Don't risk your life trying to fight house blazes, says minister

Householders have been warned not to risk their lives by trying to tackle blazes during the firefighters' strike.

Nick Raynsford, the Local Government minister, delivered the plea for caution as he launched a £1.8mpublic fire safety campaign yesterday.

He said people should act in exactly the same way as if the firefighters were at work. "Don't put your life at risk," he said. "If a fire starts in your home, you should get out, stay out and call 999."

Ministers have been alarmed by an opinion poll which showed that 20 per cent of people were willing to tackle a blaze in their home if firefighters were on strike.

Mr Raynsford, who is in charge of the day-to-day running of the fire service, also called on the public to abandon plans to hold Bonfire Night celebrations in gardens and instead go to council-run events.

He announced a safety information campaign, including newspaper and radio advertisements.

Four million advice leaflets will also be distributed to homes judged most at risk, including addresses occupied by the elderly and students and large buildings subdivided into flats.

Fire brigades, GPs' surgeries, health authorities and Citizens Advice bureaux will also be giving out information. Six hundred trade unions and associations are also to be contacted.

Sir Graham Meldrum, the chief inspector of fire services, is writing to more than 25,000 businesses employing more than 100 people each to ask them to review their safety arrangements.

Mr Raynsford also released a series of tips for avoiding domestic blazes. They included not filling a chip-pan more than one-third full and fitting smoke alarms on every floor.

More information is available on the campaign website, www.firekills.gov.uk.