Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to be alert to alarms for a safer home

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, along with Fire and Rescue Service’s across the country, is supporting The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) National Home Safety Week which aims to highlight the importance of installing alarms in your home.Both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms can save lives.

For more phone 0800 358 4777, or email hart@cumbria.gov.uk.

Will Richardson, Group Manager and Head of Prevention said:

“Home Safety Week encourages people to assess the needs of their homes and ensure they have adequate alarms fitted for their individual needs.

“In 18% of house fires in the UK, smoke alarms failed to activate. The most common reason was because the fire was outside the alarm's range. So, we ask householders to install alarms to ensure the whole home is covered. Smoke alarms should be installed in the rooms used the most, as this is where a fire is most likely to start and one on each level of the home. Carbon monoxide alarms should be in all rooms with a fuel burning appliance.”

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service want people to think about the risks in their homes and ensure they take action to prevent incidents, ensuring they have the right detection in the right places to be alerted if an incident happens.

Smoke alarms

Fitting a smoke alarm on every floor of a home should be recognised as a minimum standard (in a circulation space such as a hall or landing).

It is recommended that, in addition to one on each floor of the home, smoke alarms are fitted in every room in the house which is regularly inhabited (i.e. bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms) based upon the fire risk to the occupants.

All smoke alarms (including hard wired) should be replaced after ten years, or by the ‘replace by’ date indicated on the base or earlier if found to be defective.

Carbon Monoxide alarms

CO is a highly poisonous gas, which you cannot see, taste or smell. Cumbria FRS recommend that any room with a fuel burning appliance such as an open fire, wood burning stove or gas appliance such as a boiler or cooker should also have a working CO alarm fitted.

Free Safe and Well visits

Every home in Cumbria is eligible to apply for a free Home Safety Visit to help them deal with any potential fire hazards in their homes. Cumbria FRS can help you design a fire plan so that you and your family will know how to react if you have a fire. They will also fit, where applicable, a battery powered smoke detector free of charge.