ROYAL Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued advice for avoiding fires during the winter.
As the cost of living rises and many struggle to heat their homes, the fire service has shared advice on heating homes safely and reducing fire-related incidents.
The Winter Wise campaign is offering advice on the dangers of alternative heating methods and fire safety.
The RBFRS said that figures published by the National Fire Chiefs Council showed that there were 99 fire-related fatalities in England in 2021, with 76 of these happening in homes.
This compares to 54 in the same quarter the year before, constituting a 41% rise.
Accidental fires in the home caused by candles totalled 940 in England in the year ending March 2022, a ten-year high.
Around one in three of those incidents resulted in injury or death.
Figures also showed that between April 1 last year and March this year, there were 208 fire-related fatalities in dwelling fires, a 12% increase compared with the previous year’s 185.
Fire services fear that these numbers could rise as a result of people trying alternative methods of heating their homes.
The Winter Wise advises simple steps to be taken to ensure the safe heating of homes.
Residents are advised always to unplug electric heaters when going to bed or leaving the property.
They should be kept away from flammable items such as curtains and furniture and never be used for drying clothes.
It also advises that hot water bottles and electric blankets should not be used together, even when switched off.
Electric blankets should also be switched off before going to bed unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
When using open fires to heat the home, RBFRS recommends a fire guard is always used to protect against sparks and that chimneys and flues are kept clean and well-maintained.
It is also advised not to sit close to open fires, gas fires, or halogen heaters, especially if using emollient products such as lotions, creams, and ointments, as they can act as accelerants.
that they should be extinguished before leaving them unattended.
Only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas and always have in place a carbon monoxide detector.
Neil Whiteman, safety education coordinator said: “We are already seeing evidence of people resorting to unconventional heating methods within the home to try and keep warm.
“Firefighters discovered a family using disposable BBQs inside the home which resulted in them suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, while a house fire was started by the careless use of candles being used for lighting purposes.”
