Firefighters expand scope of safety visits

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue will update its fire safety checks to expand its focus to health, wellbeing and mobility.

As part of the new Safe and Well scheme, firefighters will visit homes of vulnerable people. A Lincolnshire County Council spokesman said: “In the past they have done fire safety checks but now the focus of the visits is changing to a more general health and wellbeing focus. Mobility will also be included.”

Currently, residents can apply online or over the phone for a home safety check. These involve a firefighter or advocate visiting a property to assess the fire safety.

John Cook, acting deputy chief fire officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “Our home safety checks have had a huge, positive impact on people’s safety in the county, sustained over several years.

“We are very well placed to extend what we currently offer in order to support our partners and promote further potentially life-saving advice to the people we visit.”

He added: “We will still be assessing the physical risks of fire in the home, but also looking holistically, so considering health, social and lifestyle factors. We know, based on experience, that there are clear links between these and someone’s vulnerability to fire.”

A spokesman said Safe and Well checks will be carried out through referrals rather than individual applications.

Coun Nick Worth, executive member for fire and rescue at Lincolnshire County Council reasoned:  “It makes sense to expand this activity into areas of health and wellbeing to help keep vulnerable people safe and well in their own homes.”

A link is still available to online to apply for the existing home safety checks.

To request an assessment, visit lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr or call 01522 582222.