19 January 2009

Firefighters rescued a man from a fire in a flat in Milton Keynes yesterday evening. He had fallen asleep after putting a pan on the cooker.

Firefighters from Broughton and Great Holm were called to the second-floor flat in Penryn Avenue, Fishermead, at 6.55pm.

Crew Manager Kevin Mercer from Broughton Fire Station said: “By coincidence, we were already on our way to Fishermead to carry out safety checks in people’s homes when the 999 call came through.

“The call came from a neighbour, who noticed smoke coming into his flat.”

Firefighters had to break into the adjacent flat, wake the man and lead him to safety.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus put out the fire and ventilated the flat with a fan.

The flat was not equipped with smoke alarms. The crews fitted a smoke alarm and a heat detector before returning to their stations.

Firefighters will carry out a free safety check in your home, and fit free smoke alarms where necessary, if you book by ringing 01296 744477, emailing cs@bucksfire.gov.uk or filling in the online form