fire sup main pages - The Scottish Government

Safety project
‘rising from
ashes’
Sprinklers
saving
lives
p3
p10
Training
for life
p12
FIRE
SAFETY
SCOTLAND
Waketo up
fire safety
WIN a safe,
deep fat fryer
– see inside
111 people
DIED and 2,300
were INJURED in
In Scotland
fires last year.
Most of them were at
home,
ASLEEP.
Most of them COULD
be alive today.
16 page Special Guide
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Working together for a Safer Scotland
2
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Action
– fighting Scotland’s fire death toll
Tragic death toll
Scotland’s
shocking
house fire
record
In the last 12 months, 111 people in Scotland DIED
because of fire and another 2,300 people
suffered non-fatal injuries
●
●
The number of house fires in Scotland is ‘markedly different’ from England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, according to latest government figures.
46% of all fires are house fires, compared with 33% in Northern Ireland and 32% in
misuse of alcohol was a major contributory
factor in 41 of the 76 fatal fires
carelessly throwing away cigarettes,
matches and lighters caused 39 of
the 76 fatal fires
In Scotland
England and Wales.
Smoke alarms were fitted in 44 of the 76 homes
where people died
Broken down by brigade areas, the figures show that all Scottish brigades recorded that at least
38% of all fires were house fires. Outside Scotland, the largest percentage of house fires was in
Greater London.
●
●
The Home Office research, made available to Chief Fire Officers across the UK, shows that around 75%
of all fire casualties are in house fires:
●
●
466 people died in fires in the home
another 14,600 people were injured
But the number of firefighters injured – 655 men and women – was the lowest recorded for over
20 years.
●
over 50% of the brigade casualties suffered from physical injuries
almost 20% suffered burns
●
Contents
in the other 38 cases, 15 did not have a battery
fitted and 3 had flat batteries
FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT 39 OF
THE 85 HOUSE FIRE DEATHS WERE
POTENTIALLY AVOIDABLE IF SMOKE
ALARMS HAD BEEN FITTED AND IN
WORKING ORDER
●
●
only 6 alarms were known to have
operated properly
34 fatal fires started in the living-room, 21 in
the bedroom and 13 in the kitchen
polyurethane foam filled furniture contributed to
14 fatal fires
Make fire deaths just a memory
Candles – a fashion in danger
3
11
Firefighters ‘saved 5 lives’
On watch with the young brigade
4
12
Smoking can kill – in more ways than one
Special care for special people
5
13
WIN a safe way to make chips
Fire safety in the countryside
6
14
An explosive mixture
How safe is YOUR home?
7
15
Inside the fire fighting machine
Cut out poster: Bedtime Routine
8
16
Making a safer home
10
MAKE FIRE DEATHS JUST A MEMORY
Fires are hotter
today and burn more
fiercely. But for the
first time ever,
technology exists
that COULD make
fire deaths a thing of
the past.
One of Scotland’s most experienced firefighters,
Strathclyde’s Assistant Firemaster Bob Docherty, has
recently retired as Director of Fire Safety after 32
years service.
Over the years, he has witnessed the tragedy of fire
deaths – and seen a major shift in people’s attitudes
to fire.
“When I joined the Fire Service in 1968, there was a
great number of deaths caused by fire.
“But it was more or less accepted. People had a
much lower life expectancy and there were high rates
of diseases like TB. If you died in a fire, it wasn’t
much different to dying from something else.
“Today, people are more safety conscious and more
aware of the environment they live in.
“And for the first time ever, we have the
technology to stop fire deaths.
“Domestic sprinkler systems have been proved to
detect and attack fires. They save lives and
dramatically reduce the damage that even a small
fire causes.
“Fire deaths could be reduced to zero if every home
was fitted with a sprinkler. That’s why education
through community safety is given such a high
priority by every fire brigade in Scotland.”
Bob Docherty, former Chair of the Scotland’s Fire
Safety Forum, says that only a couple of generations
ago, fires were fairly common in hotels, public places
and workplaces as well as in the home.
But two major hotel blazes – one of them at the
Esplanade Hotel in Oban – led to legislation being
passed to protect people staying in hotels and
guest houses.
“That led to legislation in the workplace and other
public places. Enforcement of these regulations
over the years has seen a dramatic drop in injuries
and deaths.
“Today the vast majority of deaths in fires happen in
the home. And they tend to be much fiercer and
hotter because of all the plastics used in modern
furnishings – even wallcoverings.”
Legislation, like the banning of polyurethane foam in
furniture has helped.
But Bob Docherty says: “It takes years to take effect,
as people finally get around to throwing out that
old chair.
“And the sad thing is that the people who may still
have that kind of furniture are often the most
vulnerable – people who are already at
higher risk of a house fire because of
their age, or poverty or lifestyle. It is a
vicious circle.
“Another breakthrough was the domestic
smoke alarm. The campaign was a long one
and it is still going on, but I would estimate
that about 80-85% of all homes in Scotland
now have a smoke detector.
“The battle now is to remind people to
MAINTAIN their smoke alarm, NEVER to
remove the battery and to TEST it
regularly.”
When the new town of Scottsdale, Arizona, was
being built around 15 years ago, a local state law
demanded that EVERY building would be fitted
with a sprinkler system.
3
Safety project
‘rising from ashes’
Operational firefighters in Strathclyde are joining
partners in an innovative community safety project.
The Phoenix Community Fire Safety Partnership is aimed
at changing the focus from FIRE PROTECTION to
FIRE PREVENTION.
Strathclyde Fire Brigade has set up 8 Community Fire
Stations – at Ayr, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Ardrossan,
Dreghorn, Greenock, Port Glasgow and Johnstone.
●
each station has an education centre – the Phoenix
Room – where adults and children can learn about fire
safety using a computer-based training package
●
firefighters will ‘adopt’ local community groups
and help them to help themselves in addressing
local concerns
●
local people will be encouraged to use the fire stations
as a community resource, for meetings and functions
●
firefighters are ‘tackling the
burning issues’ talking to local
people in the community
Since then, there has never been a single fire
death in the town, which now has a population of
more than 500,000.
Even a young man who poured petrol over himself
and set it alight failed in his bid to commit suicide
– the sprinkler system in his house saved his life.
Real-life story
– working in partnership works
In Edinburgh, firefighters were called to a small
fire in a flat in the Oxgangs area. It was not
the first time they had been called to the
flat and they were concerned for the
safety of the 61 year old man living
there.
They checked the smoke detector fitted in the
flat and found it was not working. And they
learned that the man had recently been
discharged from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
●
●
firefighters immediately called Edinburgh
Council’s housing department, who sent a
building inspector the same day to repair the
detector
they also told social workers and the hospital
about their concerns
Only four days later, another fire broke
out in the flat.
Because the smoke alarm was now working,
neighbours were alerted and called the fire
brigade.
This time, firefighters had to rescue the
occupier, who was taken to hospital suffering
from the effects of smoke inhalation.
Social workers were later examining the case
to decide what measures were needed to
prevent further incidents.
Station Officer Jeff Douce, Lothian and Borders
Fire Brigade Community Safety Co-ordinator,
says: “Firefighters are working in partnership
PHOENIX aims to create zero
tolerance of:
● fires and fire deaths
and injuries
● fire raising
● malicious calls
● attacks on fire crews
● theft of equipment
● misuse of fire hydrants
Strathclyde Firemaster Jeff Ord says: “PHOENIX is a
toolkit that takes an holistic approach, based on
community partnerships and community outreach. Like
the well-known marketing slogan, it is ‘Greater than the
sum of its parts’.
“Creating strong, positive relations between firefighters
and all sections of the community – and a culture of
mutual support – is vital to its success.”
PHOENIX has won financial support from North
Ayrshire Council and Royal Bank of Scotland. An
international pharmaceutical company with an industrial
plant in the area has donated 24 computers to support
the project. And Vauxhall Motors and Ayrshire car dealer
Kerr & Smith Ltd have provided a Vauxhall Astra van.
with a wide range of agencies that have an impact of the
lives of people in the communities we serve.
“In this case, it is very
possible that if the
firefighters had just
turned away after dealing
with the earlier incident
and not reported their
concerns, the second fire
could have had tragic
consequences.”
Action
– shoot!
Video will hammer home messages
Firefighters and actors will star in a major new
video to hammer home fire safety messages.
The video, the first of its kind to be made in
Scotland, will take a fictional story line to highlight
the facts about the horror of house fires.
Professional actors will play the main roles with
firefighters as ‘themselves’ during the shoot, taking
place now.
Although aimed primarily at 11-13-year-olds taking
part in fire safety education programmes at school,
the video may also be used with groups of older
children and adults.
Station Officer Stewart Nelson, of Tayside Fire
Brigade and Margaret Young, education officer at
Lothian & Borders Fire Brigade are co-ordinating
the video for the Scottish Forum for Community
Fire Safety.
4
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Stewart says: “Many people still don’t have much of
an idea of how to make a fire plan, work out nightly
routines or just generally keep themselves safe.
“The film aims to show in a vivid way how just a
few precautions and a bit of planning ahead can
save lives.”
Margaret says that youngsters at P6, P7 and S1
stage are just the right age to take in the message
– and take it home to their families.
“All the brigades in Scotland submitted ideas for the
video. Overwhelmingly, the area still needing the
most education and attention is in making and
keeping your home safe and, if there is a fire,
knowing how to get out of the house safely.
Speaking
your
language
Fire safety advice
leaflets are available in
several languages.
Your local fire brigade
will obtain copies for
you – see page 16 for
contact addresses.
“But the video will also operate on different levels
so that we can adapt a fire safety session to suit
older children, or even adults’ groups.”
The video, commissioned by the Scottish Executive,
is due for release in the summer.
Making
Scotland
Safer
Communities across Scotland are joining firefighters
in helping to guard against fire.
As part of its wider commitment to a Safer Scotland, the
Scottish Executive is carrying out detailed research aimed
at identifying ways that Community Safety Partnerships can
influence attitudes and behaviour about fire safety.
Firefighters
‘saved 5 lives’
It was so like a film set, firefighters couldn’t believe what they saw.
“If we’d been asked to create a family house showing as many fire hazards as possible, we couldn’t
have done a better job,” says Assistant Divisional Officer Alan Sheach, of Fife Fire and Rescue
Service.
Firefighters had been invited to the house in Rosyth by the tenant, who was worried after finding
two of her sons playing with matches.
Iain Gray, Deputy Justice Minister, says; “Scotland has a tragic
fire safety record. People living in Scotland are twice as likely
to be killed in a fire as people living south of the border.
“Fire officers talked to the children about the dangers of fire and showed them the fire safety
video, Firesafe.
“But so many fires – and fire deaths – are avoidable. We need to
raise people’s awareness of the devastating effects of fire and
the very real value of simple, affordable fire safety measures.
“When we are invited to people’s homes, we always ask if they would like us to carry out a risk
assessment. The lady was obviously concerned about fire risk and readily agreed.
“Firefighters will tell you that it does not need to be a big fire
to ruin your home. They know that smoke detectors do save
lives. Modern domestic sprinkler systems will put out fires
in seconds.”
The research will involve:
“But the officers could not believe what they found. It was like a film set for ‘spot the fire hazard’.”
What the firefighters found included:
●
●
●
●
●
interviews with 1000 people across Scotland
in depth discussions with community groups – and with
firefighters and police
●
●
●
electrical wires under carpets
sockets overloaded
plugs not properly fused
ashtrays overflowing
smoke alarm not working and filled with dust
electrical cable hanging over the cooker
Iain Gray says: “The research will also provide benchmark
levels of people’s fire safety awareness, attitudes
and behaviour.
“Happily, the lady took on board all the points and that house is a lot safer now. The couple have
an 18 month old boy as well, and we reckon those firefighters saved five lives that day.”
”We will be talking to people directly involved in community
initiatives, professionals working in the health service, and
teachers and school pupils.
And as they were leaving, the firefighters enrolled
the children in a new game – making a Fire Plan for
their home.
“We need to identify the factors that drive and influence
their attitudes to develop and roll-out an effective risk
reduction strategy.”
Carry out a risk assessment of your home.
See page 15
Around 63% of men and 48% of
women who died in fires in the UK had
been drinking and were over the legal
limit for driving (80 milligrams per
100mg of blood)
Smoking can kill
Okay, so you DIDN’T manage to
give up on National No Smoking
Day. BUT you can still SAVE
LIVES – yours and your family’s –
by making absolutely SURE that
you don’t let your cigarettes
cause a fire in your home.
Smoking can kill
– in a flash
Firefighters have a professional
interest in helping to promote No
Smoking Day and encouraging people
to give up smoking.
Firemaster Colin Cranston, chairman
of the Scottish branch of the Chief
and Assistant Chief Fire Officers
Association, says: “ Most people know
the long term damage that smoking
can do to their health and why it
makes sense to give up.
“But what a lot of people don’t
realise is that smoking can also kill
you very quickly.
“More fires in which people are killed
are caused as a result of carelessness
with smoking materials than any other
single cause.
5
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
– in more ways than one
Stub it out!
EVERY year, nearly 4 out of every 10 deaths in household fires
are caused by careless use of smoking materials.
A cigar, cigarette or pipe left burning on the edge of an ashtray
can easily fall on to furniture, newspapers or fabrics and smoulder
for a considerable time before starting a serious fire.
Real life story
– two die
Two 20-year-old men died in their
basement flat in Glasgow after a fire
was started by a carelessly discarded
cigarette after a party. A fatal accident
inquiry heard that:
CHECK to make sure that smoking materials are never left to
burn unattended.
●
a smoke detector in the rented flat
had been dismantled
MAKE SURE that they are properly stubbed out in a suitable
ashtray before leaving the room.
●
windows were barred
●
the staircase out of the flat
was blocked
●
the courtyard at the back of the flat
was piled with rubbish and
equipment
AND MAKE SURE they are disposed of safely in a suitable
container before going to bed.
CHECK that people never smoke in bed or in an armchair when
they are feeling drowsy.
This is especially important when you or your family are under
the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescribed or otherwise).
●
NEVER leave a cigarette
or a pipe burning
●
DON’T smoke in bed or in
a chair if you think you
might doze off
●
EMPTY ashtrays
Around 6 out of every 10 fatal fire victims are known to have
been drinking alcohol immediately before their death.
“So don’t be short sighted and think
that the damage to your health can
only be long term.”
If you do smoke
● make sure you have completely
extinguished smoking materials
before leaving the house or going
to bed
●
don’t empty ashtrays into bins,
always put them in a metal container
and preferably outside the house
●
if you are tired or you have been
drinking alcohol and are alone in a
room, don’t smoke
●
never, ever smoke in bed
Firemaster Cranston, of Lothian and
Borders Fire Brigade, says: “Many of
the people most at risk, older people
and students, live alone.
“They may also have furniture with
the old style polyurethane foam,
which can catch fire very easily. And
they often have no smoke alarms.
“It’s for these reasons that firefighters
fully support No Smoking Day. We
want to help you make your home as
safe as possible.”
Fires are 75% more frequent in
homes where a smoker lives, than in
non-smokers’ homes
before going to bed
– and make sure the
contents are completely
extinguished
Making chipscould
be the death of you
DEATH BY FRYING
Chip pan fires caused 37 DEATHS,
and 5000 people were INJURED
in the UK over the past year.
Cooking – especially deep fat frying
– is the most common cause of
house fires.
Cookers
●
●
Firemaster John Early, of Central
Scotland Fire Brigade says: “Most of
us love freshly cooked crisp chips,
there’s nothing like them.
●
“But firefighters attend too many
fires caused by chip pans and see
too many people making the
same mistakes.
●
“All too often, all you need is an
interruption like a telephone call or
someone calling at your door and
the pan can be gently bubbling
away and forgotten about.”
●
Firemaster Early says: “Chip pan
fires are a prime example of where
we can make major improvements
through education.
“But if you discover a chip
pan fire call the Fire Brigade
on 999 immediately.”
●
●
●
NEVER have a chip pan over a
third full of oil or fat
NEVER be tempted to cook with
a chip pan after drinking alcohol
●
ONLY tackle the fire if you feel it
is safe to do so and you have a
clear escape route
●
NEVER think of moving the pan
●
turn off the source of heat ONLY
if you can do it without placing
yourself at risk
●
●
●
●
cover the pan with a lid or a
dampened tea towel, but be
CAREFUL to protect your hands
leave the pan for at least 30
MINUTES to allow the oil to cool
NEVER remove the lid or damp
tea towel – it will almost certainly
cause a re-ignition
NEVER use water on a chip pan
fire – it will cause it to explode
into a fireball, spreading the fire
and causing severe burns to
anyone nearby
TURN handles of
saucepans inwards
NEVER turn handles over a
hot ring or burner
KEEP saucepans out of reach
of children
Keep FLEXES from kettles
and other electrical equipment
away from the cooker
Don’t DRY tea towels over
the cooker
NEVER leave a saucepan
unattended – especially a
chip pan
TURN off rings, burners and
ovens after use
Chip
pans
●
●
●
6
●
●
●
NEVER fill a pan more than
one-third full of fat or oil
NEVER leave a pan
unattended
If the pan catches fire, do not
move it and NEVER THROW
WATER ON IT
Turn off the heat if it is SAFE
to do so
COVER the pan with a damp
cloth or tea towel and leave to
cool for at last 30 minutes
The chips are down – WIN a deep fat fryer
Your kitchen can be the most dangerous part of your house.
No fewer than 60% of house fires start in the kitchen – that’s 6 out of every 10 fires.
And the most common cause of fire is cooking – especially deep fat frying using a
traditional chip pan.
If you MUST use a chip pan, never fill it more than one third full
But the best advice is to throw away your old chip pan and use a thermostatically
controlled electric deep fat fryer that will cut out if the fat overheats.
Enter this simple fire safety quiz and WIN one of THREE top of the range
thermostatically controlled electric deep fat fryers that will help to make
your home safer.
1. What percentage of house fires start in the kitchen?
20%
40%
60%
2. What is the most common cause of fire?
electrical fault
cooking – especially deep fat frying
cigarettes and matches
3. If you MUST use a chip pan, how much fat should you put in?
one quarter full
one third full
half full
Send your answers along with your name and address to:
Fire Safety Scotland Competition
Community Safety Group
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh EH3 9DE
Real life story – late
night chips cause death
A 28 year old gas fitter died in a fire in his home in
Edinburgh – while his parents and young brother were
asleep upstairs
He had been working very long hours, doing a lot of
overtime to earn money to get married.
It was the early hours of the morning. The carry out was
long closed and he was really hungry after working hard
for so long – so he put the chip pan on.
It always took a while to heat up, so he went into the
living room and lay down on the sofa in front of the gas
fire to watch late night TV.
But he fell asleep. The chip pan caught alight and set fire
to the kitchen.
In a flash it was a major blaze. The flames burst through
into the adjacent living room where he was sound asleep.
His mother woke up and raised the alarm and the rest of
the family were rescued.
7
Water and burning fat– it’s explosive
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Firefighters give public
demonstrations to show the right
and wrong way to handle a chip pan
fire. On the left, how to bring the
fire under control with a damp towel
or a fire blanket. On the right the
terrifying explosion of fire that
happens when just a tiny amount of
water – less than a cupful – is
thrown on to a burning chip pan.
The chip pan alight –
fire starts to take hold
THE WRONG WAY
THE RIGHT WAY
Place a damp towel or a fire blanket on
to the flames and leave the pan to cool
This is what happens if you throw even the
smallest amount of water on to a chip pan fire
Watch
your wok!
It’s not only chip pans which can
go up in flames – any type of
cooking with fat is potentially
hazardous so watch grills, frying
pans and woks too
Cars and vans
used by
Grampian Fire
Brigade are used
as another
‘vehicle’ for
putting safety
slogans and
messages across
to the public
Heavyrescue
Major incidents mean that firefighters roll out the Heavy Rescue Tender.
The tender, based at Newcraighall Fire Station, Edinburgh, is on call 24 hours a day,
365 days a year to respond to:
●
plane and train crashes
●
building collapses
●
serious flooding
●
incidents involving chemicals
●
major road accidents
●
large fires attended by at least 3 other fire appliances
tender
Acro props – heavy
steel adjustable tubing
used in the
construction industry.
The tender carries 6
props ranging from 0.5
to 2 metres high to
shore up ceilings in
unstable buildings
The tender is massive – 9 metre long, weighing 15 tonnes and with a powerful 9 litre, 250
horsepower engine.
100 tonne ram –
hydraulic jack capable
of lifting up to 100
tonnes – equal to 8
double decker buses
It is operated by a minimum of 2 crew, but can carry up to 5 firefighters. Its specialised bodywork
provides locker storage on both sides, packed with specialised fire and rescue equipment.
Stihl saw – 2-stroke petrol engine-driven
Hydraulic door opener
rotary cutting blade that can cut through
the toughest reinforced concrete or metal.
Used in building collapses or to cut into a
building when there is a fire behind a wall
– 6 volt battery hydraulic
pump powers a ram to force
open locked doors. Easier
than a sledgehammer when
firefighters have to get into
a building fast
Lukas cutting and spreading tools – hydraulically operated
by a 4-stroke ‘intensifier’ engine they cut metal like giant scissors,
without sparks. The tender carries 5 types of cutter, which have a
cutting force of up to 34 tonnes and weigh 15 kg each, and 4
spreaders, which have a spreading force of up to 23 tonnes and
weigh 29 kg each. Used to free casualties trapped in vehicles
Vetters low pressure airbags
– 1,800 litres of compressed air
inflates the bags to a maximum
height of 1.1 metres and can lift up
to 11.3 tonnes. Uninflated they can
be slipped in to a narrow crevice as
little as 30 millimetres deep. Made
from rubber and weigh 30kgs each
Ice paths – inflatable rubber paths 1.5
metres wide and extending to 10 metres
give firefighters a stable platform to
work on ice, water and mud. The tender
carries 2 ice paths that can be joined
together to reach 20 metres
Boat – 3 metres long, 1.5 metres
wide, lightweight, solid hulled,
aluminium rowing boat used for
rescues in floods. Capable of
carrying up to 5 people
Making asafer home 10
Sprinklers – saving lives
Fitting a sprinkler system in your home could save
a life – yours.
New residential sprinklers are small and safe – and
cost about the same as fitting a new carpet.
●
only the sprinkler nearest the fire is activated
– not the whole system. Surveys in the US
show that 98% of fires are controlled by just
one sprinkler
●
sprinklers can only be activated by fire – when the
temperature reaches 68 degrees a solder seal
holding the cover in place melts to activate the
sprinkler head
●
sprinklers use only 30 – 100 litres of water to
douse the fire compared to the 600 litres per
minute used by firefighters’ hoses, causing less
water damage
●
the chance of an accidental discharge of water is
16 MILLION to ONE
In a test of
domestic
sprinklers systems
organised by
Stirling Council in
this house at
Bridge of Allan,
the blaze caused
when the settee
was set on fire was
completely
extinguished in
just 75 SECONDS
Stirling Council and Central
Scotland Fire Brigade are in
the lead in the UK in
promoting life saving domestic
sprinkler systems.
Brian Seaward, Stirling Council’s
projects co-ordinator says: “The
safety evidence is compelling.
“Now we need to persuade
tenants of the benefits of
residential sprinkler systems and
convince them that with new
systems, the chance of the
sprinklers setting off accidentally
are 16 million to one.”
House builders and developers are also benefiting.
In Stirling, developer William Ferguson is installing
sprinklers in a new multiple occupancy development
in Murray Place.
Station Officer Don Murray, Central Scotland Fire
Brigade, developer William Ferguson and Nigel Melling
of Homesafe Sprinklers. The sprinkler unit sits flush
against the ceiling.
Because building control regulations can be relaxed
when sprinklers are installed, the cost of installing
the system is usually less than extensive
upgrading work.
Station Officer Don Murray, of Central Scotland Fire
Brigade, says: “Many of the people who die in house
fires have been unable to escape because they were
too young, too old, too infirm or, sadly, under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Working smoke detectors are essential in every
home to warn of fire. But only sprinklers will attack
the fire and save vulnerable people.”
Real life story
– sprinklers WORK
Brains of the unit
Consultant Nigel Melling, of Homesafe
Sprinklers, says: “The quick response sprinkler
heads are the brains of the unit.
A recent fire at a house in the West of Scotland, is believed to be the first successful use of a
domestic water sprinkler as proof that the system could help save lives and prevent millions of
pounds of damage every year.
“There are only 2 simple stages to activating
the sprinkler, and it’s totally dependent on
temperature.
Strathclyde Fire Brigade’s Assistant Firemaster Bob Docherty says: “A curtain had been on fire in one
of the bedrooms but had been extinguished by the sprinkler system, preventing ignition of a bed and
other combustible materials in the room
at 57oC, the heat melts the solder that keeps
the spring loaded cover plate flush to their
ceiling, uncovering the sprinkler head
“Heat from the fire actuated only one of the two sprinkler heads in the room. As a result, the fire was
completely extinguished and damage was contained in the room.
at 68oC, the bulb covering the head cracks
and the water sprays out
“There is no doubt that the activation of the sprinkler head prevented a more serious fire. The tenant
was not in the house at the time, but the effectiveness of the sprinkler system had obvious potential
to save lives in similar circumstances and also prevent damage to adjoining properties.”
“The system is run off your domestic water
pipes and is constantly pressurised. So it WILL
put water on the source of the fire in the time
it takes for the fire to take hold.”
11
Smoke detectors –
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
early warning saves lives
In the last year 85 people in Scotland were
killed in house fires – almost half of them
would have been alive today if they had had a
working smoke detector in their home.
Candles– a fashion in danger
It’s not enough to buy and fit a smoke detector.
You need to keep it in WORKING ORDER.
Using candles to create a relaxing atmosphere at
home has become a way of life.
Divisional Officer Angus Anderson, of Highland
and Islands Fire Brigade says: “The tragedy is
that many people have put in smoke detectors
but then removed the battery or failed to make
sure it’s working properly.
But firefighters are warning that it could become a
way of DEATH.
“Fire develops rapidly and spreads fast – within
minutes your home could be engulfed in
flames. Smoke alarms can save lives by giving
people vital minutes to get out of their house
if there is a fire.”
Buying a smoke alarm
Make sure it has the British Standard mark
number BS 5446
Choose between two types:
Ionisation – not expensive but cooking or
portable gas heaters can cause false alarms
Optical – more expensive but less likely to
cause false alarms
Smoke alarms are powered either by battery or
mains electric. Some have a back-up system.
Fitting a smoke alarm
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
read and follow the manufacturers’
instructions
fit the alarm on the ceiling within 7 metres of
the door to the living room or kitchen
avoid putting the alarm too near the kitchen
to avoid false alarms
it should be within 3 metres of a bedroom
make sure the alarm is at 300 mm away from
walls, light, or heating/air conditioning outlet
check that you can hear the alarm in all areas
of the house
if not, reposition the alarm – or fit more alarms
Homeimprovements
up in smoke
Doing DIY jobs around the house can accidentally
set it on fire, warn firefighters.
Divisional Officer Peter Rennie, of Dumfries and
Galloway Fire Brigade, says: “Experiences show that
at this time of year there is an increase in calls
which are found to have been caused by activities
associated with DIY.
“These range from fires ignited by blow torches
used in paint stripping, to electrical appliances and
other equipment which may have been stored in a
damp garage or shed over the winter.”
DO Rennie says: “Always make sure that the job you
are undertaking is within your capabilities. Take
expert advice.
An estimated 1 BILLION candles are now burnt in
the UK every year – and fire experts fear that
candles could be the cause of around 3,000 house
fires a year by 2005.
Already, latest statistics show there are 10, 500
injuries every year caused by candles, mainly burns
from hot wax and flames.
Station Officer Stewart Nelson, of Tayside Fire
Brigade, says: “Deaths and injuries from fires
caused by candles are rising. People need a greater
awareness of the dangers of using candles.
Bedrooms and living rooms are the most common
places for candles to cause a fire. But candles –
especially aromatherapy and other scented
candles – are increasingly used in bathrooms.
Be safe
●
always place candles well away from clothes,
curtains and furniture and out of draughts
●
keep candles out of the reach of children
and pets
●
never leave a burning candle unattended
●
always put candles upright in suitable holders
that cannot fall over easily
●
always make sure candles are properly
extinguished, especially before going to bed
●
gas appliances should only be repaired by
an approved contractor
●
flammable liquids should only be used in
accordance with manufacturer’s instructions,
secured in containers and used in small
quantities, well away from the house and other
risks – such as naked flames or cigarettes
●
open windows and doors when using adhesives
and flammable liquids – and always make sure
there are no naked flames or power tools close by
●
if you spill a substance on your clothing or
overalls remove them and clean them thoroughly
“One of the cheapest and most commonly used
form of candle is the night light or tealight.
“But they are responsible for a significant number
of fires because, too often, they are used without a
proper container and placed on plastic household
items such as TVs, audio cabinets, baths and
toilet cisterns.
“If a spent match falls into the wax it acts as a
second wick. The wax in the aluminium container is
heated to fire point and the heat is transferred to
the base of the container, which can often scorch or
melt the surface it sits on.
“With TVs, it melts a hole in the plastic cabinet.
As the candle falls through that hole, the plastic
vapours ignite, causing a self-sustaining fire.”
“Many DIY superstores where you buy materials
and equipment will offer advice. And always read
safety instructions and follow them.”
Always:
● check you have the correct tools for the job
●
make sure that children and pets are safe
●
make sure that all obstructions are removed from
where you are working
●
if you have to check or repair an electrical tool,
turn it off at the mains. Don’t be tempted to cut
corners because you are away from the
power switch
●
always uncoil electrical extension cables fully,
otherwise they can overheat and cause a fire
●
never use multi-way adapters when you are
working with high amperage tools
DO Rennie says: “Many people gain a great deal of
pleasure from doing jobs around the house.
“By following these simple rules, accidents, fires
and tragedies will hopefully be kept to a minimum.”
12
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Education – the key
On watch with
the young
brigade
Firefighters are proving positive role models in
helping Fire Cadets to become good citizens.
Strathclyde Fire Brigade has set up 4 Fire Cadet
units – at Clarkston, Dumbarton, Hamilton and
Kilwinning – in a pilot project in partnership with the
Young Firefighters’ Association.
Fire Cadets are provided with their own special
uniform, including a safety helmet, baseball cap,
pullover, polo shirt and overalls all with the
Strathclyde Fire Brigade badge, and trousers and
safety boots.
The cadet units are staffed by uniformed and nonuniformed volunteers from the Brigade. The 24 Fire
Cadets at Clarkston – 8 girls and 16 boys, including
one boy with special educational needs – meet
every Monday evening, supervised by 11 volunteers.
Strathclyde Firemaster Jeff Ord says: “The Young
Firefighters’ Association is a charity which aims to
promote good citizenship among young people
using the Fire Service as a positive role model.
“Although a large part of the Cadets’ activities
involve learning about key fire safety issues
affecting local communities – such as fire setting
and vandalism – the main ethos of the units is
good citizenship.”
The Cadets are also planning outward bound
activities and aim to become self-sufficient by
raising their own funds with car washes, sponsored
hose runs and other events.
Firemaster Ord says: “We intend to involve the
Cadets in Brigade events. In fact, four Cadets from
Clarkston were among the team presented to the
Princess Royal during her recent visit to Maryhill
Fire Station.”
Children
NEVER leave children alone with:
●
Matches
●
Portable heaters
●
Open fires
●
Cookers
NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN ALONE IN
THE HOUSE
Training for life
Fire Cadets are formed into 4 Watches
(Red, Blue, Green and White) – just like an
operational fire station.
And just like firefighters, they are involved
in a full training programme:
● working towards a Duke of Edinburgh
Award
● computer training
● drills
● first aid
● fire brigade activities
● recreational activities
Fire Cadets will take part in Strathclyde Fire Brigade events, such as open days, and they are planning
outward bound activities and sponsored events to raise their own funds.
Each Fire Cadet Unit is staffed by volunteer uniformed and non-uniformed staff from Strathclyde Fire
Brigade, who have also undergone the necessary CRO checks before working with young people.
The scheme is already such a success that the Brigade has a reserve list of 11-17 year olds wanting to
joint the units. And other units are planned, with a Pollok Fire Cadet Unit due to open in the Autumn.
Safety on the street
Fire safety has taken to the streets in a
community effort to wipe out vandals’ bonfires.
Fife Fire and Rescue Service has joined with
local community groups and police to clean up
potential danger spots.
Assistant Divisional Officer Alan Sheach says:
“This is something that affects the whole
community, whether it’s making older people
afraid to go out, making a neighbourhood look
a mess or most important, putting lives at risk
by having appliances attending a deliberate fire
when there could be a real, serious fire
elsewhere.”
Parents must be aware of where their children
are, and if they come home smelling of smoke
they should be asking them what they have
been doing, says ADO Sheach.
“Often children are still primary age when they
start this – setting fire to rubbish, wheelie bins
or anything that’s lying about in the street.”
And fire crews going in to put out the fires are
sometimes then attacked with stone throwing
and verbal abuse by the youngsters. In some
cases, firefighters have been forced to ask
police to escort them.
To tackle the problem in one area of Fife,
community police and the fire brigade
approached the local community association
for help.
The issue was publicised in the local newsletter
and police talked to people asking them not to
leave rubbish in the street which would attract
young fire-raisers.
ADO Sheach adds: “This is a new partnership
approach which is working.”
Sometimes coincidence can help drive a
message home to young vandals, says Alan
Sheach. “One Watch had attended a fire
started by vandals and were given abuse by
the kids. A couple of days later they were
called out to attend a traffic accident in which
a car had run into a shop. The same kids were
there watching the action and it was a lesson
to them to see the fire service at work in a
real emergency.”
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
13
Special
care special people
for
Special help is available for people who suffer from sensory impairment.
In Grampian, firefighters are working with the Grampian Society for the Blind, Aberdeen and
North East Deaf Society, social work departments, healthcare trusts and other agencies in
initiatives to help people who are visually, hearing or speech impaired.
Station Office Brian Whyte says: “As part of our commitment to secure the safety of the more
vulnerable people in our community, the Brigade is adopting a proactive approach in
protecting people with sensory impairment from the dangers of fire.”
And the Brigade’s work is now being taken up across Scotland by the Scottish Forum for
Community Fire Safety
Recent initiatives include:
Electric
blankets
●
●
●
●
●
●
FOLLOW the manufacturer’s
instructions
If the blanket is not designed
to stay on, SWITCH off your
blanket when you get into bed
TIE underblankets to
the mattress
KEEP blankets dry and flat
Have your blanket
SERVICED once a year
ONLY buy blankets that carry
a British Standard kitemark
●
fire safety leaflets in large print and Braille, and on audio cassettes for people with
visual impairment
●
smoke alarms with vibrating pads or flashing lights for people with hearing impairment
●
using ‘talktype’ equipment in Control Rooms for people with speech impairment
Heaters
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
DON’T sit too close to heaters
STAND heaters in a safe place
where they can’t be knocked over
KEEP them away from furniture,
curtains and cushions
DON’T put heaters where
objects could fall on them
NEVER put portable heaters
close to a bed
NEVER use portable heaters to
dry clothes
PUT guards round all heaters
It’s a Welephant’s World
The National Fire Safety Charity for Children is aiming to provide a foundation in fire
safety education for the 5 million 4-8 year olds in Britain’s 25,000 primary schools.
And to promote the fire safety message, firefighters and business professionals
involved in the charity are being joined by the children’s mascot, Welephant.
The charity is launching a new Welephant safety annual, Welephant’s World,
introducing a wider range of characters and safety information.
And every month until December 2001, Welephant is offering a £100 voucher to
spend at Toys ‘R’ Us for the best poster warning people about the danger of fire,
drawn by a boy or girl aged 11 or under.
Click on www.welephant.co.uk to learn about the competition and
Welephant’s World.
14
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Good housekeeping
helps prevent fires
Think fire safety
when you’re spring
cleaning your house
or workplace.
Fire safety – in the countryside
Station Officer
Stewart Nelson of
Tayside Fire Brigade
says: “Many fires in
homes, industry and
businesses are
caused by poor
housekeeping.
“Litter which is not disposed of properly can
cause fires, and fires can have a detrimental
effect on the environment.
“Some simple steps can prevent risk – and
Spring is a time for a fresh look.”
●
●
●
●
never empty smoking materials into bins in
the house. Empty them into a separate metal
container with a lid and preferably place
them outside the house
make sure your escape routes are kept clear
of obstructions and that exit doors are easily
opened from inside. Keep keys near the door
never burn rubbish on an open fire in the
home and always have a fireguard in place
try to keep combustible rubbish away from
buildings – especially businesses with large
amounts of rubbish. If it catches fire or is set
alight it can spread to the building
© Forest Life Picture Library
Carelessness – and vandalism – can devastate huge
areas of the countryside.
Forests that have taken years to grow can be turned
into charred husks in a few short hours.
Fire risks are at their greatest during spells of dry
weather from March to late May, and most fires are
started in dry grass or undergrowth and not by
trees catching alight
A carelessly discarded cigarette – or camping
gas cylinder accidentally knocked over – can
cause a major blaze
Station Officer Nelson says: “Our experience as
firefighters tells us that all too often fires could
have been prevented.
In Dumfries and Galloway, hundreds of hectares of
forest parks have been destroyed, costing millions
of pounds in lost timber.
“We want to stop fires starting in the first
place. We would ask everyone to take a fresh
look at the way they treat and dispose of litter
and help make our community a safer place.”
Forest fires are very intense and fighting them is
exhausting and dangerous. Often, helicopters are
needed to fly low over the forest, dropping hundreds
of tonnes of water into the heart of the fires.
Get your flamin’ lum swept!
Householders in Royal Deeside
are being urged to ‘Get your
flamin’ lum swept!’ to cut down
on a ‘flue’ epidemic in the area.
Grampian Fire Brigade attends
around 60 chimney fires a year
in the Deeside area.
with South Marr Community Safety Group. And
everyone with a fireplace can help – by getting their
chimneys swept regularly.
He says:”Fuel burning appliances need air and
ventilation to work safely – otherwise they can kill.
That’s TWICE the national
average. And it’s potentially
LETHAL.
“Fuel that is not allowed to burn properly can
produce poisonous carbon monoxide gas, which can
and does cause death. That means that something
as simple as having your chimney swept could
actually save your life.”
Grampian Firemaster John Williams says the
problem is now being tackled as a joint initiative
Depending on the fuel being burned you should call
the chimney sweep:
Divisional Officer Bob McChristie, of Dumfries and
Galloway Fire Brigade, says: “Countryside fires
occur all too frequently and can cause enormous
damage.
“They are unpredictable and can travel with
alarming speed, changing their direction without
warning.”
●
NEVER throw away lit smoking materials in the
countryside
●
NEVER leave hot embers or ashes unattended
●
NEVER leave bottles or broken glass which could
start fire in sunlight
●
NEVER play in hay/straw stacks
●
NEVER light a fire in a wooded area or on peat soil
●
NEVER tackle a fire unless it is safe for you
to do so
●
At least ONCE a year for smokeless fuel
ONCE a year for oil or gas
At least TWICE a year for bituminous coal
FOUR times a year for wood, when in use
●
●
●
And as well as calling the chimney sweep,
remember these safety pointers with fires:
DON’T light fires using petrol or paraffin or any
other flammable liquid
DON’T burn paper or rubbish in the grate
DON’T overload the fire with fuel
USE a fireguard if the fire is unattended
GO into the attic occasionally when the fire is
alight to see if any smoke is escaping from cracks,
damaged brickwork or joints and get any
defects REPAIRED
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Stairway to Heaven
15
Risk assessment at work
– saving lives, saving money
All operational firefighters in Fife
are taking part in a community fire
safety campaign aimed at removing
rubbish blocking common stairs.
Stairway to Heaven involves fire
stations across Fife, with firefighters
surveying all domestic buildings with
communal stairways.
Fife Fire and Rescue Service is
working in partnership with Fife
Council’s local cleansing services.
Assistant Divisional Officer Alan
Sheach says: “Firefighters will carry
out a risk assessment in all domestic
property with communal stairways.
Firefighters are helping businesses to carry out risk assessments in
the workplace.
“When they find a common stair
that is cluttered with rubbish or
discarded furniture, they will contact one of the occupants and ask them to
phone Fife Council to arrange an uplift of rubbish free of charge.”
When firefighters find stairs that are obstructed by items that are stored
there, they will ask the occupiers to clear the area.
ADO Sheach says: “We can only ask the occupants to co-operate, but it is
for their own safety.
“Cluttering common stairs can block escape routes for families in the event
of a fire. It is essential that escape routes are kept clear at all times.”
Assessing
the risk
It’s a fact that if you’ve had one fire in
your home, you’re SIX TIMES more
likely to have another.
Fire investigators know that it’s simply
because of all the components that go
to make up your lifestyle.
In a pilot project in Tranent, Eyemouth
and East Linton, firefighters called to
tackle house fires then worked with
householders to carry out a ‘risk
assessment’.
Divisional Officer Graham Torrie, of
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade,
says: “It is an ideal opportunity when
we have dealt with an incident to offer
help to this ‘high risk’ group to reduce
the chances of this happening again.
“It will not be appropriate in every
case – for example, if someone has
been injured or if the house has been
extensively damaged. And of course, if
the occupier refuses, that is their
choice.
“But it only takes about 15 minutes to
fill in the tick boxes, and it does help
people to realise what the risks are in
their home.”
While the officer in charge is working
on the risk assessment, the crew make
the fire appliance ready to return on
watch. If the risk assessment is
interrupted by another emergency
call, it can be completed later.
Divisional Officer Angus Anderson, of Highland and Islands Fire Brigade,
says: “Anyone who has employees MUST carry out a risk assessment, and
their local fire service will help and advise them on ways of meeting the
regulations.”
Employers can also get help online to carry out their own risk assessment
at Workplace Regulations One Stop Shop – www.fire.org.uk
The site gives advice on how to avoid fires in the workplace and how to
ensure people’s safety if fire does break out.
●
fire kills – across the UK, firefighters attend around 36,000 fires a year
in workplaces that kill around 30 people and injure over 2,600
●
fire costs money – the costs of a serious fire can be high and afterwards
many businesses do not reopen.
How safe isYOUR home?
Try our ten-point test to ensure that you are following the basic safety
guidelines. For a full risk assessment plan contact your local fire brigade
(see page 16 for contacts):
Do you have a WORKING smoke alarm?
Are pans on the cooker ALWAYS carefully watched – ESPECIALLY
chip pans?
Is the cooker area kept CLEAR of towels or items which could catch light?
Is there a GUARD round your fire? (whether open, gas or electric)
Are all heaters well maintained, and placed AWAY from furniture or items
which could catch fire (curtains, toys etc)?
Are ALL the electrical wires and plugs in the house in good order?
Is all electrical equipment switched OFF at night (unless designed to be left
on eg videos)?
Are smokers always CAREFUL with matches, lighters and putting out
cigarettes and pipes?
Do you CLOSE ALL DOORS at night before you go to bed?
Do you have a Fire Escape Plan? (If not see page 16 and make one TODAY)
16
FIRE SAFETY SCOTLAND
Teach
your
family
a bedtime routine
Make sure that the
cooker, oven and
microwave etc are
switched OFF
Make sure all
cigarettes are
extinguished – empty
ashtrays when
they’re COLD into a
heat-proof bin
OUTSIDE the house
SWITCH OFF and
UNPLUG anything
that is not designed
to be left on, such as
portable heaters,
lamps, irons
Leave door KEYS
in the lock or
beside the door
Make sure your
escape route is
CLEAR and not
cluttered by
obstacles such as
toys or shoes
CLOSE ALL DOORS TO
PROTECT ESCAPE ROUTES
FROM SMOKE AND FLAMES
REMEMBER –
a closed door
starves fire of
oxygen. It can
hold back a fire
for up to 20
life saving
minutes
Check all electric and
gas fires are OFF –
dampen down a coal
fire and REPLACE
the fire guard
Make a fire plan
TODAY
When fire breaks out, it can spread
through a house very quickly. It’s vital
to plan TODAY for what action you
and your family should take.
●
●
●
●
●
●
10
1 Plan your escape route now
2 Practise your escape route as
a family
3 You only have seconds
– don’t stop for valuables
4 Shout to alert your family
5 Keep low if the house is full of
smoke – air is clearer and cooler
nearer the floor
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
When you CAN use your escape
route:
●
6 Don’t investigate – keep
doors closed
7 If there’s no way out, get
everyone into a safe room
●
ALERT everyone in the house. Get
them OUT as quickly as possible
CLOSE doors behind you
NEVER look for the fire. If it’s
possible, CLOSE the door of the
room where the fire is
MEET at a safe place away from
the building. CALL 999 and ask
for the fire brigade
DON’T GO BACK INTO
THE HOUSE
ALERT your neighbours
When you CANNOT use your
escape route:
What to do if your
smoke alarm goes off
●
key points
THINK about how you would get
out of the house safely
PLAN how to get out if your
normal exit is cut off by fire or
smoke
TEST if the smoke alarm can be
heard in every room of the house
with all doors closed
TALK over your fire plan with all
members of the family and make
sure everyone understands what
to do
PRACTISE your fire plan
CLOSE all doors at night
●
●
ALERT everyone and GATHER
together in one room (if possible
one with a telephone)
CLOSE the door and PACK towels,
cushions or clothing around it to
keep smoke out
DON’T open the door of a room if it
feels warm to touch with the back of
your hand
Go to a window and SHOUT to
attract attention and get help
STAY at the open window
If you are on the first floor, you may
be able to LOWER yourself from
the window sill to arm’s length
before dropping to the ground
Drop pillows or cushions first to
break your fall – NEVER JUMP
from the window
If there are two adults, one should
go first to catch children – PASS
THEM down slowly, stretching to
full length before letting go
If you are trapped in a higher storey,
LEAN OUT of the open window for
fresh air until firefighters arrive
8 Never jump straight out of a
window – lower yourself on to
cushions etc
9 If it’s necessary, break the glass
in a window or door but make
sure all jagged edges are safe
10 When you’re out STAY OUT
– dial 999
contacts
Central Scotland Fire Brigade
Headquarters
Main Street
Maddiston
Falkirk
FK2 0LG
Tel: 01324 716996
Dumfries and Galloway Fire
Brigade
Headquarters
Brooms Road
Dumfries
DG1 2DZ
Tel: 01387 263921
Fife Fire and Rescue Service
Headquarters
Strathore Road
Thornton
Kirkcaldy
Fife
KY1 4DF
Tel: 01592 774451
Grampian Fire Brigade
Headquarters
19 North Anderson Drive
Aberdeen
AB15 6DW
Tel: 01224 696666
Highland and Islands Fire Brigade
Headquarters
16 Harbour Road
Longman West
Inverness
IV1 1TB
Tel: 01463 222722
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade
Headquarters
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh
EH3 9DE
Tel: 0131 228 2401
Strathclyde Fire Brigade
Headquarters
Bothwell Road
Hamilton
ML3 0EA
Tel: 01698 300999
Tayside Fire Brigade
Headquarters
Blackness Road
Dundee
DD1 5PA
Tel: 01382 322222
Produced on behalf of the Scottish Executive
by Astron B18741-3-01