A Darlington MP has joined local fire fighters to raise awareness of the dangers of living in homes without working smoke alarms fitted. Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington, wants landlords to be forced to fit smoke alarms in their rented properties, so that tenants are protected at all times from the potentially lethal effects of a house fire.
Shocking Smoke Alarm Figures
Recent research has shown that people living in homes without a working smoke alarm are four times more likely to die if a fire breaks out. Sadly not everyone sees the importance of having a smoke alarm installed and analysis of the house fires attended by Darlington and County Durham firemen in the last twelve months showed that 43% of homes didn’t have a functioning smoke alarm.
Save Lives
We all know that smoke alarms can save lives. If a fire breaks out while you and your family are asleep in bed, without the shrill sound of a smoke alarm to wake you up you probably would never wake up at all. Ever.
Fire Service Comment
Dominic Brown from the County Durham and Darlington Fire Service concedes that deaths as a result of fires have fallen in recent years, but he adds:
“…The majority of victims continue to be those who are most vulnerable, often living in private rented accommodation. Making it a legal requirement for all landlords to fit smoke alarms will improve the safety of hundreds of families and stop dozens of people from losing their lives to fire each year.”
Mr Brown believes that the government needs to introduce legislation to force landlords to install smoke alarms and help save lives, which is something Ms. Chapman supports.
