Educational and fun

Young people from play schemes in Barnet have been visiting the fire station in The Burroughs over the past week to learn about fire safety in the home. Fire officers set up recreations of a kitchen and a living room and asked children to point out potential fire hazards.

Hendon station commander Paul Digby said: "If you can make young people aware of fire safety, they will be able to take the knowledge home to their parents.

"This two-week scheme will enhance the Hold Fire campaign which aims to get smoke alarms fitted in every house in the borough. We have already had a good response, and 214 new alarms have been fitted.

"We ask all the children who come to the fire station whether their home has got a smoke alarm, and if they don't have one, we are giving them out. We also emphasize that it is important to check smoke alarms regularly and replace any of those that appear to be broken."

Tours of the fire station will continue next week when young visitors will be able to explore the inside of a fire engine, with officers from Hendon, Mill Hill, Barnet and Finchley fire stations on hand to answer questions.

Child carer Cheryl Hoare took 20 children from AJ's playgroup at St Joseph's School, Hendon, to visit the fire station on Monday.

"The experience was educational and fun for our members, who are all between eight and 11 years old," she said. "They learnt a lot about safety, and are looking forward to speaking to their parents about smoke alarms."

Free smoke alarms

The Times Group's Hold Fire campaign has already got more than 200 smoke alarms fitted into homes in Barnet. Only 28 per cent of households that suffered fires in the borough were equipped with a smoke alarm. All it takes is a simple call to have a smoke alarm installed free of charge by trained firefighters. Call 020 7587 2300 to find out if you are eligible to have an alarm fitted

August 20, 2002 16:30