Community fire safety
Fire prevention is the key to reducing tragedies and hardships. It requires communities and the fire service to work together.
House Saftey Check
As part of a commitment to your safety at home, the west midlands fire service offers you a free fire safety check. For details on what services are available and how to access the service please visit http://www.wmfs.net/content/home-safety-check-0
Vehicle Fires
- 65% of car fires are started deliberately to cover a crime, to make a fraudulent insurance claim or as an act of vandalism.
- 1 in 12 reported stolen vehicles will be set on fire.
- Many other vehicle fires break out simply due to lack of maintenance.
- Emphasis should be placed on security of vehicle and safe parking.
- You should report abandoned vehicles to us.
Vehicle safety check:
- Electrical - check wiring for signs of wear or damage.
- Petrol - routinely check all fuel lines for signs of wear.
- Welding - never use heat, naked flames or welding equipment near the fuel tank or fuel lines.
For further information visit The Arson Prevention Bureau website.
Refuse Skips, Wheelie Bins, Bonfires And Empty Properties
Refuse Skips and Bins:
- Place skips at least 10 metres away from buildings.
- Waste packing and pallets should be removed as soon as possible.
- Full skips should be removed as soon as possible.
- Do not leave full skips over weekends or holiday periods.
- Do not block fire exits.
- Ensure skips are placed in a designated area.
- Do not store combustible waste within 2 metres of any perimeter fences.
- Fires in wheelie bins can spread to surrounding property
- Do not overfill wheelie bins or place loose rubbish around them.
- Wheelie bins should only be put out when a collection is due.
Private Bonfires:
- Attend an organised bonfire if possible.
- Bonfires should be built at least 18 metres from any buildings, trees, fences etc.
- They should be no more than 3 metres high and should not be built beneath overhead cables.
- Do not use petrol or other flammable liquids to start bonfires.
- Always check inside the bonfire for animals and children who could be using them as a den.
Empty (Void) Properties:
- Void properties are a magnet for youths, drug takers and homeless people who often light fires inside to keep warm, which can lead to the property catching fire.
- Ensure that any void properties, notified to you, are secured as soon as possible.
Organised Bonfires and Firework Displays
- Running a display takes a lot of work, so try to share the load and plan well ahead.
- Set up a committee whose members can each take responsibility for a particular task (including one person to be in charge of all safety arrangements).
- Draw up a detailed checklist of tasks and indicate who is to be responsible for each one.
- Arrange for fire extinguishers, buckets of water, buckets of sand and metal litter bins to be available on the night.
- Check that plenty of electric torches (and full batteries) will be available on the night.
- Publicise the fact that spectators are not allowed to bring their own fireworks (including sparklers).
- Check your insurance covers any firework-related injuries to those present at the display.
Picking the right location:
You should choose a large, clear and well mown area free from obstructions, well away from any buildings, trees and hazards like overhead cables, with as many safe entrances and exits as possible.
- These must be away from the firing area and dropping zone.
- Allow at least 50m x 20m for your firing area.
- Beyond this you will need a dropping zone for spent fireworks of 100m x 50m in the downwind direction.
- Spectators should be kept 25m away from the firing area, on the opposite side to the dropping zone.
Proper crowd control is essential and needs good planning:
- Arrange for some stewards.
- Take great care at all times.
- Plan your display in advance.
- Do not allow smoking.
- Before lighting any firework, read the instructions on it carefully (by torchlight).
- Make sure that the wind blows away from spectators.
- The display should be angled away from spectators.
- Never use matches or lighters for lighting fire works at a display.
- A sudden change of wind could cause aerial fireworks to fall dangerously among spectators.
- In very windy weather you should consider putting off the display altogether, however disappointing that might be.
Bonfires need planning too:
- Bonfires need a lot of organising.
- Don't site it too near your display or firework storage area. And don't site it anywhere near fences or trees.
- Never use flammable liquids like paraffin or petrol to get it going, as this can result in uncontrolled spread of fire or explosion.
- Check immediately before lighting that there is no people or animals hidden inside.
- Don't burn dangerous rubbish (e.g. aerosols, paint tins or foam filled furniture).
- Remove any rubbish from your bonfire area in advance so nothing can be thrown onto the fire on the night.
After the event.
The bonfire needs to be put out completely before you leave the site.
Information is available from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Firework Safety website.
Fire Safety Advice for Businesses and Commerce
- Make sure your fire alarm is tested weekly.
- Inform your staff of what to do in the event of a fire, make sure they are familiar with the evacuation drill and escape routes for the building.
- Make sure you carry out a continuous Fire Risk assessment of your building.
- Never obstruct sprinkler heads and fire detectors.
- Unsafe storage of waste packaging and pallets is a fire risk, never leave waste containers close to buildings.
- Guard all sources of ignition.
- Ensure that Flammable Liquids are stored safely.
- Make sure that machinery and equipment is maintained.
Contact Details
For information on Fire Prevention, contact the West Midlands Fire Service, or visit the websites listed on this page.
West Midlands Fire Service HeadquartersLancaster Circus,
Queensway,
Birmingham B4 7DE
Tel: 0121 380 7404 - In an emergency, dial 999.
Email: contact@wmfs.net
Website: http://www.wmfs.net/