North Wales Fire and Rescue Service are joining up with partners from the Caia Park Health Team at an event in Caia Park on Wednesday the 11^th of March.

National No Smoking Day; an annual health awareness day to help smokers quit the habit is held across the UK,  and staff from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be at Dr Rao surgery on Wednesday from 2pm-4pm, urging smokers to realise the potentially deadly dangers of lighting up in the home.

Staff will also be in attendance at Coleg Cambria- Deeside on Wednesday with the educational bus giving out helpful tips and advice to all of the students.

Smokers not giving up should still be aware of the fire risks they face, cut out dangerous habits, install smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them weekly. A working smoke alarm means you are more than twice as likely to survive an accidental house fire.

"Without the early alarm that a working smoke alarm gives, you lose valuable escape time in a fire," says Dave Roberts, Partnership Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire.

"Just two to three breaths of toxic smoke can render a person unconscious.

"The damage caused by fires in the home, including those caused by smoking materials is devastating. These types of fires can smolder for hours and if not detected then spread rapidly and without warning into very serious fires.

"By using 'No Smoking Day' as an opportunity to stub out the habit for good, you will not only improve your health and save you money; you will also reduce the risk of fire in your home.

"The best way to be sure of reducing your risk is to give up smoking - however, we appreciate for some smokers, kicking the habit can be extremely tough so our advice is to always be cautious when smoking at home and to put it out, right out after finishing a cigarette."

During last year sadly we were called to 51 fires caused by smoking materials; for smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home:

- Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished

- Fit a smoke alarm and test it weekly. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999

- Never smoke in bed. Take care when you're tired. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight

- Avoid drugs and alcohol when smoking. It's easy to lose your concentration when using any sort of drugs or drinking alcohol, combined with cigarettes and this could be lethal

- Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down

- Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can't tip over easily and is made of a material that won't burn.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service offer free home fire safety checks, where a member of the Service will visit your home, give fire safety hints and tips, help you to formulate a fire escape plan and fit new alarms - all free of charge. This service is available to all residents in North Wales.

To register for a free home fire safety check, please call the 24 hour free hotline on 0800 169 1234, e-mail cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk or visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk