Following the fatal house fire in Bootle on 22 September, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service has this week completed a community reassurance campaign in the area.

As part of a collaborative community reassurance campaign, firefighters, Prevention staff and partners from Merseyside Police, Sefton Council and One Vision Housing have spent time in the area visiting homes and speaking directly to residents about fire safety, lithium-ion batteries and the importance of having working smoke alarms.

The campaign saw 124 Home Fire Safety Checks completed. Of these, 10 were identified as elevated risk and referred to MFRS Prevention for a Safe and Well visit in the near future. A total of 65 smoke alarms were installed during the campaign.

A further 117 properties were visited, where residents either declined a Home Fire Safety Check or information was provided through leafleting.

The visits have provided an opportunity for residents to speak to professionals about their concerns, receive practical fire safety advice and learn more about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The cause of the Stone Square fire was confirmed as an electrical event causing a lithium-ion battery for an electric scooter to go into thermal runaway.

MFRS Head of Prevention Kevin Johnson said: “We know this has been an incredibly difficult incident for the local community, and it was important to us that we came back into the area to speak directly to residents and offer reassurance and practical fire safety advice.

“Working alongside our partners has allowed us to reach more people and make sure residents have the information and support they need to help keep themselves and their families safe.

“We’re also reminding residents about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which are found in many everyday items. It is important to use the correct charger, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never ignore warning signs that a battery may be failing.”

Residents are reminded to stop using a lithium-ion battery immediately if it begins to swell, makes unusual sounds, develops a strong smell, fails to charge or starts smoking.

MFRS is also urging people to make sure they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home and to test them regularly.

Residents are also being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the escape routes from their home and make sure everyone in the household knows what to do in the event of a fire. All internal doors should be closed at night to help slow the spread of fire and smoke.

If a fire blocks your escape route and you cannot get out safely, close the door and block the bottom with towels or bedding to help prevent smoke from entering. Call 999 and tell the operator where you are, and signal from a window if you can.