Operation Volcano launches to spark greater smoke alarm ownership in Wallsend

Today, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is launching Operation Volcano to encourage greater smoke alarm ownership within the Wallsend area. Throughout the 5 days, operational crews from Tynemouth and Wallsend Community Fire Stations, prevention and education staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide residents with advice to help them keep themselves and their families safe from a fire in their home.

Since April 1^st 2019 to date, Wallsend has recorded the 2nd highest number of accidental domestic fires within North Tyneside. Many of these fires have been cooking related or linked to smoking. Therefore the Operation is targeting domestic properties which may not have a smoke alarm and might not have had a Home Safety Check. The Service has already undertaken a leaflet drop to the properties they are offering home safety checks.

Group Manager Ian Warne, TWFRS Head of Prevention and Education commented:

“Smoke alarms save lives. But to do so you need to have one on every level of your property, and they need to be regularly tested. This Operation will target homes where we currently don’t believe there are any smoke alarms – so we’ll check existing smoke alarms and install new smoke alarms where needed.

Fortunately deaths from fires are  rare in Tyne and Wear. However, when they do occur thorough investigations into the causes and the contributing factors often identify that smoke alarms as a common denominator – including not having smoke alarms or having smoke alarms that weren’t working. Therefore it’s essential that we visit as many homes as possible to test and install smoke alarms and to listen to the concerns of residents on how to keep their home safe from a fire.

Jeff Boath, TWFRS Station Manager for Tynemouth and Wallsend, commented

“We will provide helpful advice on how to keep homes safe from a fire – everything from not overloading electrical sockets, night-time routines, to making sure that there is an agreed escape route should a fire occur.

If we do miss anyone while we are out and about, we’d urge them to go to our website – twfire.gov.uk – and book a home safety check online.”

For more information on how to keep your home safe from fire, go to: https://www.twfire.gov.uk/safety-advice/home/prevent/