Fire safety with flowers

Heywood fire station introduced a new flower bed incorporating a kitchen fire safety message that encourages people to ditch their deadly chip pans

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When it comes to fire safety, Heywood firefighters are saying it with flowers.

The fire station has got into the spirit of the North West in Bloom initiative by ensuring their site has a floral touch.

But along with hanging baskets and tidying up the borders, the crews have welcomed a special guest to the station - in the form of a tin man with a pan.

The crews have also introduced a new flower bed incorporating a kitchen fire safety message that encourages people to ditch their deadly chip pans.

Signs have placed amongst the flowers and on the tin sculpture to support Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's drive to "Ban the Pan".

Station Manager Ian Tracey said: "When we found out judges from Britain in Bloom were visiting, we realised our station would be the first public building they passed so we wanted to make sure they knew that we're all behind the fantastic efforts going on in Heywood for the competition.

"Everyone has pulled together to spruce up the station, and we thought it would be fitting to use the opportunity to promote fire safety in a different way. As we're on one of the main routes into Heywood, we hope our floral message will be seen by many people.

"We'd also like to thank Bowlee Garden Nursery which is run by Rochdale Borough Council, who donated the flowers."

The tin man has been recycled after featuring in a Rochdale garden to mark a special Heywood event last month.

Red Watch Crew Manager Chris Fowles said: "The tin man was originally created by a friend of mine Darren Buckley for the Olympic torch relay when it came to Heywood and he had a patio heater mounted on it so it gave off heat.

"He had it on display in his garden and it got quite a bit of press at the time. I asked him if we could use it at the station and I adapted it to hold a pan and help to spread the fire safety message."