Firefighters have been scrambling around to help high-risk elderly residents in Dumfries and Galloway with their smoke alarm dilemma.
Pensioners and vulnerable people throughout the region have been caught out by the Scottish Government’s new legislation requiring interlinked fire alarms, which reduce the risk of injury or death.
This is due to an average installation cost of £220, rising energy prices, and confusion over the legislation.
The matter was discussed at Wednesday’s Nithsdale Area Committee, which was attended by councillors and Dumfries fire and rescue station commander Andy Wilson.
Council leader Elaine Murray asked the fire chief: “There’s quite a lot of concern that people were unaware of the legislation and might not be getting the alarms fitted, and indeed then their home insurance might not be valid.
“I just wondered if you were able to give us any update on how that’s going?
“What’s the uptake in getting people compliant with the legislation?”
Andy Wilson replied: “We are trying our best to attend any high-risk premises that have been flagged up to us through our fire safety visits or partner referrals.
“In terms of the legislation, it’s a difficult one for the fire service because it’s not enforceable from our side as it’s domestic.
“We don’t have anything we can add, other than giving advice to members of the public. It’s obviously a Scottish Government initiative that we’re trying to support as best as we can.”
North West Dumfries Councillor Andy Ferguson said: “I should thank, through Andrew, the fire service for a really rapid response to a vulnerable constituent of mine about a fire alarm.
“She was getting into a real state about it and I know that Andrew’s team helped fix that for us.”
Every home in Scotland is now required to have one smoke alarm in the most frequently used room, one in every circulation space on each storey, and a heat alarm in each kitchen.
A carbon monoxide detector must also be installed where there is a boiler, fire or flue, although this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.
A Scottish Government webpage on the fire alarms legislation states: “The new law came into force on February 1, 2022, but it provides flexibility for people to fit the necessary alarms within a ‘reasonable period’ after this deadline.
“No one will be criminalised if they need more time, and there are no penalties for non-compliance. However, we would encourage everyone to install these alarms, which can help save lives.”
