LOCAL firefighters mark this year's Fire Safety Week next week - but bosses insist that their fire awareness campaign is a year round effort!

Lancashire fire chiefs will use the week to help focus attention on an ongoing campaign against chip pan fires and FACE (Fire Awareness Child Education).

Spokesman John Taylor said: "We welcome fire safety week but we want to emphasise that fire safety is a year round concern."

The successful campaign against chip pan fires, piloted in Lancashire, has now been launched nationwide.

Mr Taylor insisted: "We are pleased at the success of the campaign, but we won't rest on our laurels."

"Our advice is try to turn the power off and, if you can, put a damp but not dripping cloth on the pan and call us out.

"Don't throw water on the fire and don't remove the cloth."

The other major campaign, FACE, sees a dedicated team, based at the county's training centre in Chorley, visiting youngsters who have an unhealthy interest in fire.

Mr Taylor said: "Children as young as five are identified by parents, teachers or social workers as having a problem."

"Trained advisers will visit them and try to get them out of the habit."

Youngsters are also the focus of the brigade's Trauma Ted effort.

The force is working with children who are seriously affected by fire. Their work will include giving out a teddy bear dressed in a fireman's outfit to children who suffer from this problem.

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