What are the local risks?

Major Fire and/or Explosion

It has been recognised for many years that certain industrial activities involving dangerous substances have the potential to cause accidents. Some of these accidents may give rise to serious injury to people or damage to the environment both close to, and further away from, the site of the accident. In 1974 an explosion in Flixborough shaped the approach to planning for these sort of incidents. The UK's most recent experience of this type of incident was in the neighbouring Local Resilience Forum area at Hemel Hempstead which also affected parts of Luton and South Bedfordshire with some school closures.

The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) and their amendments 2005, are the enforcing regulations within the United Kingdom with the aim of preventing major accidents involving dangerous substances and limiting the consequences to people and the environment of any incidents that do occur. They are applicable to any establishment storing or otherwise handling large quantities of industrial chemicals of a hazardous nature. Types of establishments include chemical warehousing, chemical production facilities and some distributors. Click here for more information on COMAH.Whilst Bedfordshire and Luton is not considered more at risk than any other part of the country, there are industrial sites, fuel and gas pipelines running through the area, and storage depots that have the potential to cause a major fire and/or explosion.

If a fire involves acetylene cylinders (as found at many garages, workshops etc) Fire Service procedures require the imposition of a 24-hour, 200m hazard zone. Anyone living within this zone will be evacuated until it is safe to return - it is important to Get Ready now so you know what you would do if this affected your home or business.

Protect yourself and your home: 12 top safety tips

How to make your house a safe home

1. Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them once a week. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year.
2. Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
3. Keep the exits from your home clear so that people can escape if there is a fire. Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find keys for doors and windows.
4. Take extra care in the kitchen — accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
5. Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. Consider buying a deep-fat fryer which is controlled by a thermostat (if you don't already have one).
6. Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that does not burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
7. Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and disposed of carefully and never smoke in bed.
8. Get into the habit of closing doors at night. If you want to keep a child's bedroom door open, close the doors to the lounge and kitchen — it may well help save their life if there is a fire.
9. Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember: one plug for one socket.
10. Keep matches and lighters where children cannot see or reach them.
11. Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking.
12. Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when not in use.

For more information see www.firekills.gov.uk.

To learn more about local plans in place to respond to this hazard click here.

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