FIRE chiefs have spent thousands of pounds on plastic hands on sticks for homeowners to press buttons on their smoke alarms.
The red plastic sticks, which have a white hand with a pointed finger outstretched at the end, are distributed during home fire safety checks, and are to be used to press the test button on ceiling mounted smoke alarms.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Evening Post revealed Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service (MWWFRS) bought a total of 10,000 of the sticks, at a cost of £1.75 each — a total of £17,500.
Their cost has been branded a waste of tax-payers money, by one Fire Authority member.
Gordon Walker, who is also councillor for Clydach ward, said: "It is an absolutely ridiculous waste of money, particularly when budgets are so tight for public services. They have spent more than £17,000, when all people have to do is use a broom handle or something similar.''
The sticks are approximately 62 cm long, or almost 2.5 foot.
A MWWFRS spokesman said: "Thanks to a Welsh Government funding grant, which has been specifically provided to spend on home fire safety check equipment, we have purchased simple and functional hand held pointers to help people test their smoke alarms without having to stand on a stool or stepladder. They have been specifically purchased with the elderly and immobile members of our communities in mind."
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies, director of risk added: " The testing sticks have been purchased as part of our prevention and protection strategy to provide elderly and immobile members of our communities with the help they need to test and maintain their smoke alarms safely."
