A FIRE service has introduced a super hero mascot to help spread a fire safety message among children and young people.

Flaming Nora has been making an appearance in various recent County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service campaigns.

Mark Henderson, community safety team leader for the service, said: “We saw a spike in accidental dwelling fires. We like to be practical when tackling such problems and this sort of issue is normally dealt with through a campaign.

"But campaigns can be pretty samey, so we wanted something that would grab people's attention.”

The Northern Echo:

Flaming Nora’s design is bespoke – Mr Henderson said the crews “really love the mascot because of her flaming hair and the fact she is a super hero”. 

While the design appeals to children, Nora was introduced to convey serious messages.

This approach to community campaigning has been a success with residents. Durham and Darlington fire service previously had mascots Welephant the Elephant, a national character, and Dennis the Dragon.

“Some people are more keen than others to take on the mantle of Nora, but someone normally volunteers. It’s best like that because everyone gets a chance to help convey the safety messages,” Mr Henderson added.

“The costume itself is actually quite comfortable, but obviously the head gets really hot. When I wear it, I hide every half an hour to take the head off.”

Wearing the fire service crest, Flaming Nora, whose favourite colour is “fire engine red”, aims to make people safe in their homes and campaigns to reduce accidental fires.

Mr Henderson said: "In her spare time, Flaming Nora ensures friends and family are safe – it is her thing."

This is a breeze for Nora, whose superpower is “flying to prevent danger”.