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Author: Alex Mills

Fire Service donates water safety equipment to charity

Posted on by Alex Mills

Firefighters have donated new equipment to the Swinton Lock Activity Centre which offers educational and leisure daytrips on their narrowboat to youngsters.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) has given the charity two water throwlines to assist with the safety on the boat.

Swinton Lock Activity Centre is a community based arts, education and activity centre next to the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation Canal at Swinton.  They provide a wide range of activities for young people including fishing, arts and crafts, spraycan art and boat handling on their own narrowboat which is used for residential and accredited boat handling courses.

A number of the youngsters who attend the centre have been involved in anti social behaviour such as fire setting and other behavioural issues and find it difficult to integrate into schools.  The centre helps them develop their social skills by offering a variety of activities to take part in which helps to build their confidence.

Crew Manager Adam Dilkes, a firefighter at Rotherham fire station, has been attending the centre for the past two years talking to the youngsters about fire safety and promoting a positive image of the fire service.

Crew Manager Adam Dilkes said; “I am really pleased that we have been able to help the centre by giving them this life saving equipment, and that I also get the chance to educate them of fire safety issues and give advice on life experiences while encouraging the youngsters to think about their behaviour and the effects of it.”

Sharon Cooke, from Swinton Lock Activity Centre, said: “The staff, boat volunteers and crew of Swinton Lock Activity Centre would like to say a massive thank you to South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue for donating brand new throwing lines for use on our canal boats. They are a crucial piece of life saving equipment to have when the boat is in use and for training purposes. Working on and right beside the canal makes water safety a priority for us all.

“As a small independent Charity the help and support no matter how big or small, provided by the local community, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and local business has a huge impact and enables us to help and support others.”

Fire service delivers safety advice to Page Hall residents

Posted on by Alex Mills

The fire service has launched a fresh drive to make homes safer in the Page Hall area of Sheffield.

Community safety staff at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are visiting residents and carrying out home safety checks, thanks to the services of a translator provided by a local lettings agent.

Global Lettings, which is based in the area, has donated the services of a translator to help fire service staff communicate with the area’s largely Roma and Roma-Slovak community.

SYFR Area Manager Steve Helps said: “South Yorkshire is safer from fire than it’s been at any time in its history, but it’s important that we continue to target our safety advice at all sections of the community, including new migrants.

“During a home safety check, fire service staff speak to residents about how to prevent common causes of fire like cooking and electrics and fit smoke alarms where needed.”

Click here to book a safety visit

 

Fire service launches safety campaign as growth in electrical fires revealed

Posted on by Alex Mills

A rise in electrical fires across South Yorkshire has been blamed on everything from phone chargers to e-cigs.

Fire officers say that whilst nearly every type of fire has reduced significantly during the last decade, thanks to safety visits and better awareness of risks, electrical incidents have stubbornly refused to drop.

Electricity is involved in about two thirds of all accidental house fires, with household appliances the most common culprits.

There were 190 house fires involving electricity in 2014/15, up from 165 the previous year and 150 in 2012/13. The kitchen is the most likely room in the house where electrical fires will start.

Sometimes fires are caused by faulty goods, which could be small items like mobile chargers, or big things like washing machines and dryers.

Fires are also caused by people misusing electrical appliances, for example by leaving them plugged in for too long or covering them up allowing them to overheat.

Head of community safety Trevor Bernard, said: “This isn’t about scaremongering but about making sure that consumers have all the available safety information. The vast majority of electrical goods are manufactured to very high safety standards, but sometimes if they are misused or if there is a fault with the device they can start a fire.

“The simple truth is that homes have more small electrical devices in them than probably any time in our history- from tablets and mobile phones, to e-cigarettes and games consoles. Unfortunately, we can’t get round everyone’s home to check the safety of their electrics for them. But by raising awareness of the biggest safety issues. we hope we can give people the knowledge to check their own electrics and hopefully prevent a serious fire.”

The fire service has issued the following advice to stop fires:

  • Don’t buy cheap, unbranded chargers and make sure chargers are compatible to the device you are using
  • Don’t leave things to charge overnight or beyond the recommended charging time. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
  • Keep electrical items away from flammable materials when charging
  • Don’t overload sockets– long, strip adaptors are safest, but can only take a total of 13 amps

Officers are also encouraging visitors to check the safety of their home electrics by completing a short, online checklist at 13orbust.co.uk 

The fire service’s campaign will see advertising vans carry key safety messages to areas of South Yorkshire known to experience high numbers of house fires.

Landlords’ smoke alarms reminder six months after safety law came into force

Posted on by Alex Mills

South Yorkshire landlords are being urged to comply with new fire safety laws– six months after legislation requiring all privately rented homes to be fitted with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors came into force.

Since October last year, private landlords have been required to fit smoke alarms on each floor of their rental properties and install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing solid fuel burners – such as cookers and heaters – or face a £5,000 fine.

Fire officers say whilst most landlords in South Yorkshire are complying with the safety laws, there remains confusion amongst both landlords and tenants about their responsibilities under the new law.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Area Manager Steve Helps, said: “The private rented sector provides homes for some of the county’s most vulnerable groups and there is no doubt that these regulations will make privately rented accommodation safer and save lives.

“We want to help South Yorkshire’s private landlords meet their fire safety responsibilities under this new law and would urge them to take the time to understand the legislation and fit detectors where required.

“Tenants can also play a part in taking responsibility for their own safety by reminding their landlords about the new legislation if there are no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in their home.”

Your landlord must:

  • Follow safety regulations
  • Provide a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a usable fireplace or woodburner
  • Check you have access to escape routes at all times
  • Make sure the furniture and furnishings they supply are fire safe
  • Provide fire alarms and extinguishers if the property is a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/your-landlords-safety-responsibilities

Children’s author backing for fire service writing challenge

Posted on by Alex Mills

An award-winning local children’s author has been named head judge in a fire service led creative writing challenge.

Barnsley born Caryl Hart, now living in Bakewell, Derbyshire has volunteered to judge the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue competition, which calls on youngsters to send in their best piece of creative writing.

The fire service hopes the competition will inspire dozens of local youngsters to think about fire safety, whilst putting their literacy and creative skills to the test.

A LEGO City fire station will be awarded to the winner, as chosen by Caryl, author of popular children’s books including Don’t Dip Your Chips, Welcome to Alien School and Supermarket Zoo. Five runners up will also win a signed copy of one of Caryl’s books.

Education advocate Julie Claytor, said: “Children are an important audience for us, particularly as they are often the best advocates for fire safety at home. We know from school visits and other education work that they often pass on vital fire safety messages to their families and we hope this competition will be another opportunity for us to spread that learning.”

Caryl said: “I know there are lots of brilliant young writers in South Yorkshire – I’ve met a lot of you. So get out your pens, pencils, computers, phones and tablets and get writing. I can’t wait to read your stories!”

The contest is open to all primary school aged children in South Yorkshire. The theme is ‘a day in the life of a firefighter’ and the stories should aim to include at least one fire safety message.

Children can submit an entry by post to Writing Competition, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, 197 Eyre Street, Sheffield, S1 3FG or by emailing press@syfire.gov.uk with ‘Writing Competition’ in the subject box, before the closing date of 13 May 2016.

Full terms and conditions can be found by visiting www.syfire.gov.uk/writingcompetition

Safer Stronger Communities Reserve fund

Posted on by Alex Mills

In February, the Fire & Rescue Authority committed a further £2 million from its reserves to support community based projects to improve safety and wellbeing for local people.

Please note: Enquiries about this funding are not currently being taken, as the Authority is now establishing how this money will be allocated.

Further updates on this will be published on both the fire authority and this website in due course.

Fire service team up with hospital for sleep safe campaign

Posted on by Alex Mills

Barnsley Hospital and South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue have teamed up to provide information and advice to new parents and parents-to-be.

Barnsley Hospital’s Maternity Services Team have been working with Community Safety Officers from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to develop the Barnsley Babies Initiative. The initiative aims to raise awareness of how parents can ensure that babies are sleeping in a safe environment. The initiative was launched in line with the Lullaby Trust’s national Sleep Safe campaign.

The Sleep Safe campaign promotes the importance of safe sleeping for the whole family including advice and guidance on how to significantly lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While SIDS is rare, there are essential things that parents can do, or avoid doing, to lower the chances of SIDS.

Barnsley Maternity Services team have undergone training with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to learn about fire safety and how parents can ensure that their child is kept safe whilst sleeping. The Barnsley Babies initiative promotes messages including; the importance of a smoke free home and car, the best sleeping position and environment for babies and temperature control.

During the week commencing 14th March Barnsley Hospital will be supporting the national Safer Sleep Week. Maternity staff will be available in the Women’s Services Foyer between 9-4pm in to offer advice and information to parents, visitors and members of staff.

From Monday 14 March Barnsley midwives will provide all pregnant women with a Sleepsafe bag which includes a room thermometer which has advice about safe temperatures printed on it, a scan frame to display prenatal scans and a document file for parents to keep important health information about their baby in. The bag also has essential information and maternity contact details printed on it.

Joanne Poskitt, Specialist Midwife at Barnsley Hospital said: “We have been working with the Fire Service for a while now and we are extremely proud of the Barnsley Babies initiative, we have had some fantastic feedback from our mums. We are excited to launch the Sleepsafe bags for new parents and initial feedback has been positive. We encourage anyone who has any questions or needs advice on safe sleeping to come along to the Women’s Services main entrance during the week commencing 14 March and speak to a maternity staff member.”

For more information about the national Sleep Safe campaign, please visit the Lullaby Trust website at www.lullabytrust.org.uk.

Safety plea after Doncaster house fire death inquest

Posted on by Alex Mills

An inquest took place today (14 March) into the death of a man following a house fire in Doncaster.

Ian Jennings, aged 61, died following the blaze at the house in Pinfold Close, Tickill on 17 October last year.

The fire is thought to have been caused by smoking materials. Investigators found no evidence of working smoke alarms inside the property.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

Speaking after the inquest, fire investigation officer Graham Toms, said:

“This was a severe house fire which tragically resulted in Mr Jennings losing his life and our thoughts are with his family what remains a very sad time. The incident is also another, terrible reminder of the dangers associated with smoking in bed.

“We found no evidence of working smoke alarms in the property. Whilst we will never know whether smoke alarms would have made a difference at this incident, smoke alarms do you vital extra seconds to escape by giving you an early warning of a fire in your home. Please, please make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home and to test them regularly.”

Young cadets ‘graduate’ at fire service ceremony

Posted on by Alex Mills

Dozens of South Yorkshire fire cadets have been honoured at a ceremony in Sheffield to mark their achievements.

More than 70 cadets, aged 13 to 17, were recognised in front of friends and family at the event at the fire service’s Handsworth training base.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue runs seven cadet schemes- at Birley Moor, Cudworth, Edlington, Elm Lane, Lowedges, Rotherham and Stocksbridge fire stations.

Cadets train at their respective stations once a week, learning firefighting skills and techniques from specially qualified instructors. They also play a key role at community events and take part in team-building days throughout the year.

Cadets also enrol on to the Routes 4 U education package, which covers the employability skills needed to work within the health and emergency services. Young people work towards a recognised qualification at the end of a 12 month course, with certificates for successful completion of the programme handed out at last week’s event.

Station manager Spencer Rowland, said: “Our fire cadets scheme has a long and proud history. Whereas it once gave young people an insight into a career as a firefighter, it has evolved to provide a much more rounded mixture of skills and training, including community work and exercises to build personal confidence and employment skills.

“South Yorkshire has one of the most successful fire cadet schemes in the country, so it is right that we recognise the achievements of our youngsters in this way.”

Firefighter running marathon in memory of son

Posted on by Alex Mills

One of our firefighters will be running the marathon of a lifetime, as he hits the streets for charity in memory of his teenage son.

 Nigel Clark, temporary Watch Manager at Cudworth fire station in Barnsley, will be running the 2016 London Marathon in memory of his son, Adam who died suddenly last year aged only 17.

 This will be the first marathon he has ever ran, and will be donating all proceeds to the British Heart Foundation.

 Adam was a healthy 16 year old who sadly suffered a Cardiac Arrest whilst at home in July 2014. His mum(Beth), sister(Rebecca) and Nigel gave CPR until the Paramedics arrived.

 Adam sustained a hypoxic brain injury due to lack of oxygen. He never regained consciousness and sadly passed away in February 2015.

 Nigel said: “The last 18 months have been a living nightmare for our whole family. Our son Adam was a lively and healthy 16 year old boy and we have been completely devastated by what has happened to him at such a young age. It has been just over a year since we lost him but the pain never really goes away. I hope to raise £2000 for the British Heart Foundation to go towards research to help others as that’s what Adam would have wanted.”

 Please visit his Just Giving page here<https://www.justgiving.com/nigel-clark12/> to donate, ahead of the marathon on 24 April.