CHILDREN will be urged to think about fire safety this summer in a new campaign to be launched in Dorset.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is launching its Go for Gold Olympic home fire safety initiative aimed at families as Weymouth and Portland gears up to host 2012 sailing events.

The brigade will encourage children and their parents to think about fire safety in their home through the campaign which is officially launched next week.

It will aim to inspire young people to see how fire safe their homes are by working to achieve a bronze, silver or gold certificate.

To achieve a bronze certificate, households need to have a working smoke alarm, tested regularly. For silver, a working smoke alarm and a well-practised escape plan is essential.

Young people can sign up for a free Home Safety Check or self-assessment pack on the fire service website and when they do, they will receive an exclusive gold certificate.

Youngsters can collect as many gold certificates as they like, by referring their grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family and friends.

Olympics fire safety prevention and protection co-ordinator for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, Jason Rogers, said: “We have devised this campaign to encourage young people to think about fire safety while they are thinking about the Olympics.

“It is their very own chance to win gold, and make sure their homes and those of their loved ones are safe too.”

Children from Conifers Primary School will help launch the campaign at Weymouth Fire Station next Wednesday.