OLDER people are being encouraged to take up the offer of free home fire safety checks.

Steve Morgan, who heads up Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s efforts to prevent deadly blazes, spoke out after the inquest of Nellie Shaw.

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The former Rishton chippy owner, 84, was overcome by toxic fumes when flames ripped through her large detached house in the Ribble Valley in March.

Her husband Philip, also in his 80s, escaped and was found outside by passing motorists.

The pair had smoke alarms, although a whole raft of extra safety devices are also available, including flashing lights, vibrating pads for under pillows, and alarms that are linked directly to the fire service.

Mr Morgan said the fire service looks at what can be done to prevent further tragedies after any fire-related death, and also called for carers and families of the elderly and vulnerable to take action on their behalf.

He stressed nobody was to blame for the fire that killed Mrs Shaw, but said he was keen to avoid any similar incidents in the future.

“We try to involve families, especially where they are informal carers,” he said. “They are our eyes and ears.

“We want to carry out a bespoke assessment in the property, and ask people if they have thought about a fire plan, access and routes from the property, if they take mobile phones to bed with them, if they keep their keys somewhere safe at the same time, have they thought about what to do if the smoke alarm sounds in the middle of the night and they can’t get out the building.”

Mr Morgan said even people who have never experienced a fire in their lifetime or who believe they are fully prepared for a blaze should ask for a free safety check.

“We are not trying to be condescending or pedantic in any way, shape or form. We are simply saying that, through the benefit of what we know, they are much more likely to have a poor outcome if they are over 75.

“All we are looking to do is reduce the number of fires in the first place, but also improve outcomes for the people involved in them.

“Our over-arching objective is about making Lancashire safer. It’s a challenge, no two ways about it.

“But there’s nothing our staff like more than going into a property and thinking it’s well thought out.

“On the flip side, if we go in and there’s something that can be done, that’s a win for us too, because we can make a difference.

“If we leave a house and say, ‘you know what, you’ve got it all boxed off, great work,’ it provides people with reassurance.”

To book a free home fire safety check, call 01772 862545 or www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk.