Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 21/08/2008 13:26

Cornwall County Fire Brigade is today issuing a warning to the public reminding them of the dangers of hoax calls and reminding them to check their smoke alarms.

Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden explains, “The Brigade has received an increase in the number of hoax calls in recent weeks. These can endanger lives because they direct resources away from potentially serious and real life threatening calls. They delay our response to people in real need of our services and often involve a multi agency response – so it doesn’t just waste our time but the Police and Ambulance Service as well. People should remember that malicious calls are a criminal offence and the caller could be prosecuted.”

In addition to this warning, fire crews have highlighted a number of dwelling fires they have attended recently that have had no working smoke alarms to give early warning.

Matt adds, “Smoke alarms are relatively inexpensive and are vital in alerting people early to accidental fires in the home, giving them more chance of escaping safely. Smoke alarms that are correctly fitted and tested weekly save lives.”

Cornwall County Fire Brigade carries out free Home Fire Risk Assessments, which includes the checking or fitting of smoke alarms. The assessment, which takes about half an hour helps you to identify and be aware of the potential risks in your home, make sure you know what to do in order to reduce or prevent these risks, help you put together an escape plan in case a fire breaks out in the future and ensure you have a working smoke alarm - if you don't, firefighters will fit a 'free' smoke alarm. To book a Home Fire Risk Assessment, or for advice, call 0800 3581 999 or visit the 'public fire safety' web pages via the related link below, for more information.

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=723