Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service launched a campaign called "save safely" on 5 October 2022, asking people to prepare for winter by making three checks. The service said it was concerned that people may put themselves at additional risk as the cost of living increases.
The three checks cover smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, portable heaters and damaged wiring. The service said households should have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room where fuel is burned, including gas cookers, open fires and log burners1. On heaters, it said an oil-filled radiator is the safest type because it has no exposed heating elements, and that damaged wiring should be disposed of or checked by a professional1.
Group Manager Ros Clarke set out the fires the service has attended in previous winters:
"We've previously had fires resulting from people using old or damaged heaters, drying washing on heaters, or using candles."
The same statement said: "We've also had people using patio stoves indoors in a desperate attempt to stay warm"1. The service said it is offering safety advice and signposting to support available in relation to staying warm and saving money this winter1. No figures for the number of such fires, or for casualties, were given in the announcement.
Why it matters for households
The campaign is aimed at households in Devon and Somerset preparing for winter 2022, at a time when the service says energy costs are leading people to change how they heat their homes. The risks it names are specific: old or damaged heaters, washing dried on heaters, candles, and patio stoves brought indoors1. The service's advice is that smoke alarms should be working on every level of a home and that a carbon monoxide alarm should be in every room where fuel is burned, and that an oil-filled radiator is the safest type of heater because it has no exposed heating elements1. It also advises checking for damaged wiring and disposing of faulty items or having them checked by a professional1. The service says it is signposting support for staying warm and saving money this winter1.
What happens next
No further dates or stages of the campaign have been reported. The service's announcement points readers to its stay warm safely this winter page and its energy saving advice page for further information1.
Households can use the site's fire safety checklist for your home and its bedtime fire safety checks, both part of the home emergencies section.
Home Fire Safety Checklist
