Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Jago Avenue, Torpoint at 01/03/2018 09:22

Appliances from Torpoint, Liskeard and Saltash Community Fire Stations responded to calls reporting a residential fire. On arrival the crews used four breathing apparatus and two hose reels to extinguish the fire. The occupant was safe but the property was damaged.

The crew had visited the occupant on multiple occasions to ensure they were safe due to a hoarding issue that had been raised with the Service. The fire alarms were checked during their visits, which potentially saved the occupants life.

It's really important to encourage a person who is hoarding to seek help, as their difficulties discarding objects can not only cause loneliness and mental health problems, but also pose a health and safety risk. If not tackled, it's a problem that will probably never go away, and will put the person at further significant risk of harm.

A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner. The items can be of little or no monetary value and usually result in unmanageable amounts of clutter. It's considered to be a significant problem if:

The amount of clutter interferes with everyday living – for example, the person is unable to use their kitchen or bathroom and cannot access rooms.

The clutter is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the person's quality of life or their family's – for example, they become upset if someone tries to clear the clutter and their relationships with others suffer.

If you have any queries regarding hoarding or you have concerns for a family member or neighbour, please contact the Access Team 0300 1234 131 or email accessteam.referral@cornwall.gov.uk

You can also complete the online free home fire safety check form, call the free 24hr fire safety helpline on 0800 3581 999 or contact us at St. Austell Community Fire station on 01726 223620.

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