FIRE safety and reducing the number of deliberate fires is on the shopping list for a local fire brigade as they look to support smaller retail premises with sleeping accommodation above.

Cleveland Fire Brigade will be running a month long ‘Safer Business’ campaign in September which will incorporate the National Fire Chief Councils annual Business Safety Week, which runs from September 6 until September 12.

Officers from Cleveland Fire Brigade will be leafleting outlets before their visits with fire safety advice and carrying out inspections.

These audits will be: Redcar and Cleveland: September 6 – 12 September, Hartlepool: Tuesday, September 14, Middlesbrough: Tuesday, September 21, and Stockton: Tuesday, September 28.

Within the Cleveland Fire Brigade area 29 out of the current 43 active prohibition notices have been served to restrict sleeping above commercial premises.

This is due to insufficient fire safety measures.

Businesses will also be reminded to check their fire alarms are working properly to reduce the number of false call-outs.

The main causes for fires for businesses in the Cleveland area are deliberate fires and electrical issues.

Simple steps such as storing waste in a secure area away from the building, keeping entrances and exits clear and external lighting and CCTV can help prevent arson attacks.

All businesses owners have a legal responsibility to ensure people on the premises are safe.

This means clear escape routes, unblocked exits, identifying hazards and training staff what to do in the event of a fire.