Bright sparks to get fire safety lessons

FIRE safety in the home will be the lesson of the day for schoolchildren as young as ten under a plan unveiled yesterday.

An awareness campaign is to be rolled out in primary schools nationwide, with fifth class pupils all over the country learning about safeguarding the home.

The move is part of a hard-hitting campaign aimed at saving more lives.

To mark the start National Fire Safety Week, a major television advertisement was launched yesterday to bring the fire safety message into every home in Ireland.

The theme, Live with Smoke Alarms, puts the primary focus on detection, according to Environment Minister Dick Roche.

“Smoke alarms do not prevent fire but they can certainly save lives,” he said at the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre.

The Cribben family from Athlone, saved by smoke alarms when their house was destroyed by fire in 2005, are backing the cause.

Mr Roche stressed that despite 80% of households in the Republic having smoke alarms, he is determined to increase smoke alarm ownership.

The event, which runs until October 9, was launched jointly with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

The minister praised the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for its success in community fire safety, and announced plans to roll out a primary schools programme similar to one that has been operational in Northern Ireland for the last number of years.