CUMBRIA Fire & Rescue Service is offering advice to businesses to help them protect premises while they are closed due to coronavirus.

Businesses can protect their property by taking the following actions:

1. Turn off and unplug electrical equipment - Electrical equipment should be turned off and plugs removed from sockets, and electrical systems isolated at the main fuse board, with the exception of critical business infrastructure required to support the organisation’s operations and support temporary home working.

These include alarms, sprinkler installations and other fire risk suppression security.

2. Guard against escape of water losses - Turn off water supplies at the mains (and where reasonable drain down water systems) during periods of closure.

It may not always be appropriate to turn off or drain down water systems, where this is the case a minimum temperature of 7⁰C (45⁰F) should be maintained within the property.

3. Protect against arson - Ensure all fire doors are securely closed. Safely remove internal waste and position external bins as far from the property as possible, ideally securing bins in places to prevent them being relocated against the building.

4. Inspect weekly - Unoccupied property should be inspected weekly, provided travel required is in line with the latest Government advice.

Where this is not possible, inspections should be reinstated once restrictions are lifted. Any damage to the building or fitted security devices should be fixed as soon as possible.

Remove mail from any letterbox during each inspection, along with any other action to minimise the risk of the property being identified as being temporarily closed.

5. Update risk assessments - Review and update to reflect the temporary closure. Think about how reduced maintenance provision for your premises could cause a fire risk.

Craig Drinkald, area manager at Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Many shops, businesses and venues in Cumbria are temporarily closed to reduce social contact, prevent the spread of Covid-19 and save lives.

"We are advising businesses to take some simple steps to protect their premises from fire.”