Reminder to stay safe during adverse weather
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is reminding people to pay attention to their safety at home during the current adverse weather conditions.
The Service continues to respond to emergency incidents as usual despite the challenging conditions. However, due to some roads being blocked or difficult to pass, it may take longer for appliances to attend certain locations.
Residents are reminded to pay attention to their safety during these challenging times by following this advice:
- Ensure you have working smoke alarms to give early warning of fire
- No not leave cooking unattended
- Prepare an escape plan and ensure that everyone in the family knows how to leave the home safely in an emergency.
Area Manager Wayne Bowcock said: “The public can help the emergency services at times like these by doing everything they can to keep themselves and their families safe, and checking on vulnerable neighbours.
“As always, when life is at risk, call 999 and we will respond as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Service is the fifth largest in the country, and has more than 100 fire appliances across the two counties plus access to National Resilience assets such as high volume pumping appliances.
At the height of the spate flooding conditions on 21st November, for example, the unusually high demand saw around 40 appliances attending incidents at the same time, leaving sufficient resilience to attend other incidents where required.
The Service also continues to be called to incidents caused by motorists driving into floodwater.
Area Manager Bowcock said: “Please do not drive into floodwater as vehicles can stall and be carried away in relatively low levels of water.
“A motorist sadly died this week in a neighbouring Service area and we want to do everything possible to prevent it happening again.”
