Arson Prevention Advice at Home

Neighbours

Try to promote good relations with neighbours, especially those who overlook your property. Encourage them to contact the Police if they see intruders in your garden, or observe anything of a suspicious nature involving your home. Do the same for them.

Garden & Fencing

Ensure any damage to fencing is repaired promptly to deter intruders.

Where provided, side entry gates should be secured unless in use, to prevent intruders accessing the rear of your premises .

Avoid placing bins, rubbish, or other combustible items, against the walls of your home. These are a ready supply of fuel for the arsonist.

Don't leave flammable liquids, (turps, thinners, etc), in the open. Ensure such items are locked in a shed or outbuilding unless in use.

Sheds and garages should be well secured as they often contain tools which can be used to force entry to your home. They may also contain flammable liquids!

External Doors

• Fit good quality external doors
• Existing doors that incorporate flimsy panels can be upgraded with good quality plywood
• Ensure gaps, (particularly at the bottom), are kept to a minimum
• Five lever mortice locks are advised for external doors

Letterbox

A metal mailbox will contain most burning materials, (including fireworks), pushed through the letter flap. If the flap is well fitted and maintained properly, it will close following the introduction of a burning item, thereby restricting the oxygen supply which feeds the flames. Intumescent letter flaps and mail containers are also available, offering the added advantage of containing any liquid accelerant (such as petrol), introduced through this opening.

Home Security

• Maintain a rigid 'lock-up' regime whenever your home is vacated.
• Be aware that burning materials are sometimes introduced into homes through open ground floor windows. Close them if no one is home and consider fitting window locks

Fires Which Have Been Discovered Burnt Out

• Always request Fire Service attendance, (using the '999' system), for any incidence of fire, even when it appears a fire has self-extinguished
• The Fire Service are constantly looking for patterns, or trends, in respect of all fires.
• The Arson Task Force specifically look for patterns where fires are caused by deliberate ignition. Your fire could be the missing 'piece' from the 'jigsaw'!

Insurance Cover

Make sure you have adequate insurance cover for your home and contents

For further information on the above products or services, please refer to your local trades directories or press

You may also wish to consider the following points to protect your family from fire, whether caused accidentally or deliberately

• Fit and maintain smoke detectors in your home. They should be tested monthly and the batteries changed yearly.
• Pre plan a fire escape route with all family members
• Close all doors at night to keep smoke and heat out of escape routes
• Avoid storing items on the staircase, they will present a trip hazard to those escaping in smoke or darkness
• Be aware that double glazed units are difficult to break. In an emergency, they should be struck in a corner with a sharp object
• In the event of fire. Get out!... Stay out!... Call the Fire Service!