Linked fire alarms would‘save lives’

A fire chief has sought to allay fears about people being duped in to paying more than they can afford for mandatory linked fire alarms.

Every home in Scotland must now have interlinked fire alarms, with legislation coming in the wake of the Grenfell fire in 2017.

This has led to claims of people taking advantage of the requirement by law to install them, charging homeowners exorbitant fees to do so.

Homeowners and landlords are responsible for fitting at least one smoke alarm in their main living room, one in every hall or landing and a heat alarm in their kitchen. While there is funding available for elderly and disabled homeowners, through Care and Repair Scotland, there are fears about some not fitting them because of the cost. During a report by Area Commander Ian McMeekin, at South Ayrshire Council’s Partnership Panel, Labour’s Ayr North Councillor Ian Cavana raised the issue, saying he ‘feared people wouldn’t adhere to it because of the cost’. Mr McMeekin replied: “The Scottish Government has given us additional funding to help those who are at greater risk and are homeowners.”

He added that previous fire legislation changes were taken advantage of as it was an ‘opportunity for people to make money’.

He continued: “That is why working with agencies like trading standards so that any worries about bogus operators can go to the relevant agency.

“We know that price ranges, depending on the size of the home, can fluctuate. The last thing we want to see is a member of the community being put under pressure due to it being to their financial detriment.”

He insisted that the move to link alarms ‘would save additional lives’.

Mr McMeekin said his priority was ensuring that those at risk were supported and added: “Where we have stock we will try and fit to the standard. It is not a statutory duty, but we will try to do that.”