15 January 2011

Quick-thinking neighbours - and smoke alarms fitted by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service as part of an ongoing safety campaign - helped prevent a flat fire from ending in tragedy this morning.

Crews from Beaconsfield and Marlow were called to Selbourne House in Bourne End shortly before 11am, where a fire had broken out in an elderly resident's kitchen.

Neighbours helped her to safety after being alerted by the sound of smoke alarms. She was suffering from shock and the effects of breathing in smoke. Firefighters gave her oxygen before handing her into the care of paramedics.

The smoke alarms were installed last month following a home safety check - one of thousands carried out by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service in 2011.

Watch Manager Stuart Grosse from Beaconsfield Fire Station said: "I would like to praise the courageous actions of local residents who were alerted by the smoke alarm. They acted quickly to rescue the resident from a developing kitchen fire."

Station Manager Danny Whitelock said: “The incident illustrates how important it is for communities to participate in our home safety check scheme.

"Without smoke alarms this incident could have had a tragic outcome.

"I would encourage anyone without smoke alarms to contact us and arrange for us to come and discuss the fire safety precautions they can take in their home. During the visit, we will also fit smoke alarms where they are needed.

"I would also like to remind people how important it is to carry out a weekly check to make sure that their smoke alarms are working properly.”

To book a home safety check, please ring 01296 74477 or send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk