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Christmas message from the Chief Fire Officer

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Be safe this Christmas and New Year

The Christmas holidays are upon us once more, and we will soon find ourselves surrounded by friends, family, food and festivities. Christmas trees, decorations and presents will fill our homes, ready for the big day, and soon everyone will be flocking around the Christmas dinner table.

But whilst you celebrate and enjoy these memorable moments with your loved ones, please remember to extra care and think about fire safety in the home during this festive period. A few simple actions, such as not leaving cooking or candles unattended and turning off fairy lights when you go to bed, could be difference between a Merry Christmas and tragedy. And if you are out celebrating into the small hours and fancy something to eat - dive into the cold leftovers or grab a takeaway on route, rather than trying to cook something when you get home – as the consequences could be disastrous.

Moreover, if a fire were to occur in your home, working smoke alarms can provide you vital time to escape - so I would also encourage everyone to fit at least one working smoke alarm on every level of their home and make sure they are tested weekly. It's also important to have an escape plan to get out of the house in the event of a fire and don't forget to make any friends or relatives staying with you aware of this plan.

Further advice on fire safety can be found in the Safety and Advice section of our website and also on our Twitter feed Twitter feed @HWFire. You can also find out if you are eligible for a free Home Fire Safety Check by calling our Community Risk Department on 0800 032 1155.

As always, our fire crews and control staff will maintain their 24 hour watch across the two counties throughout the festive period.

On behalf of everyone at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nathan Travis
Chief Fire Officer