House fire deaths prompt plea for help

Sadie Ferguson died as a result of an early morning fire at her Dundrum Road home in March; the accidental blaze at the semi-detached cottage, where Mrs. Ferguson lived alone, raged for more than three hours as firefighters battled to bring it under control.

Mrs. Ferguson’s 74-year-old sister and next-door neighbour, Violet, raised the alarm, reportedly after she and husband Billy were awakened by their own smoke alarm.

Checking that elderly relatives, friends and neighbours have working smoke alarms is one of the areas in which NIFRS are seeking public help, though in Mrs. Ferguson’s case, son-in-law Edward Tate later stressed his mother-in-law’s home was itself equipped with three working alarms.

Accidental house fires claimed the lives of seven elderly people in a period of just six weeks, a sudden increase and “unspeakable tragedy” that according to NIFRS Portadown District Commander, Victor Spence, had “struck at the very heart” of the Fire and Rescue Service.

“We are all family people ourselves,” he said, “and our thoughts remain very much with all of the families who have been left devastated from the deaths of these very vulnerable people over the past six weeks.

“I want to assure the public that we are doing everything we possibly can do out there on the ground; our firefighters are out there working as tirelessly as ever to ensure that elderly people in particular are kept safe from the dangers of fire in their homes.

“We have been heavily targeting our community education and engagement activities right across Northern Ireland and prioritising our free Home Fire Safety Checks for the over 65s. We have also been meeting with partner agencies to identify if there are any further measures we can take over and above all the work we are currently doing – because we believe that by working together we can save more lives.

“We do however need the community’s help to protect this very vulnerable demographic. I am personally urging people again to take some time to check in with their elderly neighbours, elderly family members or elderly friends and consider their fire safety.

“Check that they have a smoke alarm and test it for them to ensure it is working. Check their home for fire safety hazards and take time to explain to them the importance of a bed time fire safety routine, a fire escape plan and make sure they know who to contact in an emergency.

“I would urge you to avail of our free Home Fire Safety Checks for them. By doing this local firefighters will check their home to help make it fire safe. They will check for people at risk, appliances that could cause fire, help with any actions to avoid fire and most importantly check that a smoke alarm is working. If necessary we will fit a free smoke alarm for them.

“You can phone for a free Home Fire Safety Check on 028 9260 0477, Text phone/Minicom 028 9262 8800 or go to our Website www.nifrs.org for further information.”