RYEDALE firefighters are hoping to prevent death and injury this winter with a hard-hitting campaign aimed at residents.

Senior fire officers from both Malton and Pickering are spearheading a campaign calling on homeowners to be vigilant throughout the winter months.

Sub-officer John Brown, who is based at Pickering fire station, led the call.

"We are finding that people are increasingly using old or badly maintained appliances to keep warm," he said. "They are often in a bad state and can easily start a fire and cost lives

"Dusting off an ancient electric fire from the attic or pulling out an old electric blanket may not be good enough if you want to be safe and warm."

He said that each year more than 1,000 fires were caused in the UK by electric blankets.

"These must be kept dry and serviced every two or three years, and they must not be left on overnight," said sub-officer Brown.

"The same can be said for electric fires - they can cause fires if not properly maintained.

"They must be fitted with the right fuse, cables should not be frayed."

Malton sub-officer Steve Ferry said the campaign also included warnings about other dangers within the home.

"We also want to stress that it is vital people have their central heating boiler checked because, believe it or not, this can also be a source of fire," he said.

"Chimneys used for open fires need regular sweeping to prevent a build up of soot which can easily catch and spread inside the roof.

"We want people to be aware of the dangers of paraffin heaters which also need to be regularly cleaned and the wick checked and trimmed

"Portable heaters should also be well maintained and checked over by a qualified engineer."

He added that a campaign to increase the number of smoke alarms used by Ryedale residents was still being pursued.

The campaign, which was launched earlier this year, involved firefighters from Ryedale visiting homes, checking fire safety and helping to fit a smoke alarm.

"Ideally we want every home to be fitted with at least one because this can be a real life saver - especially at this time of year when people are trying to keep warm," added sub-officer Brown.

Updated: 12:47 Thursday, December 06, 2001