Fire education needed?

I think it would be a good idea. Most of us all probably grew up in a time when chip pan fires were also a thing, as well as coal fires, garden bonfires and so on. We also had all those public information films on tv warning about all sorts of things - and I'm sure many of those have stuck with us throughout the years.

I think we should have "general common sense" education. The people who are ignorant of fire issues are probably the same ones who don't take their litter home when they go to a beauty spot, throw litter out of the car window on the motorway and are now surprised that their eyes are hurting after being warned not to look at the sun during the eclipse.

I agree about the public information films we used to have, particularly about water safety - "co-ee Petunia" and driving - "Reginald Mole husband" spring to mind even after all these years.

Sorry, rant over!

They haven't been able to play. Watching 16-25yo do bushcraft is quite a thing to be seen.

I really think we need to start looking at how children learn through old fashioned play in lighting fires etc as I believe, it teaches the dangers as well as the skills

When I was a kid we made fires, cooked on them, had bonfires etc . My kids do the same and so do the GC.

Schools don't need to do this. It's another of the every day skills to be learned at home with parents; along with crossing the road, cooking, swimming, using everyday tools safely (needles, scissors, knives, hammer and saw).

JaneJudge

They haven't been able to play. Watching 16-25yo do bushcraft is quite a thing to be seen.

I really think we need to start looking at how children learn through old fashioned play in lighting fires etc as I believe, it teaches the dangers as well as the skills

To be honest, my kids did all that - and my GC does the same with his papa even now. But many parents now are too afraid to even let their children get dirty, never mind learn things like starting a fire.

Most families with kids have barbecues in their gardens, regularly in use so I don’t buy they know completely nothing about fires. Also I read and I don’t know how true it is that several fires have been set deliberately after tik tok suggested lighting as many fires as possible as one of their challenges. Education in school is a good idea.

BTW sounds disgusting but one of my mum’s tests to see if an iron was hot enough was to spit on it and see it bubble. She of course was of an era pre electric iron when you couldn’t set the temperature. My grandmother would only use a flat iron nested on her Rayburn right into the Sixties.

For those who deliberately set fires, I dont think any education would make much difference. They see it as some sort of dare I suppose. I don’t know what the answer is.

I’m afraid I think that some people, perhaps especially teen boys, will do things because they’re forbidden.

I can’t think why else there was recent evidence of two portable barbecues (burnt black grass) in nearby desert-parched Richmond Park, when there are very clear signs banning fires and barbecues.

Beggars belief that people need educating about fire ! There will always be fools of course who think tragedies won't happen to them . No amount of education / warnings will make a scrap of difference to some people.
Anyone lighting a campfire or similar in this extreme weather condition should be heavily fined. As mentioned on the news recently , Britain at the moment is a tinder box!

We've had three local fires that took out a lot of heathland. Two were apparently due to barbecues (they were found at the scene) and one they think was a cigarette butt thrown over a hedge which set light to a garden. The old lady who lives there could have been seriously injured if a neighbour hadn't seen the smoke and tackled the fire before calling the fire brigade.

There have been pleas by the fire brigade over and over to not use barbecues at the moment but it's not having any effect.

We went to a lake 2 weeks ago. The lake (reservoir) was low and the grass straw dry. It was very busy - but had lots of burnt patches of grass from I presume barbecues put directly on the grass. There was a barbecues and fire ban in place. Lots of people had taken picnics and we overheard some moaning about the ban. Staff were politely enforcing the ban.

People aren't aware enough in some situations that the risk lies in the possibility or not of getting away from the fire rather than the fire itself. I had to mention in one community hub converted from a house that the potted in the passageways were fire hazard as was the one obscuring a fire extinguisher.

25Avalon

Most families with kids have barbecues in their gardens, regularly in use so I don’t buy they know completely nothing about fires. Also I read and I don’t know how true it is that several fires have been set deliberately after tik tok suggested lighting as many fires as possible as one of their challenges. Education in school is a good idea.

BTW sounds disgusting but one of my mum’s tests to see if an iron was hot enough was to spit on it and see it bubble. She of course was of an era pre electric iron when you couldn’t set the temperature. My grandmother would only use a flat iron nested on her Rayburn right into the Sixties.

In polite society the only way of testing the heat of an iron is to spit on it. Well known fact.

Some years ago I was trapped in an area where a fire had been set deliberately……..I can assure you that it is terrifying! I feared for my life but was lucky to escape reasonably unscathed, some others didn’t! The incident has left me very wary of naked flames, anything that is combustible and accelerants and I’m always mindful, when indoors, to know where the fire escapes are.

I think it's an excellent idea for achools to teach fire safety.
It coukd include an element of first aid, too.

ViceVersa

I think it would be a good idea. Most of us all probably grew up in a time when chip pan fires were also a thing, as well as coal fires, garden bonfires and so on. We also had all those public information films on tv warning about all sorts of things - and I'm sure many of those have stuck with us throughout the years.

I second this as a good idea.

Silvershadow

For those who deliberately set fires, I dont think any education would make much difference. They see it as some sort of dare I suppose. I don’t know what the answer is.

There are also some people who set fires due to a mental health condition, usually as a reaction to a stressful event. In my experience, they are often more likely to set fire to a building and they need mental health treatment.

People who set fires as a dare or for "likes" on social media are a disgrace. My first thought was that they should be made to confront the consequences of their actions by meeting the victims of arson, but I don't think they'd take it seriously.

25Avalon

Most families with kids have barbecues in their gardens, regularly in use so I don’t buy they know completely nothing about fires. Also I read and I don’t know how true it is that several fires have been set deliberately after tik tok suggested lighting as many fires as possible as one of their challenges. Education in school is a good idea.

BTW sounds disgusting but one of my mum’s tests to see if an iron was hot enough was to spit on it and see it bubble. She of course was of an era pre electric iron when you couldn’t set the temperature. My grandmother would only use a flat iron nested on her Rayburn right into the Sixties.

In polite society the only way of testing the heat of an iron is to spit on it. Well known fact.

MissAdventure

I think it's an excellent idea for achools to teach fire safety.
It coukd include an element of first aid, too.

Agreed.

MollyNew

I think we should have "general common sense" education. The people who are ignorant of fire issues are probably the same ones who don't take their litter home when they go to a beauty spot, throw litter out of the car window on the motorway and are now surprised that their eyes are hurting after being warned not to look at the sun during the eclipse.

I agree about the public information films we used to have, particularly about water safety - "co-ee Petunia" and driving - "Reginald Mole husband" spring to mind even after all these years.

Sorry, rant over!

Remember Charlie the cat? Charlie was warning us about being careful, especially in the kitchen. The public info films always started "Charlie says........"

I can almost guarantee that fire safety would be a lesson all pupils would br happy to participate in.
The chance to let off a fire extinguisher isn't to be sniffed at!

Yes, let’s add compulsory fire safety lessons to the already overloaded school curriculum. Is there anything that teachers shouldn’t be responsible for teaching?

Every year we had to undertake Fire Training module as part of our yearly compulsory training, we couldn't get out of it, I have seen so many times, it's almost instinctive, which is the idea I expect?
I totally agree school children and all those in colleges should undertake similar education. As well as public information adverts sponsored by the Government.

Well, that's me told
Fair enough.
I was thinking though, of more a part of whatever lesson it is they have which used to be "personal development" when i was at school.

Not a whole extra subject with a curriculum and exam.