FIRE officers are calling on families in Barnsley to make a house fire escape plan, after a major survey found less than half of parents discuss with children how to get out safely in the event of a blaze.
They spoke to nearly 2,000 parents about a range of topics, including fire safety. It found that most people, some 95 per cent, knew how to reduce the risk of fire in their home and that even more, 96 per cent had at least one working smoke alarm.
But just two out of every five parents who responded, some 43 per cent, said they had talked to their children about escaping quickly and safely in the event of a fire.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue already talks to tens of thousands of children each year about escape routes and preventing fires during primary schools visits.
Area manager Steve Helps said: "There are fewer house fires now than at any time in South Yorkshire's history, but in the unlikely event that a blaze does occur it's vital that everyone in the house knows what to do, especially in homes where there are young children.
"It's important that on discovering a fire children know not to hide, which can often be their first instinct. Instead, we would encourage families to work together to know and discuss the best routes in and out of their house and to make sure that everyone knows where to find door and window keys in the event of a fire, especially at night."
