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| The project is the first of its kind involving Shropshire Council homes |
A pilot partnership project between Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Shropshire Council aims to improve the safety of council tenants by carrying out home visits for the over 75's in a historic market town and the surrounding rural area.
The project is the first of its kind involving Shropshire Council homes and if successful could be rolled out to tenants of other Registered Social Landlords in the county.
Fire safety officers will visit council house tenants aged over 75 in the Bridgnorth area to give advice about how to reduce the risk of fire with statistics showing that people in that age range are more at risk of being involved in a house fire.
Tenants will receive a letter about the visits in the next few weeks.
Bridgnorth firefighters will check alarms and give valuable advice on how to escape if a fire breaks out.
"In some cases people have died because for some reason they did not escape from their property despite being alerted by a smoke alarm," said Delyth Humphreys, Vulnerable Person's Officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
"This is a vitally important fire safety visit which will show householders how to escape if a fire breaks out."
If successful, the scheme will be extended into the surrounding area of Albrighton, Broseley, Shifnal, Oswestry and Much Wenlock.
Councillor Mal Price, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for housing, said: “As a former firefighter myself, I have seen first hand the devastation that a house fire can cause. I welcome this partnership with the fire service because it’s important that our tenants are given the right advice to help keep them and their homes safe.”
