefighters will be wearing uniforms and carrying
identification cards. Please ask to see the identification card,
and if you require confirmation telephone the Freephone Helpline
0800 3581 999.
Registering for a free home fire risk assessment
couldn't be easier.
Simply call our freephone telephone on: 0800 3581 999
Or register for a free Home Fire Safety Check using our
online request form.
You can also complete an online 'Home Risk
Assessment' to see how safe your home is by visiting the
National Fire Gateway website.
Also in this section
Please use the links on the left of this page to access
information on fire safety or the links below:
Being a victim of fire can be a traumatic and devastating
experience. Having the right assistance and advice when you
need it will help you through this difficult time. The advice given
here should help you to begin the recovery process.
If you cannot find what you need within this
section or require further information or advice, fill out our
enquiry form and a specialist officer will contact you.
This section explains how to make a fire action plan for
your home. It gives you advice on how to escape from your
house in an emergency and what to do if there's a fire -
dial 999.
This section gives the following information on
preventing a fire in your home:
- Bedtime Safety Check
- Candles
- Carbon Monoxide
- Celebrating Safely
- Children
- Chimney Fires
- Cigarettes
- Electric Blankets
- Electrical Fire Safety
- Kitchen Fire Safety
- Rented Accommodation
- Residential Fire Sprinklers
In this section you can find out:
- What to look for when choosing a smoke alarm and the two main
types that are available
- How and where to correctly install your smoke alarms together
with information on how to maintain them.
- The various types of smoke alarm that are available including
those specially designed for people with extra needs.
- Information on equipment that will help if a fire does occur in
your home including fire extinguishers, fire blankets and sprinkler
systems.
Leaflets available to download on fire safety.
Use this online form to register for a free home fire
safety check.
This section gives the following advice and information on
preventing fires outdoors:
- barbecues
- Boating Safety
- Caravans and Camping
- Child Car Seat Safety
- Fire Safety in the Countryside
- Firework Safety
- Holiday Advice
- Winter Driving
Fire Safety in the Home Leaflet
A free 24-page leaflet - Fire safety in the home,
has been created by Fire Kills and is
packed with information that could save your life.
It includes sections on:
- Choosing, testing, fitting and maintaining a smoke alarm
- How to prevent kitchen fires
- How to prevent electric, cigarette and candle fires
- Planning an escape route from your home
- What to do if there is a fire
- What to do if your clothes catch fire
- How to escape from a high level building
- Making a fire safety check before you go to
bed
Fire Prevention Handbook
The National Community Fire Safety Centre has produced the 'Fire
Prevention Handbook' which seeks to ensure that the public has all
of the necessary information it needs to significantly reduce the
chances of fire in the home. There is also information on how best
to deal with a fire should it occur.
The Fire Prevention Handbook contains essential
fire safety information for your home, including:
- 12 tips to protect your home from fire,
- making escape plans and
- teaching children to be safe with fire.
Take the opportunity now to download a copy to
read below. Please note that these files may take some time to
download, should you experience any problems please
contact the Fire & Rescue
Service and we will be happy to forward you a copy.
Stay Safe
Cornwall Fire & Rescue
Service Homepage