People are taking risks to keep warm, fire service warns

FIREFIGHTERS have revealed that the current cost of living crisis has forced people to take desperate measures to keep warm after reporting callouts where people were putting themselves at risk of harm.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said it had attended incidents recently where residents have burned “inappropriate and potentially toxic materials” instead of putting the heating on.

One case saw an occupant overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of burning coal in a tin bucket in their living room, a spokesperson said.

Fire officers said they recognised the financial squeeze many families face but asked people to not put themselves at risk this winter and to ensure they had working smoke and monoxide alarms in their homes.

South Yorkshire Fire Service area manager and head of the joint police and fire community safety department, Matt Gillatt, said: “We know times are tough for lots of people right now, but the pattern we are seeing around unsafe heating in homes is concerning.

“Our ask is that people ensure they ‘save safely’ — take extra care when it comes to using things like log burners and electric blankets, and please don't use tin buckets or small gas cylinders to heat your homes because they aren’t safe.

“We would then strongly urge people to ensure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted in their properties.

“These are life-saving devices that will give you early warning should you be at risk.”

Mr Gillatt said smoke alarms were only life-savers if they worked and were regularly checked.

“Smoke alarms don't get the credit they deserve — they really do save lives,” he said.

“But they can only save you if they are working.

“By testing and dusting them regularly, you ensure they are working should you ever need them.

“Don’t just take our word for it, either.

“Our figures show that there have been 791 instances in the last three years where a smoke alarm has sounded and given occupants early warning of a fire in their home.

“Unfortunately, there were 430 cases where smoke alarms weren’t present or didn’t work.

“Needless to say, the fire damage was worse in these cases.”

The fire service said recent changes to the law meant that anyone in rented or council homes should be provided with a carbon monoxide detector by their landlord.

They urged residents to sign up to the free smoke alarm testing reminder to ensure their alarms are working.

You can sign up to the service’s free smoke alarm reminder service at https://tinyurl.com/smoke-alarm-test and there is more information on smoke alarms at https://tinyurl.com/SYF-alarm.