In a bid to raise fire safety awareness Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service are offering free household safety checks in the Northumberland area. Crews are scheduled to visit homes in Bedlington, Cramlington, Blyth and Ashington as well as other locations on request.

As well as offering general fire safety advice 10 year smoke alarms will be fitted in households that do not currently have one, free of charge.

Even if you already have a smoke alarm statistics show that in one in every eight house fires attended by fire and rescues services, the smoke alarm failed to work, largely due to flat or missing batteries.

Follow Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service’s six essential smoke alarm tips to make sure you push the button, not your luck:

• Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home.
• Check the battery once a week.
• Replace the battery every twelve months.
• Battery smoke alarm units should be replaced every ten years.
• Consider installing ten-year battery smoke alarms or mains-powered alarms.
• Do not put smoke alarms in the kitchen or bathroom.

To arrange a visit or for more information, call 0800 731 1351