Hundreds of people flocked to Southall Fire Station, in West London on Sunday, as the Brigade took part in the annual Vaisakhi celebration procession.
Vaisakhi is the holiest day of the calendar for over 20 million Sikhs worldwide. The festival commemorates the birth of the Sikh nation and is the beginning of the harvest season. The Southall celebrations, which attracted around 50,000 people, are the biggest in the UK and revolve around a procession known as ‘nagar kirtan’ which travels from one ‘Gurdwara’ (temple) to another.
Southall Fire Station, on High Street, opened its doors to the public throughout the event and firefighters were on hand to meet local people, offer fire safety advice and arrange home fire safety visits. Inside the station children were given an opportunity to try on uniforms and see the station’s fire engine.
London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety, Steve Turek and Southall Fire Station Manager Richard Claydon met the procession outside Southall Fire Station, and presented the Holy Book with flowers.
Station Manager Richard Claydon said: “It was a real pleasure to be involved with this magnificent event and to wish the local community a happy Vaisakhi on behalf of the London Fire Brigade. Occasions like this are also a great chance to engage with the local community and to promote career opportunities in the Brigade and pass on important information about fire safety.”
During the course of the day the Brigade collected around 120 referrals for Home Fire Safety Visits and a number of requests for more information about firefighter recruitment.
Note to editors:
London Fire Brigade is campaigning to reduce the number of fire deaths in the home by 20 per cent by 2010 and is driving home the message that fire prevention is as important as firefighting in terms of preventing tragedy. Fires in the home are the main cause of fire deaths and the Brigade has increased its community initiatives in all London boroughs.
The Brigade’s 'Be Safe and Sound' campaign urges people to take advantage of free home fire safety visits available from the Brigade to reduce their risk from fire. Local firefighters will identify potential fire hazards in the home and the check includes the installation of a free smoke alarm where necessary. They are available whatever type of property you live in.
If you would like a visit or would like to arrange a free home fire safety visit on behalf of a member of your family or a friend, or know of someone at risk, please check with them first and contact the Fire Brigade on free phone number 0800 0 28 44 28.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
