THE fire service in West Yorkshire aims to carry out more than 55,000 free home fire safety checks in the county by the end of March next year.
Specialist community fire safety teams will make more than 14,000 visits. The other 41,000 will be by station-based firefighters across the county.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig McIntosh said: “We started offering home safety checks and fitting smoke alarms in 1996. We now do more than 4,500 a month.
“This is largely responsible for the dramatic recent fall in fire deaths and injuries.”
In the 12 months to March 31 this year there were 11 preventable fire-related deaths in home across West Yorkshire, way ahead of the service’s target to reduce the number to 18.
Mr McIntosh added: “We are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way we campaign and target those most at risk because we recognise that some people are harder to influence than others and may never have contact with the fire service until a potential tragedy strikes.”
Another spokesman for the West Yorkshire brigade said pro-active community fire safety work was now an integral part of a firefighter’s job.
He added: “The prevention of fire is seen as being at the heart of fire service modernisation.
“It is something West Yorkshire has been proud to champion for a decade.”
