NO Smoking Day takes place on Wednesday, March 9 and while the main focus will be to encourage smokers to give up the habit, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (H&WFRS) plans to use the opportunity to highlight fire risks.

Representatives from H&WFRS’s Community Safety team will be giving out fire safety advice specific to smoking as they join the PCT and other agencies in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre on March 9 between 10am-2pm as they promote the health benefits of kicking the habit.

In 2010, H&WFRS attended 23 accidental fires caused by smoking materials. This included two in Herefordshire resulting in two people being injured, and 21 in Worcestershire where there were eight injuries and one fatality.

Station Commander Grant Wills from the Community Safety department at H&WFRS explained that while people are all too aware of the health benefits of giving up smoking, they aren’t always aware that it will reduce the risk of a fire in the home.

He said: “While we hope that this year’s No Smoking Day will encourage smokers to give up the habit, it’s important that those who don’t wish to quit are fully aware of the fire risks associated with smoking and the actions they can take to minimise the risk to themselves and their families.”

To help keep people safe from fire, H&WFRS provides free home fire safety referral checks and, where necessary, free smoke alarms. Call 0800 032 1155 to arrange a visit to get fire safety advice.

Further advice on home fire safety is also available from H&WFRS’s website at www.hwfire.org.uk while more information on No Smoking Day is available from www.nosmokingday.org.uk.