Smoke alarms which work are saving lives and reducing damage in house fires in Shropshire, revealed the county’s Chief Fire Officer.
Fire safety education from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service means that more people have fitted alarms which give an early alert to householders if fire breaks out, said John Redmond.
“More than half the fires we attend are out by the time we get there due to the high number of working smoke alarms and better safety education for everyone.
“Three quarters of house and flat fires start in the kitchen but early warning from smoke alarms reduces the impact.”
Highly trained staff in fire control at Shrewsbury fire HQ keep people calm and give advice to callers who dial 999 while fire engines are sent on their way.
A total of eleven people have been rescued from fire and 33 given first aid by firefighters in incidents in Shropshire since April last year, reveals a report to Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority.
Three people were led to safety, two advised to “stay put” and 82 told to leave a property where fire was reported. Firefighters cut free 42 people from road traffic collisions and gave first aid to 18 casualties at the scene. Firefighters also rescued five people from floods.
They carried out 22 other rescues including saving the life of Wem pensioner John Luce (72), whose heart had stopped when he collapsed in the back garden of his home during a garden fire last year. Firefighters used a defibrillator to bring him back to life with seconds to spare.
Rescues carried out by the county brigade which have saved lives have been calculated to have “saved” almost £44m. The average cost to the economy of a fatal road collision is £1.2m.
“We are always keen to demonstrate the value of the service to our local communities, not only in terms of the reduction of incidents that local people experience, but also to show the financial value we provide for taxpayers,” added Mr Redmond.
People living in a house with no smoke alarm – or who remove the batteries - are four times more likely to die in a blaze, say fire prevention officers, who urge all householders to fit a detector.
