FIREFIGHTERS don't just fight fires.

Educating people about fire safety and prevention is also part of the job say the men at St Andrews Road North fire station in St Annes.

Station Officer Peter Melvin explained: "Our job is not all about putting out fires. Less than 50 per cent of our time is spent dealing with fires.

" A major part of our job involves public safety and getting the message across to the public about making their homes safer places in which to live, and reducing needless deaths in homes."

The firefighters are currently promoting fire safety by offering free home safety checks and fitting free smoke alarms at homes in the Fylde.

The main target for these services are the community's most vulnerable people -- the elderly, those with lower incomes, single parents and people living in multiple occupancy homes, such as flats.

The fire crews also work with children. "We want to get the message across early. We go out to schools and work with Year Three and Year Six children, telling them about fire plans for their home," said leading firefighter Bob Martin.

Fire and Child Awareness Education (FACE) is another initiative in which the firefighters visit children who tend to play with matches and make them aware of the dangers.

"All parents need to do is contact the fire station," said station officer Melvin. "We are a totally public service."

But he stressed the dangers of making false calls to the station and of youngsters starting small, playful fires. "These take us away from what could potentially be very serious fires," he said.

He added that basic commonsense safety measures could help to cut down on fire-related deaths and injuries. "Fitting a fire alarm, slowing down the progress of a fire by closing doors -- make sure you close doors before you go to bed-- providing good ashtrays and making sure all cigarettes are properly extinguished are all simple but important steps," he said, "And if you haven't got a smoke detector, then get one."

For a free home fire safety check, phone the fire station on (01253) 722286.