3:32pm Wednesday 18th October 2006
By Asian Image reporter
Smoke alarm ownership among the Asian community is 10% lower than the national average.
In the run up to Eid and Diwali the community is being urged not to be be complacent when it comes to Fire Safety.
Statistics show that every year in the UK there are 48,000 accidental fires in people's homes, resulting in 327 deaths and 10,000 injuries.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of fire safety issues within Asian communities.
The campaign aims to ensure that Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Muslim communities celebrating the festivals do so safely.
Candle fires increase by over a third during the Diwali period and over 20 percent of deaths caused by candles occur at this time. National statistics show five fires are caused by candles in the home every day .
The celebrations all involve an increased amount of cooking and entertaining in the home. National statistics indicate the heightened risk of fire within the kitchen with nearly 57 percent of all fires in the home caused by cooking accidents,. There are 20 fat pan fires every day in the UK.
Fire Minister Angela Smith, said: "It is ironic and tragic that during periods of celebration there is a dramatic increase in the number of fires amongst many communities.
"It's not only Diwali and Eid, but we also see an increase at Christmas - it's often that safety comes second to celebration.
"The campaign aims to make communities more aware of their surroundings and ensure that they are actively thinking about fire safety in the home."
"By taking just a few simple precautions you can greatly reduce the risks for yourself and your family. I would especially urge the celebrating communities to ensure they have a working smoke alarm installed on every floor of their home."
The announcement complements other fire safety work undertaken by the DCLG and the fire and rescue service and supports the Government's mainstream Smoke Alarm Maintenance' campaign, running concurrently.
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