Tag: Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service

Communities urged: make this a fire-free summer

FireServiceWith the school holidays upon us the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are appealing for parents, carers and young people to Join Scotland’s Fight Against Fire.

Director of Prevention and Protection, Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) Lewis Ramsay, said: “During the summer break there is often a rise in deliberate fires. These can include refuse and wheelie bin fires, fires in stairwells, closes and derelict buildings as well as grass and countryside fires.

“With early weather predictions suggesting we could be set for a hot, dry summer, communities could be particularly affected this year. We are appealing for the community to help us reduce these incidents.”

Mr Ramsay added: “Many young people will have engaged with SFRS personnel via school visits, youth programmes and public events. We want young people to remember our message that starting fires is never harmless fun.

“Deliberate fires can overstretch local fire and rescue service resources, taking firefighters away from other incidents and putting lives at risk. Parents and carers can help too by discussing summer fire safety with young people.

“Every hour, every day, there is a house fire in Scotland. We need firefighters to be free to tackle real emergencies. Together we can work towards a fire free summer.”

The service is also urging anyone in the community who may have information about a deliberate fire, or who may be responsible for setting it, to report it straight away.

Mr Ramsay said: “Every deliberate fire has victims, costs and consequences. The core public safety and call to action message is that fire setting is an offence. Don’t Accept It, Report It.

“If you know anything about fires that have been started in your area contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You won’t have to give your name or go to court.”

wheelie bin fire

SFRS is often called to attend fires which have been started deliberately in stairwells, closes or wheelie bins and ACO Ramsay is keen to highlight the danger these pose.

He said: “Refuse left lying in the street or in a common stairwell or close present a potential target for fire setters. Make sure you don’t leave refuse or wheelie bins against any property or building.Deliberately set fires are dangerous and put people’s lives and property in danger.

“By keeping wheelie bins out of sight, stored away from the building and, if possible, behind locked gates these risks can be reduced. We would ask residents and businesses to follow these precautions to eliminate the threat of deliberate wheelie bin fires.

“SFRS wants communities to enjoy the summer and work in partnership with the fire service to help make this a fire free summer.”

There is further information about deliberate fires at the SFRS website www.firescotland.gov.uk

Last year, firefighters in Scotland attended around 14,196 fires in bins, skips, fly tipped waste, derelict buildings, dry grass and heath land. With an estimated average cost of £2,000 for attendance at such incidents, the cost to the Service and our communities is a staggering £28.4 million. Approximately 81% (12,238) of these fires were deliberate.

  • DO report any build-up of rubbish to your local council or community fire station. This will help ensure it can be removed and prevent fires
  • DO report any fly-tipping direct to your local council or to the National Dumb Dumpers Stop line on 0845 230 40 90

Help yourself! Free sandbags for flood-threatened homes

floods

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue service has teamed up with the city council to help Edinburgh residents protect their homes from flood damage. The initiative offers  free sandbags NOW to residents who are concerned about potential flooding, rather than waiting for heavy rainfall.

Sandbags are now available  to collect from specially built storage sheds at a number of locations across the city, including locally at Crewe  Toll Fire Station on Telford Road and Powderhall  Depot  at 165  Broughton Road.

Environment Convener,  Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “It is understandable that, after the floods we  have already seen this year, people in Edinburgh are concerned about what will  happen if their homes are affected.  Our advice is to be prepared and not wait  for heavy rain as is often more difficult for us to reach people during or  immediately before a flood.

“The fact that residents  can now collect sandbags at their convenience will make it easier for them to  feel confident that their homes are protected. I would also encourage people who  are worried about flooding to have a look at the Council  website for advice on how to protect their properties  effectively.”

In recent years a number of  Edinburgh neighbourhoods have been affected by extremely  heavy rainfall, which led to the severe damage of some local homes.

John Dickie, Local Senior  Officer for Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Every year people are  affected by flooding and it can cause significant disruption and damage for  householders. One of the best things you can do is think about your risks before  adverse weather strikes and take what steps you can to be prepared.

“We are delighted to be  able to host self-service sandbag storage sites at our fire stations in  Edinburgh. The public can help themselves to sandbags if they anticipate the  need to protect their homes from flooding.

“You should also consider  signing up for Floodline Scotland which will  keep you informed about flood alerts. Preparing a plan for what to do if  flooding strikes will also mean you are better able to react quickly in an  emergency. Pack an emergency flood kit and make sure your home insurance is up  to date.”

Residents who are unable to  collect sandbags in person can contact the Council for assistance, by calling 0131 200 2000.

Woman treated in hospital following Pilton chip pan fire

Firefighters came to the rescue of two adults and a baby following a chip pan fire in West Pilton on Thurday night.

Three fire appliances attended the blaze in West Pilton Rise at around 7pm. Two pumps and a height appliance tackled the fire on the second floor of the building, where crews found three casualties suffering from smoke inhalation.

A man and a woman both aged 26 and a ten-month-old baby boy were attended to at the scene before the woman was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for a further check-up and treatment.

Two firefighters in breathing apparatus used a high-pressure hose reel and a fire blanket to extinguish the blaze in the smoke-filled flat.

Fireworks night passes off peacefully

Bonfire, Wester Drylaw Place

It’s the busiest time of year for the emergency services, but last night’s 5 November celebrations passed off relatively peacefully in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service received around 400 calls over 24 hours, a figure slightly down on previous years. Crews attended 140 bonfires across the force area and extinguished 78 of these.

Sadly, police had to come to the rescue of firefighters who came under attack while carrying out their duties at two separate incidents.

Bonfire, Muirhouse Green

 

 

Broughton pupils get dramatic fireworks message

A powerful play about the dangers of misusing fireworks is being performed at Broughton High School today. TOAST is a 30 minute drama which shows pupils how dangerous fireworks can be, as well as airing issues such as peer pressure, bullying and managing aggression. 

It was originally commissioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Northern Ireland , was adapted for Edinburgh and is being staged by the Strange Theatre Company.

The production involves two actors playing 11 different characters, with the scene shifting between a hospital, a home, a school and a housing estate. The principal character is drawn into an ill-fated escapade with stolen fireworks, with ultimately tragic consequences.

The weeks leading up to Bonfire Night are traditionally a time of increased complaints to police about antisocial behaviour and noise relating to fireworks. Councillor Cammy Day, Community Safety leader, said: “Bonfire Night is great fun and families enjoy the spectacle of fireworks as the nights get darker. However, fireworks can be extremely dangerous if handled improperly. The play ‘Toast’ is an excellent way of helping young people understand the risks and dangers of misusing fireworks.”

Community Safety Manager for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, Steve Harkins, said: “As the service gears up for one of their busiest nights of the year we are urging parents and carers to be mindful of the potential risks from fireworks and the need to heed fire safety advice to ensure this year’s Bonfire Night celebrations stay safe. We work closely with partners including the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver fire safety advice to schoolchildren across the area and TOAST, which highlights the dangers associated with fireworks, is an excellent example of this type of initiative.”

The play will be performed at Holyrood RC High School and Broughton High School today  and moves on to Leith Academy  and Castlebrae High School tomorrow (Friday 2 November).

Keeping communities safe during firework season

The City of Edinburgh Council has joined forces with Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to ensure people in Edinburgh enjoy fireworks responsibly.

The lead up to bonfire night is a busy time for all emergency services, and while it is hoped everyone has fun, police will be working alongside colleagues in the fire and rescue service to highlight the nuisance and dangers associated with the illegal use of fireworks.

In the run up to 5 November, police and Trading Standards officers will be visiting retailers to remind them of the legislation surrounding the sale of fireworks. Fire safety talks will be given at schools across the city and joint patrols will be carried out to dismantle any potentially dangerous bonfires.

Councillor Cammy Day, Community Safety leader for the City of Edinburgh  Council, said: “The proactive approach taken by our community safety  teams in dismantling unauthorised bonfires in previous years has been  really successful and this work will continue leading up to 5 November. We would remind people to only attend organised displays, remember the  dangers involved in handling fireworks and enjoy their celebrations  responsibly. It’s one of the busiest nights of the year for the fire  service and it’s important they can carry out their vital role without  the threat of anti-social behaviour.”

Chief Inspector Andy McLaughlin of Lothian and Borders Police said: “Young people and the community should look forward to bonfire night, and be able to enjoy it fully and safely. Although it is an exciting time, the risks involved in playing with fireworks should always be remembered. This is traditionally a busy time of year for all emergency services, but many calls could be avoided if people were more aware of the safety of themselves and others. It should be remembered that fireworks are, in essence, explosives, and should only be bought from reputable retailers and used in a safe, controlled environment. We have seen a reduction in these types of incidents in recent years, and we hope that our work with school children and shop owners will help continue this trend.”

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Community Safety Manager Steve Harkins added: “We want people to enjoy themselves safely this year. We recommend attending an organised bonfire night display to reduce the risk of accidental injury from fireworks. Be aware that bonfires must be supervised by an adult at all times. If they are not we will extinguish them. We will also put out any bonfires we believe may pose a risk to people or nearby buildings. Lastly, we ask that people respect firefighters as they respond to these calls. Any incidents of anti-social behaviour or violence to crews will be reported to the police. We are there to keep communities safe from fire so please let us do our job safe from interference or harm.”

Anyone with any concerns regarding dangerous bonfires, or the illegal sale of fireworks, should contact their Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0131 311 3131.

Wester Drylaw bonfire

Police seek witnesses after Pilton fireworks incidents

Police are appealing for witnesses after a series of incidents involving the reckless discharge of fireworks in the West Pilton area. From Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday morning (October 16 and 17), there were a number of incidents reported to police involving a group of youths who were setting off fireworks.

The most serious incident happened just after midnight in West Pilton Drive, where a firework was forced into a garage adjoining a house, causing a fire to break out. The fire service was called to the property to extinguish the blaze, which caused limited damage. No one was injured in the incident.

DC Rachael Robertson from Lothian and Borders Police said: “Thankfully the fire was dealt with swiftly, however there was the potential for far more serious consequences as a result of this reckless criminal act. At present officers are carrying out enquiries in the area, including the use of CCTV, in an attempt to identify the youths responsible. We would appeal to anyone who witnessed any fireworks being set off in the Pilton area overnight to come forward. Anyone else who has any information that can assist us in identifying the youths responsible should also get in touch.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Second deliberate stair fire in Granton area

A man and a woman had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a suspected deliberate stair fire yesterday afternoon. This comes just a week after a fire which resulted in a three month old baby being taken to hospital.

Two engines from Crewe Toll and a height appliance were mobilised to West Granton Road at 12.19pm after reports of a building alight.

On arrival firefighters discovered a fire in the ground floor of the common stair within a three-storey tenement property. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus and using a high pressure hose reel extinguished the blaze and vented the building for smoke.

A man aged 24 and a woman aged 27 from one of the top floor flats had to be checked over by ambulance crews at the scene.

Lothian Borders Fire & Rescue Service’s Fire Investigation Unit and Police were called due to suspicion the fire was started deliberately.

The Council and Scottish Gas were also contacted about heat and smoke damage in the common areas.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Early indications suggest this fire may have been started deliberately. Fortunately no-one was seriously hurt but there was noticeable damage to the common stair area.

“If you live in a property with a common stair and shared areas please be a good neighbour and do what you can to prevent this type of incident. Always make sure main doors leading to flats are kept locked. Don’t let strangers into common stairs. Never stored combustibles in a common stairway. They can be attractive to deliberate fire setters. Rubbish can also block exits in a emergency and burning materials will produce a lot of toxic smoke putting residents at risk of smoke inhalation.

“If you discover a fire and it is safe to do so, get out, stay out and call us out by dialling 999 and asking for ‘Fire’. If your stairwell is full of smoke it may be safer to stay inside your property and call 999. Fire control will give expert fire survival advice until fire crews arrive to help you. They will make sure firefighters know where to find you and they will tell you when it is safe to leave your property.”

For more fire safety advice, including how to make an escape plan for your home or what to do if trapped by fire, you can visit our website at www.lbfire.org.uk