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26th January 2012
DORCHESTER: Fire safety message takes to the roadBy Trevor Bevins
A new mobile safety unit takes to the road this week for Dorset Fire Brigade. The bright red converted fire engine will be used initially to push the message of Electrical Fire Safety Week, which runs until Sunday, January 29th.
Based at the brigade’s Poundbury headquarters the new Safety and Fire Education Unit (SaFEU) was originally based in Bridport. Staff using it will now be able to show the dangers of electrical appliances and power supplies in the home, offering tips on how to reduce the chances of an accident in the home. Around half of all accidental house fires in the UK in 2010/11 were caused by faulty or misused electrical equipment. A common winter cause is overloaded sockets. During 2011 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service alone attended over 220 accidental fires in the home, with an electrical cause. Chief Fire Officer Darran Gunter said: “Electrical equipment is an inescapable part of all our lives, from essentials like heating and lights to luxuries like entertainment systems or beauty products. “We need to be able to make the communities of Dorset aware of some the incidents these day to day items can cause and our new vehicle will allow us to have a much more visible presence in our communities. “Not only will we be able to talk and demonstrate electrical safety, but at the same time we can show how sprinklers work and demonstrate their effectiveness in reducing fire damage. “ Dorset Fire and Rescue Service recommend that members of the public follow the simple electrical safety information below: • Don’t overload plug sockets • Regularly check for worn or frayed wires • Unplug appliances when not in use • Keep appliances clean and in good working order • Consider using an RCD – Residual Current Device - which works like a circuit breaker to protect against electric shocks and reduces the risk of electrical fires Dorset Fire and Rescue Service provides free home fire risk checks and, where necessary, free smoke alarms. By calling 01305 252600 you can arrange for a firefighter to visit your home and offer fire safety advice specific to you and your household. PICTURE: The former Bridport fire engine now being used by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to get over their safety messages 
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