Alcohol and Drugs

Every year Strathclyde Fire & Rescue attends a large number of alcohol and drug related fires. The majority of these start because people drink alcohol and fall asleep whilst cooking or smoking.

The problem is often that the person who has been drinking will not wake up when a fire takes hold, particularly if they do not have a working smoke alarm.

It only takes one act of carelessness when smoking or cooking to result in someone losing their home, their possessions or, ultimately, their life.

Even when the alarm is raised and firefighters enter the home, it is not uncommon for a person to have already lost consciousness and died through smoke inhalation.

Even if the person is not asleep, intoxication can cause drowsiness and can make them less alert to the signs of fire. When they do discover a fire, the alcohol/drugs can heighten feelings of disorientation, making it difficult for them to escape.

Being drunk can make you uncoordinated and uninhibited and as a result you are more at risk of causing a fire from cooking or smoking.

We advise people to:

• Buy food on the way back from the pub, rather than attempting to cook when you get home.
• Never drive home when over the legal alcohol limit, and take care if walking home.
• Make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished before you go to sleep.
• Ensure a working smoke alarm is installed, as this will greatly increase the chances of escaping if fire breaks out in the home.
• Check smoke alarms using the test facility once a week.
• Do not drink so much that you cannot take care of yourself, your family or your home.