Festive safety warning Fire can happen to anyone at anytime.
It’s not something we think about every day, but the reality is
that there were more than 6,000 house fires in Scotland last
year, most of which happened to people who never thought they
were at risk. In almost half of these fires, there was no
working smoke alarm installed, or no smoke alarm at all. As
Christmas approaches, people are being encouraged to make sure
they take simple steps to reduce the chances of having a fire in
the home – the most important step being to install working
smoke alarms and test them weekly. And with smoking and drinking
continuing to be common factors in accidental house fires in
Scotland, being extra vigilant when putting out cigarettes and
avoiding cooking whilst under the influence of alcohol can
significantly reduce the risk. Alex Clark, Chief Fire Officer at
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters
know all too well that fire can strike at anytime and anywhere.
We respond to these incidents