Danger street!

Glyn O'Reilly: worrying trend

24 incidents spark big safety drive
AN OLDHAM street has been named as a hotspot for kitchen fires.

Gainsborough Avenue, Coppice, has seen 24 cooking-related fires in the past two years — leaving six people needing hospital treatment.

Starting tomorrow crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will be knocking on doors in an attempt to avert a tragedy.

Glyn O’Reilly, Hollins station commander, said: “To see such a trend of cooking-related fires on one street is very worrying.

“There is no apparent reason why Gainsborough Avenue is such a hotspot— but a number of incidents have led to people needing hospital treatment.

“We will be in the area targeting the community and being proactive with our partners to offer advice in the kitchen to make people more safe. We will also be available to carry out home fire risk assessments.”

Forty-eight accidental house fires have taken place in Oldham since New Year’s Day — with more than 60 per cent cooking-related. Several incidents have involved saris and loose clothing catching fire.

The Hollins chief added: “There is quite a diverse community and we want residents to know we are here to help and to ring 999 in an emergency. We have had two near-fatal incidents in Oldham recently related to clothing being set alight.

Gainsborough Avenue residents unavailable on Friday but who still want advice can contact the Fire Service for a home fire-risk assessment on 0800 555 815 - a service open to all residents in any part of Oldham.

Fire community safety advisers will be giving talks and providing information at Werneth and Freehold Community Development Project, Tamworth Street, on May 2.


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