People with no known fire safety experience are carrying out unexpected ‘official’ fire safety assessments’ at retail and office premises, Warwickshire businesses are warned.

Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue and Trading Standards Services were alerted by a Stratford business that had been approached by two males who claimed to be there to make an assessment of their fire precautions.

Watch Commander for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Paul Simmons said:

“We are very concerned to hear that businesses are being approached by people claiming to be from the fire and rescue service. I would like to advise businesses that when our officers visit premises to carry out fire safety assessments, they will always be in uniform and carry an authorisation card.

“If there is any doubt, then you can call our fire safety department on 01926 410800 to confirm your visitor is employed by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

Trading Standards Officers suspect that the callers probably represented a fire equipment sales firm and were claiming to be carrying out an ‘official fire safety assessment’ as a prelude to trying to sell the business fire safety equipment.

Businesses are to undertake a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for their premises.

The Fire Safety Order allows for any competent individual to carry out the assessment and there are a number of organisations willing to undertake risk assessments for businesses. However, businesses should ensure that any individual employed to carry out a fire risk assessment is suitably competent and qualified.

Businesses requiring further information or wishing to verify the identity of a visiting Fire Safety Officer should phone Fire Safety Headquarters on 01926 410800.

 For more information visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/businessfiresafety