Fire service urges families to stay safe this Eid

Chief Fire Officer Steve McGuirk

As the Muslim community in Greater Manchester celebrate Eid, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service wants everyone who takes part to do so safely.

Many families prepare a substantial meal as part of the celebrations and when people come together for a communal meal it could be very easy for a fire to start.

Chief Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: “It is ironic and tragic that during periods of celebration there is a dramatic increase in the number of fires amongst many communities. Our aim is to make people aware of their surroundings and ensure that they are actively thinking about fire safety in the home.”

Fire safety messages that will help people celebrate Eid safely include:

When cooking:

• Never leave cooking unattended- even to answer the ‘phone or the door – serious fires can start when your distracted, even for a few seconds.
• When cooking deep-fried food, dry it before you put it in the hot oil. If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave the pan to cool. Never fill the pan more than one-third full of oil. Never throw water over the pan. 

Smoke alarms:

• Your first line of defence should be a smoke alarm. If there is a fire, a smoke alarm will immediately warn you, giving you and everyone in your home time to escape to safety.
• Fit smoke alarms on the ceiling on each floor level in your home – the best places are top of the staircase, stair landing and between living and sleeping areas (do not fit them in the kitchen).
• Do NOT remove the batteries – if your smoke alarm keeps going off it might be too close to the kitchen
• Test your smoke alarms once a week to make sure the batteries are working.
• If you are buying a new smoke alarm consider a 10-year alarm which will require less frequent battery changes.
• But don't forget that all types of alarms need to be tested once a week. 

Make sure you make an escape plan for in the event of a fire – and everyone in the house knows what to do.