Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 19/01/2010 15:28

An elderly woman from Bodmin, who left a saucepan on a gas ring in her kitchen, was saved from serious injury by her smoke detector after a fire broke out in her home. The sound of the alarm alerted a neighbour who dialled 999.

The fire was attended by crews from Bodmin fire station. Paramedics were also called to the scene and gave the woman oxygen after finding her suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

The smoke detectors in the property had been fitted last August by fire fighters from Bodmin Community Fire Station following a referral by Cornwall Council’s Adult Care and Support team for a Home Fire Safety check.

“This lady was very lucky”. said firefighter Dan Fitzpatrick. “This incident demonstrates yet again the importance of having a working smoke detector in your home. We hope that this lady’s experience will encourage more people to fit smoke alarms and ensure that any they do have are working. This lady’s smoke detectors were fitted free following a home fire safety check last year.”

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is committed to reducing fire deaths by ensuring that every home in the county has a working smoke alarm. To make sure this happens, firefighters now carry out free home safety checks and fit free smoke alarms. The Service has already fitted over 15,000 free smoke alarms in the local community.

Please contact your nearest fire station if you would like information and advice on having a home fire safety check or phone the free phone fire safety help line number 0800 3581999.

For information on Fire Safety please see the webpages of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service at www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire.