A life-saving Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service initiative is being revitalised to help the elderly and vulnerable. The Home Fire Risk Check scheme is being relaunched.

In June 2008 the service launched its 0800 team to field calls on home fire safety, and to date the team has arranged more than 25,000 free checks throughout the county.

The re-branded initiative, launched this week, will see freshly designed vouchers replace the original postcards while a fleet of 13 vehicles will travel the county emblazoned with stand-out HFRC artwork and contact details.

It is hoped pro-active campaigning will encourage more people to book free checks to protect themselves and their loved ones.

The rebrand supports the service’s Young at Heart, Safe at Home campaign, launched last October to raise awareness of fire safety among the elderly and those who care for them.

The campaign is driven by statistics which reveal that 17 of the 19 fire deaths in Staff-ordshire since 2008 have involved people aged 65 and over.

Risk reduction officer Steve Leech said: “The new design was created in consultation with the community and our smoke alarm providers FireAngel. It is clear and to the point. The public will be in no doubt that our life saving service is totally free of charge and one telephone call is all that is required.

“Unfortunately, many older people in the community don’t know we are here and how we can help them. Our new-look campaign targets the over 65s and we needed to find a way to get our message out to them in an attractive, clear and interesting way. The new vouchers are eye catching and carry the relevant information and instructions for people to book a free Home Fire Risk Check.

Chief executive of Fire Angel, Graham Whitworth, said: “By supplying both smoke alarms and design solutions to this scheme we have gained a great deal of pride in helping to protect residents from fire in the Staffordshire area.”

The freephone number to telephone in order to request a free Home Fire Risk Check is 0800 0241 999.