Fire safety is being added to food bank stocks in a summer campaign to look after the most vulnerable people in communities across Middlesbrough.
The Prevention team from Cleveland Fire Brigade will be dropping into all seven food banks in the Middlesbrough district area to give first-hand advice on reducing fire risks in the home. They will also be giving details of how people can book free safer homes visit and highlight any danger areas.
Andy Hewitt, Fire Prevention Hub Manager, Middlesbrough, and Redcar & Cleveland said: “It is great to work with the wonderful volunteers who provide such a valuable service at our food banks. It is a great opportunity to drop-in, broaden our reach into our communities and help out with a bit of fire safety advice that could ultimately save lives.
“Safer Homes Visits can unlock vital safety help, advice, and solutions and, where needed, signpost people to partner organisations for further support.
“The visits, which typically only last around 20 minutes, involve us checking that your smoke alarms are working and if needed, we will fit new ones, as well as checking that families have a viable escape route in place in the event of a fire. We can help the most vulnerable who are at higher risk of having a fire in the home.”
Between April 2022 and March 2023, Cleveland Fire Brigade completed approximately 21,000 Safer Home Visits.
Smoke, the silent killer, is responsible for over half of all deaths in accidental fires in the home.
A working smoke alarm is the best way of preventing injury or death in a house fire as they give you an early warning and the extra seconds needed to escape. They should be fitted on every level in the home and tested regularly.
Click here to find out if your home is safe from fire.
Members of the Prevention team have already visited the food banks at St Barnabas Church, Grove Hill Methodist and The Church of Ascension Berwick Hills.
Throughout August the team will be visiting the following;
- Coulby Baptist Church – Wednesday 2 August 13:00-15:00
- Holy Trinity – Friday 4 August 13:00-15:00
- Middlesbrough Community Church – Thursday 10 August 11:30-13:00
- Thomas Moore 24 August 12:30-14:30
