Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it’s a time to think about how much our loved ones really mean to us.
We are asking people to do one small thing this Valentine’s Day and test their loved ones’ smoke alarms to keep them safe in the home. It’s unlikely to earn you any brownie points but it’s free and it might just save a life!
We are rolling out our ‘Test it for the one you love’ smoke alarm campaign in the run-up to February 14.
Firefighter Will Basnett, from Cleckheaton Fire Station, who stars in the video, said: “We can all get caught up in the hype that surrounds Valentine’s Day and of course the presents and flowers go a long way to making someone feel special. “By testing their smoke alarms for your partner, or even a relative, you are doing something vital to help protect them from the dangers of fire – remember your loved ones are irreplaceable. “If you live alone, test your smoke alarm for your favourite pet!” Between April 2014 and the end of March 2015, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service staff carried out 42, 367 FREE Home Fire Safety Checks and fitted 50,921 smoke alarms.
During the same period there were 1, 254 fires in homes across West Yorkshire.
In 696 cases there was a smoke alarm fitted which sounded.
In 261 cases there was no smoke alarm fitted in the property.
In 297 cases there was a smoke alarm but it did not work.
Fire Prevention Manager Sarah Laidlow-Moore said: “It's a fact that working smoke detectors save lives and they do need to be tested regularly and kept clean to do their job. It's amazing how many people don't regularly test their detectors when they are key to saving a loved one's life in a house fire.
“Due to careful targeting of resources focusing on the most vulnerable residents across West Yorkshire, not to mention sheer hard work on behalf of crews and prevention staff, we are continuing to exceed our targets for Home Fire Safety Checks which includes the fitting of smoke detectors.”
To book a FREE Home Fire Safety Check visit www.westyorksfire.gov.uk or call 0800 5874536 Alternatively pop into your nearest fire station to make arrangements. Follow our ‘Test it for the one you love’ smoke alarm campaign via Twitter @West_Yorks_FRS or on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/westyorkshirefire/
