In County Durham kids are learning the dangers of fires in the home with the help of a “time machine”.

The Display travels back in time to show how a fire starts as part of a ongoing fire safety campaign across the region, it is aimed to make kids aware of potential Hazards. The display is shown to 10 year old children by the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

The display begins with a major house fire using audio visual effects; it travels back in time to the moment the fire starts in a bedroom. Other messages are also passed out during the display, like the dangers of railway lines, electrical safety and crime awareness.

Member of the County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority, Councillor John Robinson stated:

“The “time machine set” delivers vital fire safety messages using theatrical technology to young members of our community, to help them remember the potentially life saving advice for both themselves and their families.”

Last Friday, the services for the Channel Tunnel had to be interrupted due a fire that started when a lorry on board caught fire and flames spread quickly to other vehicles.

The fire started just before the French end, rescue teams arrived at the scene to control the flames and help 32 passengers evacuate through a service tunnel, most of them were lorry drivers, seven were English.

Some of the passengers were taken to a hospital with respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation. At the time there were no passenger trains in the tunnel.

The destruction caused by the flames are the worst in the tunnel’s history, French authorities said that in the main area of the fire temperatures reached 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832F), fire fighters managed to control the fire at around 7am UK time and spent another 2 hours putting minor fires out.

It took 300 fire fighters to control the fire and it is likely that Euro star will suffer significant delays to its services for some time.

The damage caused by the fire in 1996 took six month to repair and last week’s fire was much worst.

The HSE web site runs a monthly series debunking common H&S myths this months is an amusing one debunking the banning of the traditional poles in fire stations they say:

It was widely reported that a fire station was built without the traditional pole for ‘health and safety’ reasons.

As the county’s Chief Fire Officer said: ‘Whilst every consideration regarding health and safety was taken into account, the reason a pole was not included was purely due to space restrictions.’

Poles are not banned and firefighters around the country continue to use them.

At the week end there was a rather grim reminder of what can happen if fire safety is not given the priority it deserves.

Sunday 6th July was the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha Disaster. 167 oil workers perished on the North Sea platform owned by the American Occidental oil company when a gas leak ignited in a massive fireball.

Alex Salmond (Scotland’s first minister) led the tributes to the Victims.

“I hope the commemoration of the 20th anniversary provides a reminder to everyone that in these hostile, dangerous waters, safety should always be paramount.”

As a result of the disaster The Cullen Enquiry was set up to establish the cause. In November 1990, it concluded that the initial condensate leak was the result of maintenance work being carried out simultaneously on a pump and related safety valve. Piper Alpha’s operator, Occidental, was found guilty of having inadequate maintenance procedures. A second phase of the enquiry made far-reaching safety recommendations, all of which were accepted by industry.