“Be Safe & Save” this winter – make sure you have heater safety

People are being by Lancashire Fire and Rescue urged to make sure their heaters are safe this winter.

It comes as the rise in the cost of living may see households use alternate methods to heat their home, including gas or open fires, log burners or electric heaters.

Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service has joined forces with energy networks Electricity North West and Cadent, as well as partners including Lancashire Age UK, to encourage residents to be safe when heating homes this winter.

The ‘Be Safe & Save’ campaign is raising awareness of the risks of using these appliances, and is sharing guidance on how to use them safely and how to keep them maintained.

The advice includes:

• Gas heaters and fires should be well ventilated, maintained regularly and a carbon monoxide alarm should be placed in the room in case of any functional problems and to keep the household safe and healthy.
• Residents who plan to use open fires and log burners should use fireguards to prevent embers spreading to flammable items, while the chimney should also be swept regularly.
• Electric heaters should be kept in good working order and kept away from flammable materials.
• Outdoor heaters, barbeques, hobs or ovens should not be used to keep a room warm and, if gas-powered, pose a carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
• Everyone should make sure they have working smoke alarms – at least one on each level of the home.

Find out more here: Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service urges people to stay safe and warm this winter – Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (lancsfirerescue.org.uk)

For more information on support around the cost of living, please go to: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/cost-living-support