Cromwell Road: Fire Safety Reminders
Back in September, a kitchen appliance caused a fire in a property on Cromwell Road. We’re pleased to say that no one was hurt, but the family are understandably shaken.
The fire started in the kitchen and the kitchen door (which is a fire door) contained the blaze for long enough for the fire brigade to attend and put it out, which is of course exactly what fire doors are designed to do. We must grab these near misses and use the chance to remind each other of the dangers of fire and how to reduce the risk to your household and neighbours. As we move towards Christmas, nowhere is this truer than with candles, fairy lights and shiny new toys from Santa Claus. The London Fire Brigade has the below advice:
1. Always make sure electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
2. Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order.
3. Don't buy cheap counterfeit chargers for items that use lithium batteries, and never leave phones or laptops plugged in to charge overnight
4. Empty fluff regularly from tumble dryers in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Hair straighteners can get extremely hot – always switch them off and leave them to cool on a heatproof surface.
6. Try to keep to one plug per socket, especially for high powered appliances like washing machines, you can check Electrical Safety First's socket calculator for a guide, but be sure to check your appliances specifics
7. Always check that you’re using the right fuse
8. Be lead safety savvy – cable drum extension leads should always be completely unwound to avoid overheating, and be careful not to overload extension leads.
9. Register your white goods – it could save your life if a product is recalled for safety reasons.
10. Share your fire safety knowledge with the whole family – check the kids' chargers, and make sure everyone knows how to use electric blankets safely.
We should also take this opportunity to remind everyone of what to do in a fire:
• We have a ‘stay put’ policy in place. This means that in the event of a fire in your building, call the fire brigade on 999 and stay inside your property, with all the doors closed, unless you’re affected by fire or smoke.
• If the fire is in your home, and you can get out, please leave your property closing your front door and call the fire brigade immediately.
• If the fire brigade asks you to leave your property, please do so immediately by following the fire exit signs throughout the building. DO NOT use the lift.
Your front door is a fire door, if the worst happens it could save your life. Please do not attach anything onto the door with nails or other materials, as it will reduce the effectiveness of the door in the event of a fire.