XN000022-1986-10-26 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1986

FIRE CHIEF WARNS OF SMOKE DANGER

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THE DANGER TO LIFE POSED BY SMOKE FROM BUILDING FIRES WAS EMPHASISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES, AT THE LAUNCHING TODAY (SUNDAY) OF THE 1986-87 FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, HELD AT EDINBURGH PLACE IN CENTRAL.

HE SAID THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN FIRES WERE NOT BURNT TO DEATH BUT WERE ASPHYXIATED BY SMOKE.

HOWEVER, MR HOLMES SAID, THE EFFECT OF SMOKE COULD BE MINIMISED CONSIDERABLY IF THE PUBLIC WOULD LISTEN TO THE FIRE SERVICES' REPEATED ADVICE TO KEEP SMOKE LOBBY AND SMOKE STOP DOORS IN GOOD CONDITION AND CLOSED.

+MAKE A PRACTICE OF THIS RULE OF LIFE AND YOU WILL MINIMISE SMOKE CREEPING AND BILLOWING FROM CORRIDORS ON TO STAIRCASES OR ALTERNATIVELY FROM STAIRCASES INTO YOUR FLAT.

+ADHERE TO THIS AND YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, HE SAID.

MR HOLMES ADVISED PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SMOKERS IN THE FAMILY, TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AROUND THEIR HOME BEFORE GOING TO BED, SUCH AS DOWN THE SIDES OF EASY CHAIRS OR ON THE FLOOR BY ASH-TRAYS, AS MANY PEOPLE WERE OFTEN OVERCOME BY SMOKE CAUSED BY SMALL, LONG SMOULDERING FIRES WHILE THEY SLEPT.

IF, UNFORTUNATELY, A FIRE HAD BROKEN OUT, THE IDEAL WAS TO EVACUATE THE PREMISES, MR HOLMES SAID.

+BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE,+ HE SAID. +IF YOU ARE BELOW THE FIRE, GO DOWN IF YOU ARE ABOVE THE FIRE AND THE ROUTE TO THE ROOF IS CLEAR, PROCEED - IF NOT, REMAIN IN YOUR FLAT, CLOSE THE DOORS AND USE WET CLOTHS OR TOWELS TO TRY TO STOP THE SMOKE ENTERING, AND ATTRACT ATTENTION BY ANY POSSIBLE MEANS.+

TURNING TO MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS IN BUILDINGS, MR HOLMES POINTED OUT THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY WAS THAT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND NOT THE FIRE SERVICES.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED: +IF YOU SUSPECT THE FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATION IN YOUR PROPERTY IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, INFORM US IT MAY MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU LIVING OR DYING, HE STRESSED.

REFERRING TO THE AMENDED FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE, WHICH MAKES IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO CREATE FIRE HAZARDS AND TO LOCK EXITS ON ESCAPE ROUTES, MR HOLMES SAID THE LEGISLATION WOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, AND OFFENDERS THEN MIGHT NOT BE WARNED AT ALL BUT PROSECUTED.

/+AS I STATED