Fire & Rescue Service

The main aim of the modern fire service is to prevent fires from happening in the first place. Our fire fighters spend a large part of their time delivering safety education to all sections of the community; this now includes work to reduce road traffic collisions.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has partnerships with many different agencies from both voluntary and public sectors. We carry out many services and in the Blaby District we are currently carrying out   Home Fire Safety Checks and Smoke Alarm Fitting:  LFRS supplies and fits smoke detectors and carries out safety checks free of charge in the homes of vulnerable people. To qualify for a free smoke alarm you must fall into one of the following groups: families with children under 5 (or under 16 if a single parent), disabled people, or over 65’s. We also work in partnership with social services to provide specialised smoke alarms for deaf people living alone.

We are also in the process of carrying out Talks to community groups: LFRS staff regularly give fire safety talks and presentations to all sections of the community of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, youth, toddler and community groups.
In order to improve our service and communicate more efficiently with ethnic minority groups, we now have 7 bi-lingual Community Safety Advisors. Languages offered include including Punjabi, Gujerati, Hindi, Urdu, Cantonese, Turkish, and Somali. Additionally, one advisor has skills in  British Sign Language.

Events:  We provide stands and displays at large events such as festivals, fairs and open days. At large outdoor events our ‘POD’ vehicle, which is set up as a living room containing many fire hazards, provides a good base from which to give advice to the public. Dependent on operational commitments, an appliance from a local fire station, or a demonstration of a hot oil fire may also be possible.

Firecare: Firecare advisors are trained to deal with children and young people who set fires deliberately. We work with under 18’s on an individual basis in their own homes, educating them in the dangers of playing with fire and encouraging them to look at the consequences of their actions. We take referrals from any source as long as parental permission has been given. 

Arson Task Force: As nearly 70% of the fires we attend are started deliberately, the Arson Task Force (ATF)  runs targeted initiatives for arson reduction. Sadly, most of the perpetrators are children and young people. In conjunction with operational fire fighters, the ATF engages with schools and groups of young people in areas of high arson incidence, to offer programmes of diversionary
activities such as ‘Firehouse’ and ‘Fireball’. In addition to this, the ATF works with local councils and the police on Environmental Action Days and other multi-agency initiatives.

For further information on any of the services we offer, or to request fire safety leaflets, please contact us by telephoning 0116 2872241 or by e-mailing infoservices@lfrs.org

Fire safety advice and examples of leaflets available can be downloaded from the website  campaigns.direct.gov.uk/firekills/

Did You Know?

• Nationally, the most common cause of accidental fires in domestic premises is unattended cooking .

• The most common cause of fatal fires in UK homes is smoking-related materials.

• Fire causes more accidental deaths of children in UK homes than any other type of accident.

• On average, 7 out of every 10 fires attended by LFRS in 2006 were started deliberately.

• Most deliberate fires are started in bins, skips and on grassland / play areas by children aged 9 – 14 years.

Statistics for accidental fires in Leics and Rutland (both domestic and business premises) April 2006 – February 2007

Electrical: 349
Unattended cooking / fat, or articles left on cooker: 158
Smoking related materials (inc. children playing with matches): 74
Naked lights/candles: 23

Some Fire Safety Advice

Most fires start through carelessness! Be aware of the risks and avoid a fire starting in your home.

• Never leave naked flames unattended, or where they can be knocked over or set soft furnishings alight – this includes candles, cooking and cigarettes.
• Avoid an electrical fire – don’t overload sockets, turn appliances off at the wall whenever possible; never use appliances with worn cables.
• Do a check before you go to bed – close interior doors.
• Check your furniture – if it was made before 1988 it won’t have been treated with a flame retardant and will easily be ignited by a naked flame or cigarette.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Fit a smoke alarm and test it regularly. If you fall into one of our target groups (se above), contact us and we will fit one free of charge.

Knowing what to do in the event of a fire

• Make an escape plan – keep your escape route clear and know where your keys are kept.
• Get out and call 999. Never go back in!

Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service website
Fire kills website