Drinking and frying can be lethal '“ expert

Paula Bishop's role is focused on reducing accidental fires in the most disadvantaged areas of the Arun district. These include the Pevensey and Marine wards of Bognor.

She will be touring homes to speak to residents about how to keep themselves safe from fires.

One of the tips at the top of her list is not to have a fry-up after a drinking session.

A bacon butty and a portion of chips after a night out might be tempting to the taste buds but the combination of a booze-induced sleep and a deep fat fryer left on can be tragic.

Paula said: 'People realise drinking and driving is dangerous. Drinking and frying can be just as dangerous. I will be trying to persuade people to find alternative methods of cooking to deep fat frying.'

A similar simple potentially life-saving tip concerns banning candles from domestic premises. They may look pretty, they may smell pretty but their effects can be anything but.

Paula's husband, Chris Bishop is the fire service district commander for the Arun district, and is well aware of the consequences of a candle left burning by mistake. His firefighters attended blazes where 16 injuries were caused by accidental fires last year.

It has been three years since the last fatality in an accidental fire '“ when a man died in a Bognor bedsit '“ but there are 200 dwelling fires each year in the district.

Paula's job is to reduce that level of blazes.

Her main target during her 15 month contract will be to carry out 1,200 home fire safety calls. She will be visiting domestic premises to check the occupiers are safe and secure. She can fit smoke alarms where they are needed as well as handing out general advice. This includes ensuring residents have sound escape routes and know what to do if a fire breaks out in their property.

Those she will be targeting are those shown to be most at risk from domestic fires '“ the over 65s, those with a disability, drinkers and smokers and tenants.

She will stagger her visiting times to include early evenings and Saturday to ensure as many people as possible can be seen.

'I will consider my job to be a success if the number of fires is reduced over a 12- month period from the previous 12 months,' Paula (42) explained.

'Despite the increased use of smoke detectors, too many people are still dying or being injured by fires and other accidents that can be avoided,' she added. 'There are a greater number of vulnerable people living in Aurn that anywhere else in the county.'

As well as the home checks, which are available to anyone by ringing 0800 328 6487, she will also be talking to groups such as Age Concern.