Electric Blanket Testing in Welshpool and Llanfyllin

Residents of  the Welshpool area are being urged to get their electric blankets checked free of charge before the winter sets in.

Fire Crews will be testing Electric Blankets for safety at Welshpool Fire Station on Monday, October 18 between 10am and 4pm and at Llanfyllin Fire Station on Thursday, October 21 between 10and 4pm.

Noappointment is necessary but there may be a waiting time. Any blankets which fail the test will be destroyed at the time. Free replacement blankets will be
issued at a maximum of one per household regardless of how many blankets are tested.

Fire Crews will also be in attendance giving Fire Safety advice and offering free Home Fire Safety Checks. If your blanket is over three years old and
has never been tested, please bring it along to be tested before it is used.

Community Fire Safety Officer Tim Williams said : “Most people underestimate how long they have owned their electric blanket. If it is 3 years old it now needs testing before use. If it is nearer 10 years old, we advise you to discard it and get a new one.

 "A fire caused by a faulty blanket is rare but they still happen every year.We are unable to visit every village and town so encourage people to bring their
blankets to their nearest venue.
 

"If there is sufficient demand we will carry out testing again in November at one or two locations”.

A home fire safety check takes about an hour to complete and is generally undertaken by two Fire Service representatives.

You can request a home fire safety check for yourself or a dependant relative by contacting the Service on a free phone telephone number 0800 169 1234 or by sending a SMS text message entitled ´HFSC´ with your name to 88365.

Alternatively, you can contact your local station directly, or via the online form at
www.mawwfire.gov.uk