Reminder on smoke alarms in Carmarthenshire
Council tenants are being reminded of the importance of smoke alarms following a number of recent cases where the alarms have been removed.
Property Services teams regularly check homes and other council premises to ensure smoke alarms, and other appliances, are in good working order.
In recent months, they have reported an increase in cases where either batteries have been removed, or the entire unit has been removed altogether.
Their warning comes at a time when there have been several serious, and even tragic, house fires in Carmarthenshire.
They are asking all tenants to ensure their smoke alarms remain in place, and if batteries do run out, to ensure they are replaced immediately.
Len Davies, services manager based at Llanelli’s Trostre Depot, said: “Our staff have reported back an increasing number of cases where smoke alarms have been disabled or removed altogether.
“Not only does this pose a serious risk to tenants, but also poses us a problem in terms of compliance.
“We have a responsibility to ensure our homes are safe, and we are asking tenants to co-operate with us on this very serious matter.
“We would also like to remind tenants of the importance of letting our staff in to the premises when appointments have been made, as this allows us to carry out the necessary checks and to ensure the alarms are functioning properly.”
The Property Services team is working closely with colleagues in the housing division, as well as those in the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Carmarthenshire County Commander Rob Quinn said: “Members of the public should always ensure they have working smoke alarms, and under no circumstances should they remove batteries or deactivate detectors.
“These devices save lives, and could make a real difference to your chances of escaping from a home fire unharmed. They also help to give you an early warning so that a fire can be contained by firefighters before it destroys your home.
“We urge people to check their alarms to make sure they are working, and to contact the Fire Service on 0800 169 1234 for us to check that their house is fire safe.
“If you don’t have smoke alarms we will install them during our visit without charging a penny, and we can also check existing alarms to make sure they are working properly.
“This is a free service that will make you and your family safer, and give you peace of mind.”
Cllr Hugh Evans, executive board member for housing and building services, said: “It is vitally important that tenants, and private homeowners, have working smoke alarms fitted to ensure they have time to react if a fire was to break out in their home.
“This is a very serious matter, and we are working closely with the fire service to ensure everyone is aware of the safety advice, including private householders.
“Unfortunately there has already been one very tragic incident in the Llanelli area where batteries had been removed from the smoke alarm unit – this is a very stark warning of the dangers, and we do not want to see this happening again.”
• Any council tenants concerned about missing or defective smoke alarms should call the council’s Contact Centre immediately on 01267 234567
Property Services teams regularly check homes and other council premises to ensure smoke alarms, and other appliances, are in good working order.
In recent months, they have reported an increase in cases where either batteries have been removed, or the entire unit has been removed altogether.
Their warning comes at a time when there have been several serious, and even tragic, house fires in Carmarthenshire.
They are asking all tenants to ensure their smoke alarms remain in place, and if batteries do run out, to ensure they are replaced immediately.
Len Davies, services manager based at Llanelli’s Trostre Depot, said: “Our staff have reported back an increasing number of cases where smoke alarms have been disabled or removed altogether.
“Not only does this pose a serious risk to tenants, but also poses us a problem in terms of compliance.
“We have a responsibility to ensure our homes are safe, and we are asking tenants to co-operate with us on this very serious matter.
“We would also like to remind tenants of the importance of letting our staff in to the premises when appointments have been made, as this allows us to carry out the necessary checks and to ensure the alarms are functioning properly.”
The Property Services team is working closely with colleagues in the housing division, as well as those in the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Carmarthenshire County Commander Rob Quinn said: “Members of the public should always ensure they have working smoke alarms, and under no circumstances should they remove batteries or deactivate detectors.
“These devices save lives, and could make a real difference to your chances of escaping from a home fire unharmed. They also help to give you an early warning so that a fire can be contained by firefighters before it destroys your home.
“We urge people to check their alarms to make sure they are working, and to contact the Fire Service on 0800 169 1234 for us to check that their house is fire safe.
“If you don’t have smoke alarms we will install them during our visit without charging a penny, and we can also check existing alarms to make sure they are working properly.
“This is a free service that will make you and your family safer, and give you peace of mind.”
Cllr Hugh Evans, executive board member for housing and building services, said: “It is vitally important that tenants, and private homeowners, have working smoke alarms fitted to ensure they have time to react if a fire was to break out in their home.
“This is a very serious matter, and we are working closely with the fire service to ensure everyone is aware of the safety advice, including private householders.
“Unfortunately there has already been one very tragic incident in the Llanelli area where batteries had been removed from the smoke alarm unit – this is a very stark warning of the dangers, and we do not want to see this happening again.”
• Any council tenants concerned about missing or defective smoke alarms should call the council’s Contact Centre immediately on 01267 234567
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