FIRE chiefs in Warwickshire are urging parents to warn children of the dangers of playing in derelict buildings.
It follows an incident where youngsters in the county were caught inside an unsafe property.
Across Warwickshire there are several buildings which are run-down or awaiting demolition, with major structural damage and unstable floors and walls. They may also have exposed utilities or hazardous materials inside.
While they have been boarded up to prevent trespassers, some youngsters have still tried to force entry unaware they are putting their lives at risk.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service arson manager Moreno Francioso said: “A crew were called to assist with the search for young people in an unsafe premise a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully on this occasion nobody was injured and all of the youths appeared to have left the property. Insecure disused buildings pose a serious risk to anyone who enters them. Sites such as this are often in serious states of disrepair and have a number of potential dangers within them.
“Those using these types of buildings are leaving themselves vulnerable to serious injury and even death. It’s essential that young people understand that they are not playgrounds and therefore should not be treated as such.”
