Residents urged to stay safe in the cold weather

Warwickshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service is warnings residents about some of the unseen hazards when trying to keep homes warm in the cold weather.

Major concerns for firefighters include portable gas and electric heaters and open fires.  In light of this, firefighters are asking residents to take extra care when using portable heaters or lighting fires which have been unused for a number of months.

Below are just a few ways you can make your home safer:
Chimneys using smokeless fuel, oil and gas should be swept at least once a year Chimneys using wood and bituminous coal should be swept every quarter when in regular use.

Ensure a fireguard is in front of the fire at all times, with sparkguards especially effective in preventing serious property fires Extinguish the fire before leaving the house or going to bed Do not use flammables such as petrol or paraffin to light fires Ensure that gas and electric heaters have been checked by a certified engineer before using Fitting a carbon monoxide detector

Last year, firefighters attended a house fire in North Warwickshire that was found to be caused by a propane heater.  Tragically, two elderly residents died as a result of the fire.

Area Risk Manager, Jon Dixon said: "During a cold spell, many residents use alternative heating systems to keep warm.  But these can bring additional fire dangers as was proven so tragically last winter.  I urge people to ensure that both gas and electrical heaters have been checked thoroughly before use.  If the heater is not working, ensure that any repairs are done by a qualified electrician. Not doing so, could cost lives.

"Most importantly however, please ensure that you have a working smoke alarm in your home, they are easy to install and to maintain. If you are concerned about fire safety in your home, then you can apply for a free home fire safety check by calling 01926 466282 or by visiting www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue."

Cllr Richard Hobbs, portfolio holder for community protection with Warwickshire County Council, said:  "We appreciate how difficult it is to keep warm in the cold weather and how vulnerable the elderly are due to concerns over the cost of heating.  This means that they may turn to alternative methods such as portable electric or propane gas heaters.  We are pushing out the 'keep warm, keep well message, but residents need to ensure they are doing this safely."

For further information on how to apply for a free home fire safety check, log onto www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue