Sheffield firefighters urge people to install smoke alarms

Sheffield firefighters have backed a national push for more smoke alarm use.
Trevor Bernard head of community safety for South Yorkshire Fire and RescueTrevor Bernard head of community safety for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
Trevor Bernard head of community safety for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with the Fire Kills campaign to encourage people to think about the number of smoke alarms in their homes.

The service says the latest fire statistics show one smoke alarm may not be enough to provide people with the best chance of escaping a fire in the home.

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But, despite the majority of homes, 88 per cent, having at least one working smoke alarm, the alarms only alerted residents to one in every three fires last year. The most common reason a smoke alarm failed to activate was because the fire was outside its range.

Fire service head of community safety Trevor Bernard said: “We all must make sure that we have enough smoke alarms in our homes and that they are in the right places. If you whole home isn’t covered, you could be leaving it to chance and, in a fire, you might not get the early warning that you need.

“The vast majority of us now have at least one working smoke alarm in our home, but early detection and warning is vital to reduce the devastation a fire can cause. That’s why it’s so important that you have enough smoke alarms and that they are in the right places. That will give them the best chance of alerting you and your loved ones to a fire.

“You should make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, preferably in hallways and landings. And placing smoke detectors near to sleeping areas and in rooms where there are electrical appliances could give you the extra warning you need.”

Mr Bernard said it was important to replaced smoke alarms every 10 years to ensure the detection mechanism works.