Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 01/02/2008 08:49

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CORNWALL’S HIGH SHERIFF, THE HONOURABLE EVELYN BOSCAWEN, PATRON OF DISABILITY CORNWALL, IS VISITING FALMOUTH FIRE STATION ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH AT 10 AM TO HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVE WORK OF CORNWALL COUNTY FIRE BRIGADE WITH DISABLED GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY

Firefighters in West Cornwall are keen to build on the success of an exciting project to develop positive links between operational firefighters and individuals or groups with physical or learning disabilities in the area and are inviting anyone with disabilities to contact them for a free home fire safety check.

The innovative project began last Autumn when firefighters from West Cornwall staged an Information Exchange evening with representatives of disability groups in the community. This included people with mobility problems, sensory disabilities, learning difficulties and representatives of carers’ organisations.

Since then firefighters have given a number of talks to disability groups and organisations and have carried out visits to the homes of people with a range of disabilities.

Now the Fire Service wants to develop the project further and would like to hear from any disability groups or individuals with disabilities who would like to receive a free home fire safety check.

They have invited the Honourable Evelyn Boscawen, who is the Patron of Disability Cornwall, to visit Falmouth Fire Station at 10 am on Wednesday, February 6th to talk to firefighters about they work they are doing with disability groups in the community.

“The aim of the project is to break down barriers and improve our understanding of the needs of people with disabilities to enable us to fine tune the service we provide to them” said Assistant Divisional Officer Stewart Whitworth .

“We have been working closely with Disability Cornwall over the last few months and are delighted that Mr Boscawen has accepted our invitation to see the work we are doing at first hand”.

A key part of the project has been to ensure that all the homes of people with disabilities are fitted with a working smoke alarm to ensure they are alerted to any sign of fire in the early stages, enabling them to escape safely before a serious fire develops.

“One of the key roles of firefighters today is to educate members of the public about fire safety to ensure that Cornwall is a safe place to live, work or visit” said Stewart Whitworth. “One of Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s aims is to visit every home in the county to offer free fire safety advice and install working smoke alarms where necessary”.

“People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable members of the community and we can supply free smoke alarm for all these properties. We can also arrange for the installation of special smoke alarms for people with hearing disabilities, which include vibrating pads and strobe lights”.

Anyone in West Cornwall with disabilities who would like to receive a free home fire safety check is asked to phone a freephone telephone number – 0800 3581999 or by contacting the Western Division administrative team on 01326 212412 and asking for a free Home Fire Safety check.

Ken Yeo (Lib Dem), Executive Member for Public Protection, said “This project is another example of the work undertaken by Firefighters to raise the awareness among the public and with this particular project to target a vulnerable group in the community. The preventative work, through the free home fire safety checks and provision of a suitable type of fire alarm to suit the individuals need is to be commended. I fully support this project and look forward to all communities benefiting from it.”

Further information is available from Stewart Whitworth on: 01209 712316