Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service events push festive safety message in Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service events push festive safety message in Swindon

8:00pm Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News By Matthew Edwards

WITH the festive period just around the corner the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be holding a week of action as part of the Swindon Christmas Safety Campaign.

Over six days, the service will be focusing on a variety of safety messages relevant to the festive season, and events are being held throughout the town.

A fire engine and a fire safety display will be in the town centre on Saturday between midday and 3pm.

Firefighters and other staff will be on hand to talk to members of the public about keeping their homes safe over the Christmas period.

The focus will switch to road safety in the evening, with a crashed car being put on display in the town centre at the end of Bridge Street between 8pm and 10pm.

On Monday, staff from the Service’s Technical Fire Safety department will be visiting shops around the town to ensure that fire safety regulations are being followed and shoppers remain safe during the build-up to Christmas.

Children at Westlea Primary School will have a visit from a firefighter and fire engine on Tuesday, to make sure they understand the importance of fire safety.

Road safety will be back under the spotlight on Wednesday, with councillor Steve Wakefield being cut out of a car at Westlea fire station, starting at 10am.

A fire engine and the fire safety display will be at the Orbital shopping centre, next to Asda Walmart, on Thursday, between 10am and 1pm. Firefighters and other staff will again be on hand to talk to members of the public about keeping their homes safe.

The week of action finishes next Friday, December 7, with the crashed car display being put into the Hooper’s Place car park in Old Town between 8pm and 10pm.

Group Manager Ian Jeary, who manages the Swindon area fire stations, said: “The build-up to Christmas is always a concern for us – we have to make sure that shops are safe despite the extra stock, licensed premises are always a lot busier, and the risk of drink-driving is always greater.

“In addition, dangers in the home can include the use of candles, flammable Christmas decorations, not checking smoke alarms and cooking related fires.”

“This is the first time that we’ve gone out into the community in this way, and I’m hoping that we can get our safety messages across to a wide range of people over the week.

“We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Christmas – we don’t want to be called to road traffic collisions or fires.”