21 October 2009

A smoke alarm fitted by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service prevented an incident from being much more serious.

Crews from Amersham and Chesham were called to an address in Bellingdon Road, Chesham, at 8.45pm on Sunday to find the kitchen filled with smoke issuing from a hostess trolley.

Neighbours had called 999 after hearing the smoke alarm sounding in the house.

Officers from Thames Valley Police entered the property and led the occupant to safety, who was then taken to hospital as a precaution suffering from smoke inhalation by South Central Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were able to make the scene safe and used a Positive Pressure Ventilation fan to ventilate the house.

Station Manager Gary Small, who attended the incident, praised the neighbours for their quick thinking: “Had it not been for the neighbours, their immediate response and the house having a working smoke alarm the situation could have been much worse”

"A few minutes can make all the difference. There is little doubt that the working smoke alarms prevented this from turning into a far more serious incident."

Firefighters from Blue Watch, Amersham Fire Station, fitted two smoke alarms to the property in April 2006. The same watch attended the incident on Sunday evening and before leaving refitted two smoke alarms and carried out a Home Safety Check on the property.

Terry Ridgley, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety manager, said: “This is an example of just how important a working smoke alarm can be.

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

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

Smoke alarms detect fires at their earliest stages and give a loud warning to help you and your family to get out safely.

Terry’s top smoke alarm tips:

• Fit a smoke alarm on each level of the property. When a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape so an early warning is vital. Make sure you replace battery-operated smoke alarm units after 10 years. Alternatively consider installing a 10-year battery smoke alarm or mains powered alarm.
  
  
• Test it weekly - a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999.
  
  
• Plan your escape route. Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.
  
  
• Stay safe in the kitchen. This is the area where most house fires start. It only takes a minute to check electrical appliances are switched off. Also, never leave cooking unattended.
  
  
• Ask the experts. Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service offers free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. To find out more, ring 01296 744477, send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk or fill in the online form