A smoke alarm has saved the lives of a West Sussex family just hours after it was fitted.
The family in Northchapel had a lucky escape after a fire broke out in their airing cupboard on Wednesday afternoon.
Retained (on-call) firefighters from Petworth and Midhurst along with two Surrey Fire & Rescue Service crews from Haslemere and Godalming were mobilised to the property just off the A283 in the village at 2.05pm on Wednesday.
Upon arrival they found smoke issuing from all of the upstairs windows, and from underneath the roof tiles. One of the crews from Haslemere wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire inside the property, which had broken out in the airing cupboard in the bathroom. The crew from Petworth, also wearing breathing apparatus, targeted the fire from inside the roof space to prevent it spreading further, and working together they were able to contain the fire within the room of origin.
Petworth Retained Firefighter James Witherden said: “Remarkably this family had replaced their old smoke alarm on the landing outside the bathroom that morning, which gave them plenty of warning to get out of the property and dial 999.
“Had they not checked their smoke alarm and discovered it was defective, the outcome of this incident could have been much worse.
“Because the smoke alarm had alerted them to the fire it meant not only that they were able to get out of the property quicker, but that we were on scene quick enough to prevent it spreading to other rooms and causing further damage.
“Although damage was limited to the room of origin, much of the property was affected by smoke. Sadly they will now need another new smoke alarm, as the new one they fitted on Wednesday was melted by the heat of the fire, having done its job and alerted them to the fire in the first place.”
Nicki Peddle, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Area Manager for Prevention, said: “This incident really goes to show how much of a difference having a working smoke alarm can have. Fortunately, firefighters were alerted quick enough to be on scene to bring this fire under control quickly and prevent further severe damage to this family’s home.
“We would urge all residents to check their smoke alarm is working once a week and to ensure that defective alarms are replaced as a matter of urgency.”
For more information on home fire safety, visit: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire-emergencies-and-crime/west-sussex-fire-and-rescue-service/home-fire-safety/
