HOUNSLOW'S new fire chief has launched a crackdown on the illegal sale of fireworks.
Firefighters have teamed up with council inspectors to visit shops across the borough and ensure safety measures are in place.
"We're looking at all premises with fireworks licences to check they're complying with the law around storage and sales ahead of Diwali and bonfire night," said borough commander Stuart Lowe.
"There are about 20 such licensed premises across the borough, from branches of Tesco to small corner shops and we plan to visit them all.
"We're particularly concerned about the ones that just set up and sell fireworks from pub car parks, but we have yet to find anyone either operating without a licence or breaching the conditions of their licence."
He added that he was not aware of any public fireworks displays in the borough, which meant it was particularly important to ensure bangers for private use were sold safely.
Mr Lowe replaced Phil Butler as Hounslow's borough commander on August 1, a week before the riots.
Ironically, having moved over from Enfield, where he had the same role, he found many of his new crews deployed to his old patch to fight the massive Sony warehouse blaze on August 9.
He said his priorities during his first two months in charge had been to tackle arson, with initiatives like a clean-up of arson hot-spot Bedfont Lakes, and to support people with disabilities, who are more vulnerable to fires. Another big issue is the rise in candle fires.
He has already had to deal with a number of major incidents, including a fatal house fire in Cromwell Road, Hounslow, in September, which led to a warning to landlords to ensure their properties were properly licensed.
There have also been two serious fires at the derelict former Granada hotel, in Lampton Road, Hounslow, which has been occupied by squatters despite being boarded up.
Mr Lowe said the brigade was working with Hounslow Council to ensure derelict buildings were boarded up, with owners at risk of losing their properties if they are not properly secured.
The London Fire Brigade is keen to encourage educational visits to stations by schools and clubs. If you are interested, contact your local station by calling 020 8555 1200 and using the following extensions: Feltham (84739), Heston (84738), Chiswick (84737).
