Protecting the county’s most vulnerable residents in their homes is the driver behind a new initiative between the fire service and Cambridgeshire County Council.

An online risk assessment checklist was created on the council website and call-takers in the contact centre are inviting callers requesting one of their services to complete the form to see if they qualify for a free home fire safety check.

From the information given a risk matrix helps calculate an individual’s score.

The score then determines what support the individual will receive from the fire service. This may include information sent by post or a specific visit from fire service staff.

Paul Clarke, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s adult safety risk manager, said: “Community safety remains a key priority for us and we are always seeking new ways to identify those most at risk from fires in their homes.

“Although the number of people who die in house fires is low in Cambridgeshire, those who sadly have are typically elderly residents who have other issues that make them vulnerable; such as mobility issues or mental illness.

You can find the form at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/site/xfp/scripts/xforms_form.as... or for more information about what a home fire safety check is, visit www.cambsfire.gov.uk/home-fire-safety-checks-508.aspx