Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Launches Special Ramadan Safety Campaign for 2023

At Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, we want everyone to be safe while they’re observing Ramadan in Lancashire.

That’s why our community fire safety teams have put together a special Ramadan safety campaign for 2023. Through education and communication, the campaign encourages everyone to be wary of fire safety and other issues during the month of fasting, prayer, and community.

This month of Ramadan is from 22 March to 21 April.

Learn more about staying safe on our Ramadan safety webpage 

Staying Safe During Ramadan
Ramadan is a time of fasting and reflection, with observers only eating and drinking during one meal before dawn (suhoor) and another after sunset (iftar).

This set of circumstances – together with the cooking of traditionally deep-fried types of food – can unfortunately increase the likelihood of some fires in the home.

Fasting can also sometimes result in lower concentration levels if any individuals are hungry, tired, and dehydrated. Together, these factors can further increase the risk of a fire.

Our teams are working closely with members of the Muslim community to highlight the dangers of fire at mealtimes. From education around loose-fitting clothing near to gas burners, to keeping cooking areas clear, and reducing the amount of deep-fried food, this messaging seeks to help people stay safe.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Historically, some younger people have celebrated the occasion by renting high-performance vehicles. This has sadly led to some injuries and even deaths as many people are unused to driving such powerful cars.

Our service works closely with Muslim communities to increase education around the potential dangers of high-performance vehicles.

We are also communicating directly with the car hire firms that own these vehicles, encouraging them to make comprehensive checks as to who will drive the vehicle and how everyone can stay safe.

Our key Ramadan safety messages include:

Take care when wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking.
Never fill a pan by more than a third with oil.
Keep cooking areas clean and clear.
Turn off all hobs, grills, and ovens after use.
Check in with older or more vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours.
Do not rent a high-performance vehicle for those who are too young to rent them themselves.
If you have a fire at home, get out, stay out, and call us out.

Launch Events
Last month, Blackburn Fire Station organised a launch event for the campaign. In attendance were the Mayor of Blackburn, Councillor Suleman Khonat J.P., local imams, representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), leaders of local women’s groups, and colleagues from partner organisations such as Lancashire Constabulary.

Mayor of Blackburn, Councillor Suleman Khonat J.P. was among the event’s guest speakers.

At the event, representatives from the service delivered a presentation to illustrate the intent of the campaign and to encourage community leaders to spread the safety messages. ​​​​​​​

In central Lancashire, Preston’s community fire safety team also hosted a launch event. This joint approach seeks to reach at-risk people who we can help avoid fires in the home and accidents on the roads.

“We want to support everyone who is fasting for Ramadan, from our own firefighters and support staff right through to members of Lancashire’s diverse communities.

“You can help us by spreading those safety messages around fire in the home and on the roads. This can help to ensure everyone stays safe during the month of Ramadan.

“It’s fantastic to be able to meet community leaders, especially when they can help us reach at-risk groups with our important safety advice.

“As always, it’s been a pleasure to work alongside my colleagues in delivering the Ramadan safety campaign for 2023.

 
John added:

“We know that English is not the first language for some Lancashire residents, and we now have fire safety advice in Urdu and Gujarati, both in print and on our website.

“Our community fire safety team has also created some fire safety videos in British Sign Language (BSL), further increasing the campaign’s accessibility with high-risk groups. BSL is also widely understood by deaf people with Asian or Arab heritage, making these videos perfect for use during Ramadan.

“On behalf of everyone at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, I wish you a happy and safe Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!”