Firefighter warns of danger in the home

Flexible shift patterns mean Debbie can still commit to her retained firefighting duties on her days off, in between carrying out free home fire safety visits, something the fire service regularly does in an effort to reduce the 5,500 house fires in Scotland every year.

Shockingly, almost all of those fires are accidental, and most of them preventable, with smoke alarms and a heat detector in the kitchen playing an important role.

As the first ever serious incident she attended as a new recruit was a house fire caused by cooking, she feels particularly strongly about this message.

She recalled: “The fire broke out at a house in the early hours of the morning. We could see the smoke hanging in the air en-route. It was a very sombre atmosphere as we approached, and no one was speaking.

“We received reports of a person inside, but when we got there, they had jumped out of the window to safety and suffered injuries. I was in the breathing apparatus crew who went in to search the property, and it really sticks in my mind. I was number two, led by a very experienced firefighter. He told me, ‘Stay close and keep low’.

“I remember being hit with this incredible heat as we tried to push the flames back with the line of delivery hose. I thought, ‘ This is it, we’re not training now’. There was an element of fear, but you use it to your advantage. This is what we train for, so what we’ve learned kicks in.

“It was another avoidable fire, and we want to make sure everyone is safe in their own home. This is where we need the public’s help.

“Most people who die in house fires are aged 60 and over, and so I would ask if you have a friend, relative or neighbour who could be at risk, please contact us to arrange a free safety visit.”