Fall in the number of house fires in Doncaster is revealed by fire chiefs

The number of house fires in Doncaster has fallen to a record low, say South Yorkshire fire chiefs.
Smoke alarms with firefighters from left Robert West, Darren Higgins, Jason Jenkinson and Daniel Turner.Smoke alarms with firefighters from left Robert West, Darren Higgins, Jason Jenkinson and Daniel Turner.
Smoke alarms with firefighters from left Robert West, Darren Higgins, Jason Jenkinson and Daniel Turner.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue says that firefighters attended 120 accidental house fires in Doncaster in 2016/17.

This is a 17 per cent drop on the previous year’s figure, which was 145.

Steve HelpsSteve Helps
Steve Helps
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Fire bosses said today that they believe the latest figures are proof that efforts to make people safer in their homes are paying off.

Firefighters have carried out nearly 300,000 safety checks in people’s homes since 2006.

Staff have also spoken to more than 30,000 children across the county last year, as part of its education work in schools and the fire service has run successful campaigns targeting older people, electrical and cooking blazes.

But to maintain the record low figures, bosses say they need to become even more targeted in their prevention work and for local people, organisations and charities to get more involved.

Steve HelpsSteve Helps
Steve Helps
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Head of Prevention Steve Helps, said: “South Yorkshire is safer from house fires now than it has been at any time in its history, but people should never become complacent when it comes to fire safety. Every single incident we do attend is someone’s own, personal disaster and, potentially, someone’s tragedy.

He added: “That’s why we need the help of local people and organisations to support our work. Nearly all of the most serious house fires we attend involve some common issues which are often being dealt with by other agencies, or involve people who are known by neighbours or loved ones to be at higher risk. The fire service can often put in place measures to prevent deaths from fire - but only if an individual is referred to us for support.”