Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 20/05/2006 10:00

*****Photo Opportunities*****
Bodmin Asda on 20th May 2006
St Austell Asda on 3rd June 2006
Falmouth Asda on 17th June 2006
(10am – 3pm)

Is that sunshine? Is it nearly time for barbecues? The warmer weather is getting closer and with it comes the potential for cooking outside on the barbecue and having a party!

Having a barbecue should be a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone so firefighters from Cornwall County Fire Brigade have decided to work in partnership with Asda and demonstrate how to cook outside safely.

Firefighters from Bodmin, St Austell and Falmouth will be cooking up a feast on three different Saturday’s at three different Asda’s during the months of May and June. All the proceeds from the days will go towards the Chernobyl children’s visit in the Summer.

“For the last few years firefighters from Cornwall have hosted the children visiting from Chernobyl. They usually take them to an attraction like Flambards and then cook for them at the fire station” said Davinia Grist, Public Relations Officer

She cont: “This year we decided to raise extra money for the visit by having a barbecue and giving the profits to the charity. Fire cadets will also be bag packing to raise even more funds so the children can have a truly memorable time”
Child victims of the terrible Chernobyl reactor fire and explosion in 1986 will be hosted for the fourth year in a row this Summer.

The children are brought to England by the registered charity Chernobyl Lifeline, which was started to help those children whose lives have been devastated by the effects of contamination following the Chernobyl fire.

Firefighters who were involved in the firefighting and subsequent clear-up operations in Chernobyl were instantly contaminated due to reaching very high leaves of radiation in a short time.

This resulted in the death of 17,000 firefighters, 70,000 becoming permanently disabled and many wives giving birth to sick children with weak immune systems causing a range of illnesses, most of which are terminal.

“As well as raising money we want to promote fire safety. Cooking over hot coals can be hazardous and it’s easy to be distracted when you are having a good time with family and friends”
said Sub Officer Phil Cooper

“Working in partnership with Asda we hope to promote safe barbecue cooking and distribute our ‘Summer Fire Safety’ leaflet which explains how to say safe when barbecuing, camping and visiting the countryside”

Anyone donating money or visiting the firefighters can complete a competition entry form for free and could win an in-car DVD player from Halfords.