'We can work together to prevent deadly fires'

A fire service has reminded the public of important safety advice following a number of deadly blazes in its patch.

Fionnghuala Shearman and her two children died in a house fire near Stroud on Boxing Day, while earlier this week another man was killed at his home in Chalford and two men escaped a suspected e-bike fire in Quedgeley.

Nathaniel Hooton, deputy chief fire officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue, said the service's "hearts, prayers and thoughts" were with all those living with the impact of these "devastating tragedies in our communities".

As well as offering fire safety tips, Hooton suggested communities and the fire service could work together to prevent future incidents.

Hooton stressed the importance that everyone has a working smoking alarm in their home.

He urged people to be aware of exit routes, not leave lit items unattended, smoke outside where possible and avoid damaged or counterfeit electrical goods.

The deputy chief also sought to reassure people in Gloucestershire, saying the service would always be there for them.

"We will work tirelessly to respond but it's really important we understand the key role around prevention and how we can work together as communities and as a fire and rescue service to prevent fires from happening."

Hooton outlined a range of safety advice to prevent fires in the home:

• Have a working fire detector and alarm: This was highlighted as the single most important thing
• Do not leave candles or burning items unattended: This applies even if you are just moving from one room to another
• Smoke outside: If you do smoke indoors, make sure you put out any smoking materials when you are done and do not leave them lit and unattended
• Do not get distracted when cooking: Focus on what you are doing and make sure the oven and hobs are turned off when you are done
• Avoid damaged or counterfeit electrical goods: Leaving these on can lead to overheating, especially fake goods that have not been properly safety tested
• Think about exit routes: Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do if the smoke alarm goes off and leave exit routes clear from obstacles
• Sweep your chimney: Poorly maintained chimneys hearths and fireplaces can increase the risk of a fire breaking out in your home.
• Register household appliances: If a safety repair is needed or fault is found by manufacturers, they can contact you if you sign up to the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) register.

Hooton says common causes of fires in the home are smoking materials and cooking, followed by candles and things that generate heat.

On electrical safety, he said counterfeit goods were increasingly causing problems.

"We have seen a trend of that across the country, which can cause localised overheating which generates heat and then can ignite items," he explained.

Detailed fire safety advice is available on Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's website, including how to prevent fires and what to do if one does break out.

Hooton said residents could also request home fire safety visits, where the service will visit your home and give you tailored safety advice.

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