THE importance of having working smoke alarms installed in the home is the key message being promoted by Clare County Fire and Rescue Service during National Fire Safety Week 2017, which continues until Monday, October.

The theme of this year’s safety campaign is “What Can You do to STOP Fire?”. The ‘STOP’ in the campaign slogan captures the key behaviours that will help people stop fires starting and therefore reducing the number of casualties and deaths as a result of fire. S is for Smoke alarms, T is for Testing smoke alarms weekly, O is for Obvious dangers, P is for Plan your escape.

“Unfortunately on average 40 people die in Ireland each year as a result of fire. This year’s campaign is aimed at prompting people to take protective fire safety action,” stated Adrian Kelly, Clare Chief Fire Officer.

“We are asking the public to play their part during National Fire Safety Week and check out the fire safety and prevention information on www.firesafetyweek.ie. By increasing fire safety awareness we hope to reduce the number of fires we attend and importantly, reduce the number of fire-related injuries and fatalities,” added Mr. Kelly.

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service advises that you install smoke alarms in your home to give you an early warning, check your smoke alarm every week & use long life lithium batteries with your smoke alarm if possible

In the event of a fire in your home Get Out, Stay Out And Call the Fire Brigade Out. The phone number to call out the Fire Service is 999/112.