Woman died in fire started by discarded cigarette
Wales Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to look out for their friends and neighbours after a woman died in a house fire in Mold last year.
Wendy Tranter, who was 55, died in a fire at her home in Llys Dderwen despite the smoke alarm sounding. It is believed that the fire was started by a discarded cigarette.
When North Wales Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene, the fire had been smouldering for some time and sadly, Ms Tranter was found dead in a bedroom.
Bob Mason from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said; “It is our responsibility as members of the community to ensure that all those around us are safe in their homes. This woman did have smoke alarms fitted, and although they operated, sadly the alarm was not heeded– smoke alarms are designed to provide an early warning signal which could mean the difference between life and death. Never ignore the sound of a smoke alarm. And remember, make sure you always extinguish your smoking materials – it is all too easy to fall asleep when your cigarette is still burning.”
Man rescued from fire after being woken by smoke alarm
Firefighters rescued a man trapped in his home after a battery charger started a fire in his living room.
Roger Wearden 48, was woken by his smoke alarm at his flat in Royal Drive, Fulwood, Preston.
When Mr Wearden opened his bedroom door, he saw thick smoke pouring from the living room and was forced to go back into the bedroom and immediately called the emergency services.
Mr Wearden said: “The beeping from the smoke alarm woke me up. When I opened the door, the hallway was full of smoke, so I had to go back in the bedroom. The front room and the kitchen have been gutted. I’d tell everyone to check their smoke alarm. A fire can happen so easily. It could have been worse.”
A spokesperson from the Fire Service said: “The gentleman had a very lucky escape. When he opened the bedroom door, he was faced with thick, black smoke and could not get out. It shows how important it is to have a working smoke alarm.”
House fire caused by dressing table mirror
A fire caused by a mirror on a dressing table has badly damaged a first floor bedroom of a house in Oak Bank, Scotby.
An elderly couple in their 80’s live in the property and managed to escape the building when smoke alarms were activated.
The dressing table where the make-up mirror was standing was right next to a double glazed window which may have helped to magnify the sunlight and cause the fire.
Mr Sansom, from Carlisle Fire Station said: “The fire was confined to a first floor bedroom. On closer inspection, we realised it had been caused by sunlight reflecting off a make-up mirror on the dressing table and being magnified on to curtain fabric. There was nothing else which could have caused it. The fire then spread to the dressing table. I have only known something like this happen on a few other occasions in my 24 years with the fire service. It requires so many variables to fall into place, including the angle of the sun and the positioning of the combustible items.”
The fire service have warned people to take extra care, especially with convex and concave shaving and make-up mirrors to avoid fires starting in this way. These mirrors should be kept out of direct sunlight and never be left on window sills.
Smoke alarms save family home
A family have had a lucky escape after a fire started in one of the children’s bedrooms.
The fire is believed to have started in 5 year old Conrad-Leigh Brydons and 4 year old Kori’s bedroom on Monday morning.
The family think that the fire started in an electrical socket after the boys television had been left on standby but an investigation by Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be carried out to find out exactly what happened.
The family, who were at a neighbour’s house when the fire started, were alerted by the smoke alarm.
Dave Adamson, a firefighter at Westlea Fire Station and community safety technician has offered this advice in the wake of the incident: “Following the house fire at Netherton Close, Park South on Monday, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service would like to reiterate its home fire safety advice. This property was fitted with smoke detectors, and hearing these alerted the householder to the fire. Smoke alarms should be fitted to every level of the home, ideally in the middle of the room or on the hallway and landing. Smoke detectors should be checked regularly to ensure that they are working properly and never remove the batteries or disconnect the alarm. Any appliance that can be switched off should be we don’t advise to leave anything on standby. While there is power going to the unit there is always a risk of a fire. It is a bit extreme to turn everything off but those that can be turned off easily like a TV should be.”
Two children die in Bristol house fire
Two boys have died in a fire at their home in the Bradley Stoke region of Bristol.
The two boys who were both under 10 years of age were found by firefighters on the first floor of the property. The parents and 3 siblings managed to escape from the blaze shortly before the emergency services arrived at 6.30am on Saturday.
William Roberts from the Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: “When crews arrived, the fire was fully developed and engulfing the first floor and roof space of an end of terrace three-bedroom house. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus attacked the fire using two fire-fighting jets and discovered the bodies of two children on the first floor”.
The property had been fitted with smoke alarms but it is not clear if they were in working order at the time of the fire.