Teams from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) have worked together to deliver a record number of home fire safety (Safe and Well) visits this year.
The end of year performance (for April 2024-April 2025) showed the Service had completed 17,262 home fire safety visits – the highest number ever carried out to date!
The free home fire safety visits offered by HIWFRS help to support vulnerable members of the community, to help protect them and their home from fire. The visits are always person-centred and tailored to an individual’s needs.
As well as the high number of home fire safety visits, regular evaluation and quality assurance has also highlighted the high impact and quality of these visits. As a result of receiving a visit from HIWFRS, 89% of people felt safer in their home and 87% of people reported they had made behavioural changes since their visit (e.g. checking and testing smoke alarms).
Assistant Director for Prevention and Protection, James Lucy said:
“The record number of home fire safety visits completed this year is testament to how well teams across the Service have worked hard together to help make life safer across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“I’ve been so impressed by the efforts of our teams in this area, making a real difference across our communities, working well together and sharing information to support risk reduction across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
During a home fire safety visit we will:
- Identify potential fire risks and discuss how to prevent/reduce the risks
- Ensure you, or someone you refer to us, has working smoke alarms.
- Fit carbon monoxide detectors where needed
- Help create a household escape plan
- Provide fire safety equipment
- Give basic advice on topics such as smoking and falls prevention.
You can find out more about our home fire safety visits and make a referral for yourself or someone you know here. Whilst we’d like to offer visits to all Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents unfortunately, we aren’t able to. However, our home fire safety advice pages are packed with top tips to make your home the safest place it can be.
We also offer a free online home fire safety check which takes minutes to complete and generates a free personalised fire safety plan for your home.
