Homeowners in Renfrewshire are being urged to install interlinked heat and smoke alarms in a nationwide media campaign launched before new fire safety laws come into effect next year.
From February all homeowners will be required to have interlinked alarms under legislation brought forward after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017. This saw 72 people perish after a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London.
These alarms significantly reduce casualties by alerting everybody in a property to a fire. Most homes will also require a carbon monoxide alarm.
Private rented and new-build homes must already meet these standards, but from February they will apply to every home in Scotland, regardless of age or tenure.
The cost for an average three bedroom house which requires three smoke alarms, one heat alarm and one carbon monoxide detector is estimated to be about £220.
This is based on using the type of alarms that can be installed by the homeowner, without the need for an electrician.
The Scottish Government is providing £500,000 to help eligible older and disabled homeowners with installation, in partnership with Care and Repair Scotland.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “One death from a house fire is one too many, and improving fire safety remains our utmost priority.
"In February Scotland will become the first UK nation to require every home to have interlinked fire alarms, which significantly reduce the risk of injury or death.
"If there is a fire in one room it will set off alarms throughout the property, giving residents more time to escape.
“Homeowners are generally responsible for paying for works to protect their property, but we know some may not be able to meet the cost of fitting these alarms.
"That is why we are providing £500,000 to help disabled and older people, on top of the £1 million we have already provided to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service to install alarms in owner-occupied homes identified as being at highest risk.”
The latest statistics show that people who are over the age of 50, smoke and either have mobility issues, live alone, or use medical oxygen are most at risk of a fire in the home.
In the area, which includes Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, 24 people over the age of 50 have been a casualty of an accidental fire in the home in the last 12 months.
In 2020, it was revealed the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area recorded the third highest number of accidental fires in the country.
A total of 39 accidental dwelling fires (ADF) were recorded in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde between December 9, 2019 and January 13, 2020.
Only Glasgow and Edinburgh recorded higher figures for accidental fires, with firefighters attending 66 and 49 respectively.
In Scotland, a total of 446 fires were recorded which claimed the lives of six people and resulted in 56 casualties, with 34 per cent aged over 60.
Alasdair Perry, head of prevention and protection at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Having the earliest possible warning of a fire in the home can and has saved lives and property.
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"Having interlinked alarms installed will allow everyone, anywhere in the house to take action as quickly as possible.
“The Scottish Government has provided financial support to our Home Fire Safety Visit programme, which will allow us to fit to the new standard in the homes of those identified through our robust criteria as being at higher risk.
"However, if we go to any property that has no detection, we will still provide a battery-operated stand-alone smoke detector and advise the occupant about the new standard for the fire and smoke alarms required by the legislation in all Scottish homes.”
