South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is highlighting the dangers of smoking, after recent figures show these are still a main cause of accidental dwelling fires.

Smoking related fires have remained at a similar level for the past few years. While accidental house fires are reducing, fires caused from cigarettes or other smoking materials still amount to around 60 incidents per year, the same as six years ago.

Firefighters are appealing to smokers to take extra care and to keep the risk of fire low, by following some basic fire safety advice:

• Never smoke in bed – it’s very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to your bedclothes or furnishings
• Don’t smoke if you’re drowsy – especially if you’re sitting in a comfortable chair or if you’ve been drinking or taking prescription drugs. Again, it’s easy to fall asleep
• Don’t leave a lighted cigarette, pipe or cigar unattended – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material
• Make totally sure that your butts aren’t still smouldering – wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
• Keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children – you can also buy child-resistant lighters and containers for matches

Trevor Bernard, Head of Community Safety at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: “Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of accidental house fires, but nearly all of these can be avoided by following some basic some simple rules. For example, never smoke in bed, never leave a lit cigarette unattended, always ensure that cigarettes are put out properly and keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.”

For more information on ways to help you stop smoking visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree.

Smoking related accidental fires for South Yorkshire:

2009/10 – 71
2010/11 – 62
2011/12 – 65
2012/13 – 40
2013/14 – 61
2014/15 – 51
2015/16 (to the end of the 2nd quarter) – 30

Free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are being given to landlords in a bid to help them comply with new safety laws.

Since October 1, all private landlords must fit smoke alarms on each floor of their rental properties and install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing solid fuel burners and heaters – or face a £5,000 fine.

We have been given a limited number of free alarms by the government to hand out to eligible landlords.

The alarms will be available for landlords to pick up between 10:30am – 2pm Monday to Friday from:-

Rotherham Stores
Chesterton Road,
Eastwood Trading Estate,
Rotherham
S65 1ST

Station Manager Spencer Rowland 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.

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

It must be stressed that these alarms are only available for private landlords with a maximum of 10 properties.

The fire service is repeating its annual safety call as thousands of people in South Yorkshire prepare to mark bonfire night.

Though the fireworks period is traditionally one of South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s busiest, call outs to small, deliberate fires on November 5 have fallen steadily in recent years.

Fire service managers hope that by continuing to work with partners to educate youngsters and reduce call outs the public will remain safe.

In the run up to bonfire night, fire service staff have been issuing safety advice and leaflets to residents about firework safety, as well as reminding retailers not to sell fireworks to under 18s.

Trevor Bernard, head of community safety, said: “The best way to enjoy bonfire night is to attend an organised display. The bonfires are bigger, the fireworks are better and they are a lot safer.

“If you are intent on holding your own display, the advice is simple. Only buy British Standard marked fireworks, follow the instructions on the box and site any bonfires well away from buildings.”

The fire service’s top three tips for staying safe this bonfire night are:

1. Attend organised displays – they’re much safer than holding your own
2. Only buy fireworks from reputable retailers and never from people on the street
3. Light bonfires well away from sheds, fences, bushes and trees

Fire safety bosses are calling for people to take care around candles as the Halloween party season hits full swing.

Fancy dress costumes for children are under particular spotlight with no laws currently in place to force businesses to ensure their products are fire resistant.

Costumes are currently classed as toys, so do not have to undergo fire safety testing in the same way as children’s nightwear does.

The issue sparked national interest last year when Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman’s eight-year-old daughter suffered severe burns at a Halloween party. She was in a witch’s costume when it brushed against a candle and caught fire.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s head of prevention and protection Steve Helps, said: “Unfortunately, accidents like the one which made national headlines last year are not uncommon and this is a shocking reminder that candles and open flames can be lethal if you don’t keep an eye them.

“This is especially true if you are wearing clothing, such as fancy costumes, which often have tassels, capes and other adornments that can trail and easily catch light if they accidentally brush against a flame. That’s why it’s crucial that candles are placed well away from flammable items and clothing otherwise the results can be catastrophic.

“It is not only children in fancy dress who we are concerned about, we also see a number of incidents where vulnerable adults accidentally set their clothing or bedding alight because they are placed too close to candles, cookers or gas heaters.”

The service’s top three candle safety tips are:

1) Keep candles well away from items that could catch fire like fancy dress costumes
2) Place them on a heat resistant surface, like a ceramic plate
3) Always place candles in a fire resistant container and make sure they are out of the reach of children

Firefighters at Stocksbridge station will be responding to medical emergencies as they become the first in South Yorkshire to take part in the Emergency First Responder (EFR) scheme.

The scheme is a joint initiative between South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) and Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) which will see firefighters being called out to certain life-threatening incidents at the same time as an ambulance.

Training has included basic life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and oxygen therapy. They are equipped with a kit which includes oxygen and an automated external defibrillator (AED) to help patients in a medical emergency such as a heart attack, collapse or breathing difficulties.

An EFR will be despatched at the same time as an ambulance and will not replace the usual emergency medical response from YAS. However, their location within the local community could mean they are nearer to the scene in those first critical minutes of a medical emergency, delivering life-saving care until an ambulance arrives.

Emergency First Responders are only available for dispatch when staffing levels at their fire station allow and the scheme will not impact fire cover.

Head of Emergency Response at SYFR Phil Shillito said: “Our role as a fire service will always be to protect our communities and reach and save those who are in danger as quickly as possible. Our firefighters already do a great job of performing a wide range of duties beyond traditional firefighting – from attending flooding incidents to rescuing people from road traffic collisions. So I think it’s only natural for us to look for other ways to extend our skills and support the work of other local bodies, like the ambulance service.

“With this in mind, this partnership can only enhance the service we provide and will improve outcomes for people in need across South Yorkshire.”

Paul Stevens, Head of Community Resilience at YAS, said: “We have a responsibility to ensure we explore every available option to improve clinical outcomes for people in South Yorkshire and we are delighted to be working in partnership with SYFR on the county’s Emergency First Responder scheme.

“We have a very clear ambition to improve the survival rate for those people who suffer from a cardiac arrest in the community. We want to have world class levels of survival from cardiac arrest and the expansion of this initiative is another important element in saving more lives.”

Firefighters at Elm Lane fire station were returning from an incident at 7pm on Tuesday evening. While at the roundabout in Firth Park the fire engine was attacked by objects being thrown. Luckily no firefighters were injured and only very minor damage was done to the fire engine.

South Yorkshire Police have been informed and are investigating the incident.

Area Manager Mick Mason at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said; “We are absolutely appalled that our firefighters appear to have been targeted in this way.

“Attacks like this place the safety of our firefighters, and the people they are trying to protect, at risk. But thankfully, this type of incident is extremely rare in South Yorkshire and it is only a tiny minority of people who would ever consider acting in such an irresponsible and dangerous way.

“Attacks on firefighters are falling and we believe the introduction of CCTV on fire engines has contributed to this fall.

“However, even one attack on a firefighter is unacceptable – and we will work alongside the police to fully investigate any attacks and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”

If you have any information about this attack please call police via 101 and quoting incident number 885 from the 13 October or email enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk