Home fire safety visits during coronavirus (COVID-19)

  

As you may know, ECFRS Home Safety Team briefly paused our Safe and Well Visits while we assessed what additional risks coronavirus posed to our colleagues and the people who need our help.

We know that people don’t stop being vulnerable in the midst of a pandemic, and are also conscious that with more people spending even more of their time at home, the likelihood of house fires will only increase.

That’s why we’ve made a few changes to the way we work, but want you to know that we are still able to visit those who are most at risk of fire.

For the moment, we are working a little differently.

For those who are most at risk of fire...

We will still offer a Safe and Well Visit, during which we can fit standard or sensory smoke detectors, and provide our usual fire safety and burglary prevention expertise.

We will still be able to make referrals to other agencies for help and support, and talk about wider health and wellbeing wherever we need to.

The only difference to this service is that we’ll do more talking over the phone, will be wearing personal protective equipment including masks and gloves, and will ask the resident to keep their distance while we work.

For those people who are not quite as vulnerable...

We will offer a personalised conversation with one of our Safe and Well Officers or firefighters, during which they’ll be able to talk through how to live more safely at home, and ask any questions they need to.

In addition, for those people who are able to fit alarms themselves, are able to place an alarm somewhere high in their home, or have a friend or relative who can help them, we’ll deliver our smoke alarms to their doorstep. We will also include any advice or literature that might be useful.

When the situation in the UK improves, these people will be able to contact us and book a full Safe and Well Visit.

Our Home Safety bookings and advice line is still open as usual

If you have any questions about fire safety, need to refer someone for a Safe and Well Visit, tell us that someone is at risk of fire, or just need some advice and guidance, please do call our Home Safety Team.

The phone line is open Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4.30pm (or leave a message out of hours) or you can email.

To contact us for advice, to book a visit or a telephone call...

Phone: 0300 303 0088 (9.30am - 4.30pm, or leave a message out of hours)

Email: home.safety@essex-fire.gov.uk

Online form: Request a Home Safety Visit/Safe and Well Visit for yourself

Online form: Request a Home Safety/Safe and Well Visit for Somebody Else

Home safety videos: ECFRS YouTube channel 

If you have any questions, please just get in touch.