Make sure your white goods are safe is the message during Home Safety Week

The key objective of this year’s Home Safety Week (26 September – 2 October) is to raise awareness of the risk of accidental fires caused by home appliances. The focus is mainly on white goods.  

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to protect themselves by ensuring appliances are registered and correctly installed, maintained and used. Small changes in everyday behaviour can reduce the risk of incident occurring or escalating. 

Pete Buckingham, Prevention Delivery Manager says “All appliances carry a risk of causing fires.  Older or vulnerable people may need help identifying issues with appliances and protecting themselves from the risks of an incident with their white goods such as cookers, dishwasher, tumble dryers, washing machines, fridges, although many of the messages can be applied to other appliances in the home.  We ask that people don't leave appliances on unless they are designed to continuously run, as in the case of a fridge. This means not leaving things running while the house is unoccupied or when the household is asleep.

"We also ask households to test their smoke alarms and check escape.  If your home is prepared in the event of an incident it means that you can respond safely and appropriately."