London Fire Brigade slammed over Covid Halloween video warning home is the ‘safest place to be’

London Fire Brigade releases spooky Covid Halloween video warning home is the ‘safest place to be’ – but message is mocked as firefighters are told to ‘stick to their jobs’

  • London Fire Brigade tweeted a Halloween safety video to its 225,000 followers
  • Video widely criticised online after it warned the ‘safest place to be is at home’
  • Some labelled video ‘ridiculous’ , while others urged service to ‘stick to their job’

A fire service has today faced a backlash over its coronavirus Halloween video warning people that the ‘safest place to be is at home’.

Angry social media users hit out at the London Fire Brigade over the video, posted on its Twitter page, which asked people ‘why not stay indoors?’.

Some labelled the video ‘tosh’ and ‘ridiculous’, while others urged the fire brigade to ‘stick to their jobs’.

The backlash came after the service took to social media to share its advice video to its 225,000 followers last night.

The video starts with the words ‘Zombie Virus Advice’, with the word ‘Zombie’ crossed out and replaced with ‘Corona’.

Furious social media users hit out at the London Fire Brigade over the video, posted on its Twitter page, which asks people to ‘why not stay indoors?’

The video starts with the words 'Zombie Virus Advice', with the word 'Zombie' crossed out and replaced with 'Corona'

The video starts with the words ‘Zombie Virus Advice’, with the word ‘Zombie’ crossed out and replaced with ‘Corona’

As the spooky music plays in the background, the video cuts to a picture of houses, with the message: 'The safest place to be is at home'

The video by the London Fire Brigade was roundly criticised on Twitter

As the spooky music plays in the background, the video cuts to a picture of houses, with the message: ‘The safest place to be is at home’

It then cuts to someone walking through undergrowth in a dark woods, followed by the words: ‘This Halloween… be aware of the virus.’ 

As spooky music plays in the background, the video then cuts to a row of houses, with the message: ‘The safest place to be is at home.’

Cutting to a bowl of popcorn, the video then flashes up the words: ‘Why not stay at home? Watch a film.’

It adds: ‘Just watch out for ghosts,’ before cutting to the London Fire Brigade logo.

But the video was roundly criticised on Twitter by those who responded.

One, Steve Jones, said: ‘What on earth is this? Are we really telling our children that being outside is dangerous now?’

Another Twitter user said: ‘Posts like these. Absolutely hellish,’ while another said: ‘What’s this tosh?’

One person described the video as ‘ridiculous,’ while another added: ‘Is this a joke?’

Others criticised the service for producing a video not related to fire safety.

Twitter user Edgar Harrold said: ‘I’m old enough to remember when the Fire and Rescue Service just got on with fighting fires and rescuing cats; the days before every institution in this country became politicised.’

Another said: ‘What the hell is this? Put fires out. Rescue people. That’s your job.’

One Twitter user added: ‘The f*** has this got to do with firefighting?’ 

Another joked: ‘What’s this got to do with rescuing cats?’

Though as the name suggests, fighting fires is a key part of the role of a firefighter, it is not the only part.  

In recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on the role of firefighters within their communities, with many now raising awareness, conducting home fire safety checks and communicating fire prevention and other safety messages. 

MailOnline has contacted the London Fire Brigade for a comment.

The video comes after the government earlier this month poured a large cauldron of humbug on Hallowe’en fun with a warning against trick-or-treating.  

A Downing Street spokesman told reporters earlier this month that thousands of families under local lockdowns in broad swathes of England should not mix, when asked whether traditional ghoulish events should take place on October 31.

And the spokesperson warned that elsewhere the Rule of Six applied, meaning parents face fines of up to £200 if their children are caught in larger groups going door-to-door for sweets.