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14 July 2009

Good work by crews, working smoke alarms and quick thinking by a householder helped prevent a bedroom fire from taking hold of a family home in Chalfont St Peter this morning.

Firefighters from Gerrards Cross, Amersham, Beaconsfield and High Wycombe were called to the house in Joiners Lane at 7.15am. The fire started in a first-floor bedroom and was starting to spread to the attic.

Watch Manager Denis Melia from Gerrards Cross Fire Station said: “The crews worked very effectively to contain the fire to the bedroom and part of the roof space above it.

“The bedroom had a 30-minute fire-proof door and the householder had the presence of mind to close it behind him when he discovered the fire, which was a decisive factor.

“If you have a fire and your internal doors are closed, it limits the rate at which it spreads, giving us the best possible chance of restricting the fire to the room it started in.”

Crews wearing breathing apparatus fought the fire from inside the bedroom and attic. The house has scaffolding because it has just been refurbished, and firefighters were also able to use this to help them tackle the fire from the outside.

Denis added: “The family were alerted to the fire by working smoke alarms, so once again they have proved their worth.

“A house fitted with working smoke detectors - and people reacting to them - gives us a much better chance of saving lives and property.

“When fires break out, smoke alarms provide a vital early warning sign - indeed, they are often your only warning.”

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service will carry out a free safety check of your home and fit free smoke detectors where necessary.

Ring 01296 744477, send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk or use the online form to book an appointment.

Advice if you are fitting your own smoke alarms:

• Fit one smoke detector to each floor at least 30 centimetres (12 inches) away from any wall or light fitting at ceiling level.
  
  
• Make sure your detector has the British Standard Kitemark on it.
  
  
• If you have a one-year smoke detector, test the battery once a week and change the battery annually. Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service recommends 10-year tamper-free detectors fitted with push buttons. These are available from all DIY stores.