Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Hallaze Road, Penwithick, St Austell at 24/12/2009 11:29

Two fire appliances from St Austell attended a report from a neighbour of a smoke alarm sounding and signs of a fire in a house.

On arrival the crews confirmed that smoke was issuing from the mid-terraced two-storey property and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered. One hosereel was used to extinguish the fire which was located in a bedroom. The house was then ventilated to clear the smoke.

This fire will be devastating to the occupants, especially considering it is Christmas Eve, but the damage could have been a lot worse. The occupants were out at the time of the fire and, thankfully, a neighbour reacted to the sound of the working smoke detector and dialled 999 to call out the fire service. Because of the quick response, firefighters limited the damage and the houses either side were not affected.

Fire Safety Advice:
It cannot be emphasised enough, the importance of having working smoke detectors in your home. They can give an early warning of fire to allow valuable extra time to escape. They can also alert neighbours or passers-by to a fire, so that the fire service can be called and considerably limit the damage to your home.

If you do not have smoke alarms in your home, please fit them now.
If you do have smoke alarms already fitted, please test them to check they still work.

Please have a safe Christmas!

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7275