Christmas fire safety campaign

Date published: 06 December 2005

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has today launched its Christmas fire safety campaign which tells people how they could help save someone’s life this Christmas.

At a time when people are looking for small presents as stocking fillers, consider buying a smoke alarm for someone you care for.

70 billboard sites across the County will be urging people to do just that, as the message tells people how they could save someone’s life by buying them a smoke alarm.

Last Christmas there were 129 accidental fires in homes within Greater Manchester, only 25% of those had a smoke alarm fitted and of those only a quarter worked properly.

Local Borough Commander Dave Astley  said, “In June this year four people tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Rochdale which did not have a working smoke alarm. Despite a prolonged campaign by us to increase smoke alarm ownership there are still far too many homes which do not possess this life saving piece of equipment. A life lost in a fire at any time is a tragedy but over the Christmas period it would be even more devastating.”

Dave went on to add, “There is no excuse now for not having a working smoke alarm in your home even if you can’t afford to buy one, you can book in for one of our free home fire safety checks and if necessary we will fit a smoke alarm for you.”

Call 0800 555 815 or your local fire station for your free fire safety check.