Check your smokealarm this week

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has issued a timely reminder for everyone to test their smoke alarms when they are turning back their clocks on Sunday, October 26.
Smoke Alarm. INNT 43-040-FPSmoke Alarm. INNT 43-040-FP
Smoke Alarm. INNT 43-040-FP

Eddie Carroll, Area Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service explains: “I would like to remind everyone that putting your clocks back this weekend offers the perfect prompt to carry out the simple task of testing your smoke alarms.

“This life saving task should be done once a week by pressing the test button to ensure that your smoke alarms are fully functional.

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“A working smoke alarm will alert you and your family to the earliest stages of a fire giving you vital extra time to escape. That is why it is so important that testing smoke alarms is part of every household’s weekly routine.”

“Our current campaign, ‘STOP Fire’, is an easy to remember fire safety tool for everyone to use. It’s an instant check list focusing on fire safety basics - Smoke alarms, Test them, Obvious fire safety dangers and Planned escape routes. This enables everyone to quickly decide what fire safety actions they need to take to help keep fire safe.”

NIFRS is also asking people to check their home for additional fire hazards which may have been introduced to the home in preparation for the autumn and winter months and to look out for older people in the community who are more at risk from fire at this time of year.

Area Commander Eddie Carroll added: “As the clocks go back, the dark evenings set in and we all start to spend a lot more time indoors and so the risk of having a fire in your home can be increased.

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“Many fires start at night, so make sure you have a night-time fire safety routine to help keep you and your family safe – close all doors at night, empty ashtrays, extinguish candles, switch off and unplug all electrical appliances not designed to stay on and put up fire guards.

“Some additional items such as portable heaters and electrical blankets, which are more readily used in the colder months, are also very important to check, as they might not have been used since the last winter.”

“If your electric blanket is out of guarantee, have it serviced once a year and never use a blanket which has scorched marks or exposed elements.

“Make sure you switch portable heaters off if you’re not in the room and also when you go to bed. Remember – don’t place heaters near curtains or furnishings and never use them for drying clothes.”

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A free Home Fire Safety Check could also help you prepare your home for the winter to help keep it fire safe.

Firefighters will check for appliances that could cause fire, help with any actions to avoid fire and most importantly ensure that your smoke alarm is working. If necessary we will fit a free smoke alarm for you.

To arrange a free Home Fire Safety Check call 028 9260 0477, Text phone/Minicom 028 9262 8800 or go to our Website www.nifrs.org for further information.