Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
DON'T COME HOME TO A FIRE
Holiday fire safety advice from the London Fire Brigade
Picture the scene. You've just returned from holiday sun-tanned and relaxed and there before you is the nightmare sight of your burned out home.
Brigade fire safety expert Graham Barber offers the following advice to Londoners to prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality.
- Before leaving home:
- Switch off and unplug unnecessary equipment. Most freezers, fridges and video recorders are designed to be left on safely but if you don't have any of those, switch the electricity off at the mains.
- Turn the water off at the mains. Water from a leaking pipe or overflowing cistern could short out electrical wiring and cause a fire.
- Close down the gas supply at the mains unless you have gas-powered appliances which need to be left on.
- Let a neighbour know you are going away and leave a key with them.
- Close all doors and windows, especially the internal doors so if fire breaks out its spread will be slowed down.
- Check your smoke alarm(s).
While you are away, you can't afford to forget fire safety in the holiday accommodation.
- At a hotel or guest house:
- Get to know your surroundings in case you have to leave in a hurry.
- Find the nearest fire exit, extinguisher, hose reel and fire alarm.
- Read the Fire Instructions in your room or at reception.
- Ask where the fire assembly point is.
- Never leave a lit cigarette or pipe unattended and don't smoke in bed.
- In a caravan or at a camp site.
- Use cooking equipment and gas cylinders in the way manufacturers recommend.
- If you cook over an open fire, build it well away from tents and caravans, especially in windy weather, and make sure the fire is properly out at night or when you leave.
- Don't use cooking equipment or naked flames in smaller tents. If you use them in family-size tents, keep them well away from the tent walls or anything else which could burn and away from draughts.
Contacts:
Fire safety advice: Graham Ellis, Station Commander, Soho Fire Station graham.ellis@london-fire.gov.uk
All press releases, plus a wide range of information on the Brigade and LFEPA, are available at http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/
NB: A regularly up-dated 24 hour news bulletin is available by ringing 09068 518191. Calls cost 39p per minute cheap rate and 49p per minute at all other times.
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