Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

St Austell at 08/09/2008 15:24

Firefighters from St Austell Fire Station have been praised for their Home Fire Risk Assessments by local parents Joel and Emma Double after they saved their six year old son from a potentially fatal bedroom fire by being alerted by a smoke alarm.

Parents of five Joel and Emma had taken previous Home Fire Risk Assessment advice and had smoke alarms fitted by firefighters from St Austell fire station several years ago, and it was one of these alarms that saved their son’s life.

Six year old Gideon had gone to bed with his twin brother as usual in their bunk beds, and had fallen asleep with his bedside light on, which he had placed a hat on earlier in the day. As the brothers slept, the hat began to heat up on the bulb and smoulder, falling onto the pillow where Gideon was sleeping.

Emma and husband Joel had been watching television downstairs when they heard a beeping coming from upstairs.

Emma said, “Joel ran upstairs and realised the beeping was coming from Gideon’s bedroom. When he opened the door, the room was filled with smoke and the smoke alarms in the rest of the house started to go off as well. We got the kids out of bed and out of the house and then Joel removed the pillows and hat from the house as quickly as possible to stop the fire from spreading. “

Luckily the early warning meant that the fire was put out very quickly by Emma and Joel and they didn’t call the Fire Brigade that night. However, Emma got in touch with them the next day to come and carry out another Home Fire Risk Assessment.

Firefighter Martin Wallburton explained, “The smoke detectors fitted, although working, were an older model and new models are far more sensitive to early signs of smoke, which can alert people even sooner to a fire. Mrs Double invited us round for a Home Fire Risk Assessment and we fitted brand new smoke alarms free of charge throughout her property.

“I should add that even though Mr and Mrs Double managed to successfully remove the smouldering pillows, we would always recommend that when you discover a fire, to get out, stay out and dial 999. And most importantly as this story shows, always make sure you have a working smoke alarm, it really can save lives.”

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=723