A newly formed fire safety team for Rotherham is offering help to people with drug and alcohol problems as part as drive to reduce accidental house fires.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is teaming up with Action Housing and NHS Rotherham to carry out home safety checks at a number of sheltered housing properties across the town.

The driving force behind the project is Rotherham’s new Community Engagement Team, based at Rotherham fire station.

Top of the CET’s agenda is to target groups who are particularly vulnerable to suffering a fire at their home, such as those with a history of drug and alcohol related problems.

SYFR’s Amanda Thompson, Community Partnership Officer, said: “Rotherham’s recent record on fire safety is excellent but we don’t want to rest on our laurels. It’s important that we provide fire safety advice and help to the people who are most at risk.

“Our partner agencies are helping to put us in contact with vulnerable groups such as those with alcohol, drug and mental health problems, as well as foreign speakers who have recently moved to the town.”

The CET is also using a translation service ‘Language Line’ to break down language barriers when carrying out home safety checks at the homes of foreign speakers.

If the team visits a property where the owner cannot speak English they will ring language line and request an interpreter for a three way conversation.

The CET was also behind a recent successful project to run fire safety awareness classes for international students at Rotherham College, which is set to be repeated later this year.