Take In Your Bin

Want To Know More?

Ask us / the article supplier for additional information...

 

Receive Means of Escape's Newsletter
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with the five councils in the county (Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Wirral and Sefton) to tackle the growing problem of wheeled bin fires.

In the first three months of this year, firefighters were called out to more than 1,300 fires in Merseyside involving wheeled bins or rubbish containers.
It's a growing menace that is affecting the whole of the UK but the situation could be improved with the help of residents, if they take some simple safety steps to safeguard their property - and ultimately their lives.

The dangers were tragically highlighted last November when two people in Merseyside lost their lives in a fire, started in a recycling bin on top of their wheeled bin.

Now a new campaign in Merseyside is tackling wheeled bins by urging people to only leave their bin out on collection day and store it in a safe place.

Tony McGuirk, Chief Fire Officer, said:

"Rubbish fires are a drain on our resources and at the end of the day, it is council-tax payers who are footing the bill. We are continuing to work to address this problem but there are some simple steps that people can take to help reduce the chances of their wheeled bin being set alight - only leave the bin out at the specified time so you don't become a target and store the bin away from property, particularly doorways and windows to reduce the danger of any fire spreading."

To highlight the safety message, local councils in Merseyside are placing stickers on wheeled bins and the Fire Service's Arson Task Force will be targeting hot spot areas for more concentrated fire safety work. They will be looking at various innovative ways of tackling the problem, including the possibility of using wheel clamps for the bins to prevent them being stolen.

Local authorities are currently arranging for the new stickers to be placed on wheeled bins.

John Sayers, Chair of Citysafe, Liverpool's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, said:

"This campaign is a multi agency approach to specifically raise awareness to communities within Liverpool and Merseyside of the dangers of leaving `wheelie-bins` out to the elements. The partnership hopes to inform communities via the distribution of wheelie-bin stickers, about the dangers of arson and theft of wheelie-bins which have led to fatalities within Merseyside."

Sam Grady
Publicity Officer
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
0151 296 4417

http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/

Article Archives
Go Back
Our Sponsors:

© Copyright 2011 Means Of Escape   Terms & Conditions   Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2011 Think Agency - Website Designers Kent