Sauna sparks fire in Leeds hotel
A fire broke out in a Leeds city centre hotel last week after a piece of wood fell onto hot coals in a sauna. The incident happened at the Hilton hotel, Neville Street just after 7am when fire crews arrived.
A spokesman said the fire was out on arrival, adding they were called as a precaution.
He said: “A piece of wood fell onto the coals and ignited. There was some minor smoke damage but no-one was injured. Hotel staff extinguished the fire themselves.”
Man dies in Barnsley house fire
Early this week three fire engines from Cudworth, Barnsley and Tankersley stations were called to a fire where the a man died.
An investigation has been taking place following the Barnsley house fire.
The man, believed to be in his 60s, was the only person in the house on Woodhall Road, Darfield. When firefighters arrived the ground floor of the semi-detached house was well alight. Wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reels to extinguish the fire the crew tackled the blaze.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire will take place today.
No working smoke alarms in home of fatal fire
A women has died in a fire at her home in Somercotes, Derbyshire.
The women thought to be in her 20’s has not been formally identified but tributes left near the property name the victim as ‘Suzanne’.
Initial findings show that the fire was started by discarded smoking materials and it is thought that the property was not fitted with working smoke alarms.
Fire crews from Alfreton and Ripley were called to the fire at around 4pm on Monday last week and discovered the body of a woman in a bedroom.
A neighbour who spotted the fire said that he had tried to get close to the house but couldn’t due to the amount of smoke coming from the property.
This is the 6th house fire death in Derbyshire this year. The Derby Telegraph and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service are currently running a campaign highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms in homes.
Thatched cottage saved by fire-resistant boarding
A Devonshire cottage has escaped total destruction thanks to fire-resistant boarding under the thatched roof.
More than 100 firefighters attended the fire at the Grade II listed thatch cottage near Drewsteignton.
Senior South Devon fire officer Andy Rowse said that the fire-resistant boarding under the thatch saved the property from being burnt to a shell.
Thirty per cent of the roof was destroyed and the first floor of the house suffered smoke and water damage. Luckily, many of the occupants belongings, including family heirlooms were rescued.
There were no casualties reported although an elderly couple were in the house at the time but managed to escape unhurt.
Along with the many firefighters, police, the Red Cross, emergency support services and the Salvation Army also offered their support.
By midnight fire crews were damping down hot spots and the incident was scaled down to four appliances from Torquay, Exmouth, Chulmleigh and Princetown.
Station commander Rowse said: “The crews did a fantastic job in difficult circumstances. The cottage had a layer of fire-resistant boarding under the thatch. It worked wonders to save the property. So many times firefighters have been to thatch fires where the roof has completely gone and all that’s left is a shell — in this case only 30 per cent of the roof has gone and the damage elsewhere has been minimal. The location was difficult because the house was down a very narrow country lane which gave us challenges getting appliances there and the water hydrant was half a mile away. But everyone worked together very efficiently.”
It is thought that the fire was caused by a defective chimney flue.
40 residents evacuated from West Midlands flats
A fire believed to have started by water leaking into the buildings electrical supply has ripped through a block of flats.
Five fire crews attended the fire which started on the morning of the 5th April. 40 residents were evacuated and several were taken to hospital to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. 29 other residents were treated by paramedics at the scene.
About 6 of the flats have suffered very serious smoke damage and the occupants will not be able to return there immediately and will need to find alternative accommodation.