| Rob Dobson warns Londoners that serious fires can also be a reality for far too many people |
LFB commissioner Ron Dobson wants every Eastendersfan to follow simple safety tips to avoid fire risk.
Millions of people watched the Queen Vic burn on BBC drama Eastenders on Thursday and capital’s Fire Commissioner is warning Londoners that serious fires can also be a reality for far too many people.
Figures released show that 50 people died in accidental fires last year (2009), an increase of nearly 20 per cent on the previous year.
The total number of accidental fires in the home also grew, with fire crews called out to tackle these around 120 times a week on average (6252 in 2009).
Eleven people died in fires started deliberately last year.
Research into the causes of accidental fires shows that most could be avoided if people were more aware of how to protect themselves. Over half of fires in the home start in the kitchen, often caused by cookers or pans left unattended. Faulty electrical equipment and candles are other regular culprits, and every year people die as a result of failing to put out cigarettes properly or falling asleep while smoking.
And regardless of whether fires start by accident or deliberately, smoke alarms save many lives every year by warning people of a fire while they still have time to escape and call 999. Amazingly many homes firefighters attend to put out a fire still don’t have this £5 device.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson wants every Eastenders viewer to follow three simple tips that could save their lives:
- Get a smoke alarm and check it regularly to make sure the battery works – it could save your life.
- Make an escape plan - talk to your family about what you would do if a fire starts in your home, ensuring everyone knows where door and window keys are kept.
- Find out more – visit a website like London Fire Brigade’s and learn about how to protect yourself.
Ron Dobson said: “Eastenders is set to show how dramatic and distressing fire can be, but while we quickly forget about the latest television plot, the devastation of a serious house fire can stay with us for years. If everyone gets a smoke alarm, checks it regularly and also makes an escape plan we can make a real difference and prevent serious injury and deaths.”