MALVERN residents are being urged by the fire authority to install more smoke alarms in their homes.
The warning by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) comes after latest statistics revealed just one smoke alarm may not be enough to provide people with the best chance of escaping a fire in the home.
Despite 89 per cent of homes having at least one working smoke alarm, householders in England were only alerted to a fire in a third of cases.
The most common reason a smoke alarm failed to activate was because the fire was outside its range.
For this reason, the Fire Kills campaign and HWFRS are encouraging people across the two counties to have a think about the smoke alarms in their home.
Station commander Stuart Crebbin, from the community risk department, said “We must all make sure that we have enough smoke alarms to cover our whole homes.
“If you don’t have enough, or they are not in the right place, you might not be alerted in time.”
He added: “You should make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home, preferably in hallways and landings.
“Placing smoke detectors near to sleeping areas and in rooms where there are electrical appliances could give you the extra warning you need.
“It’s also important to remember that smoke alarms don’t last forever.
“The power might work, but the mechanism deteriorates with time, so whether they are battery operated or wired to the mains, to work at their best they should be replaced every ten years.”
Mr Crebbin also urged carers and people who look after less able relatives to check their homes have enough smoke alarms in the right places
HWFRS has offered these five smoke alarm tips:
– Install a smoke alarm on every level of the home
– The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room or in the hallway/landing
– Fit additional alarms in other rooms where there are electrical appliances near sleeping areas
– Don’t put alarms in or near kitchens and bathrooms where smoke and steam can set them off by accident
– Replace smoke alarms every ten years
