Home Fire Safety Checks

1. Home Fire Safety Checks Station Commander David Craig

2. Overview • Fire Safety in the Home - Jigsaw • Previous Campaigns – Ban the Pan, Thumbs up on Monday, Writing on the Wall • Existing NIFRS strategies – IRMP • Home Fire Safety Checks

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4. Fire Safety Education JIGSAW Fire Escape Plan Smoke Alarms Call to Action Bed-Time Routine Causes of Fire Knowledge Gap

5. The key messages are: • To be aware of the need to Fit and Maintain a Smoke Alarm • To be aware of the Main Causes of Fire • How to prepare a Family Escape Plan and • How to carry out a Bed-Time Fire Safety Check

6. Getting the message out: • Working together to make the community safer • Using tried and well proven delivery methods • Corporate message, style and consistency • Sharing, designing and delivering Best Practice • High quality material, early intervention and continued education throughout life • Explain the consequences of failing to act – rather than ordering compliance

11. 86% reduction in accidental fire deaths since 1999 40% drop in accidental fires in the home 1999 98% ownership of smoke alarms in Northern Ireland Reduction in all benchmarked targets Raised awareness in all risk categories Providing examples of best practice to United Kingdom Fire Service Have we made a difference?

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18. What’s a Home Fire Safety Check? A Home Fire Safety Check is an opportunity for householders to have their homes checked to identify fire hazards and to discuss the value of a tailor-made bed-time routine and fire escape plan.  This check is offered free by the N.I. Fire & Rescue Service and may include the provision and fitting of smoke detector(s) where necessary.

19. Home Fire Safety Checks Background • IRMP – Dwellings risk analysis. • Direct correlation with elderly living alone in rented accommodation. • Single parent families. • Ethnic minorities.

20. Aim of the scheme To reduce the risk from fire to those most vulnerable in our community by- • Raising awareness of the danger • Providing appropriate advice • If necessary fit a 10 year smoke detector

21. Our Objective • To reduce the number of accidental fires in dwellings • To reduce deaths and injuries caused by fire • Increase ownership and maintenance of smoke alarms. • Improve partnership working with other organisations

22. Dual approach to HFSCs Approach 1 • Build on the good work and interagency approach already in place • This allows random referral • Assists compliance with Section 75 NI Act (no one excluded)

23. Dual approach to HFSCs Approach 2 • High risk areas identified through the IRMP process specifically targeted. • Based on census output areas. • Usually 150 homes approx

26. Dual approach to HFSCs • This allows effect to be measured. • Comparison with other areas not yet completed. • Districts can control the level of activity dependant on resources

27. Initiation methods of the HFSC • From a partner agency • A call in response to advertising • From a Fire setter team • By an OIC after an incident • Part of the targeted programme

29. Arranging the HFSC • The first four initiation methods will be arrangement and direct contact with the home occupier • The targeted method is a non prearranged offer of a check

30. Non pre-arranged HFSC • Leaflet drop the area giving a time/date of return (Green Sticker) • On return to area carry out visits and give occupant ‘Fire Safety in the Home’ booklet (pink sticker)

33. What Happens during a HFSC? • Proforma/Questionnaire – not compulsory • Fire safety advice • Disclaimer for smoke alarms • Fire Safety in the Home booklet • Results into database – High/Med/Low • H/M/L determines revisit timescale

34. HFSCs • Significant findings • Informing operational response • Language • Child protection • Recording • Reviewing

35. Figures to date Over 1000 HFSCs completed throughout Northern Ireland

36. Thank You For Listening