Tayside Fire and Rescue has used an unlikely historic figure to encourage householders to test their smoke alarm Russian dictator Josef Stalin.
A Twitter post on the 60th anniversary of the murderous despot’s death mused over whether he would have taken part in ‘Test It Tuesday’ before his demise.
The initiative sees fire services across the country take to social networks every Tuesday.
Tayside Fire and Rescue’s Tweet said: “On this day in 1953 Joseph Stalin died, sure he would have tested his smoke alarm first, have you? #testittuesday.”
Josef Stalin was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century, a regime which caused the death of tens of millions.
Scott Symon, Tayside’s station manager responsible for ‘Risk Information’, said: “Each Tuesday we, along with many other Fire and Rescue Services, post a message reminding people to test their smoke alarms.
“In an effort to remove some of the mundanity of a repetitive message we try to add something else to the advice.
“Yesterday, we looked through this day in history to find something else that happened on March 5 most prominent event seemed to be the death of Stalin, so it was added in.”
Other services taking part in Test it Tuesday opted for more straightforward advice.
Fife Fire and Rescue Service wrote: “Its #testittuesday – A smoke alarm will wake you up and give you vital extra time to escape. There really is no excuse for not having a smoke alarm in your home.”
Meanwhile, the Strathclyde service said: “Are your smoke alarms protecting your family? Don’t leave it to chance: Check. Push the button; it could save your life. #testittuesday.”
Tayside Fire and Rescue offers free home fire safety visits which can be arranged by calling 0300 123 9998.
The same service can be arranged with Fife Fire and Rescue by calling freephone 0808 100 3141.