Sponsorship for county's fire service

A FIRM of estate agents has become the first company to provide sponsorship to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Hannells Estate Agents has sponsored a new smoke house which will be taken to events throughout the county to educate people about fire safety.

And it was formally handed over to the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service at a ceremony at the service's headquarters in Littleover yesterday.

Andy Waldie, deputy chief fire officer, said he was very pleased with the sponsorship.

He said: "Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have a range of opportunities for potential sponsors which not only support vital services delivered to Derbyshire communities, but also opens up the possibilities of working with the business community.

"The funding we receive is becoming tighter and our grants are being reduced so this is an opportunity for us to create partnerships with companies and develop bigger aspects of the service as well.

"People recognise the brand of the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and we want to market our brand through such partnerships.

"We are really pleased to welcome Hannells Estate Agents as our first sponsor and hope to have a long and successful business partnership with them."

The smoke house is a tent which is filled with non-toxic smoke. It has inflatable obstacles inside to replicate home, office or building surroundings.

And the aim is for people to go inside, accompanied by a fire officer, and learn about fire safety and how to escape safely.

Speaking at yesterday's ceremony, Michael Brain, managing director of Hannells Estates Agents, said: "We always try and give something back to the community. We thought this was a great opportunity for sponsorship.

"Over the next three of four years, if one child is helped by the experience of the smoke house then it will have been a very worthwhile event."

The smoke house will be showcased for the first time at Derbyshire County Cricket Club on May 29.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Joanne Scott on 07786 393053 or e-mail jscott@ derbys-fire.gov.uk

IN the event of a fire, Oliver Sartain-Berry, firefighter and community safety officer at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "If you ever find yourself in a room full of smoke, you must keep down to the floor as low as you can.

"Keeping low means you are able to breathe as well as being able to feel your way through the room.

"Three breaths of smoke will render you unconscious,'' he added.

"Place your left or right hand against the wall and follow it until you reach the door.

"The idea of the smoke house is that people will learn and remember the experience and what to do if they ever encounter a real fire.

"It is a way of educating the community to keep them safe."