Two taken to hospital after fire at house

FIREFIGHERS SAY THERE WERE NO SMOKE ALARMS FITTED

TWO people have been taken to hospital after a serious house fire in a South Derbyshire village.

They were already out of the detached home when fire crews arrived but were taken by paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called to the fire in Church Hill, Etwall, at 3.20am on Friday. An investigation into the cause found the property was not fitted with smoke alarms.

Firefighters were in the area over the weekend providing fire safety advice and reassurance.

Speaking following the joint police and fire investigation into the cause of the fire, station manager Lee Williams said: “Firefighters attended a house fire in the early hours of Friday which led to two people being taken to hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation, underlining just how serious this fire was. The fire investigation has determined that this was an accidental fire with the most likely cause being combustible items left too close to a naked flame.

“Unfortunately, there weren’t any smoke alarms fitted in the property which would have given the occupants early warning that a fire had broken out in their home.”

Talking about the importance of smoke alarms he said: “Working smoke alarms really are life savers. In the event of a fire they will alert you and your family of the fire, giving you vital extra time to get out and to a place of safety. Once out you should immediately ring 999 and most importantly, you should stay out of the property. If your home doesn’t have smoke alarms, please make it your priority to fit them as soon as possible.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has highlighted the dangers of keeping logs and other combustible items close to open fires and has issued this advice:

Always use a fire guard to protect against sparks from hot embers.

Store logs and fuel away from the fire and keep the surrounding area clear.

Make sure that the fire is out before going to bed at night, or when leaving the house.

Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained – make sure your chimney is swept regularly.

Ensure you have smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home and test them weekly.

In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.

Firefighters from Kingsway, Nottingham Road and Ascot Drive Fire Stations attended the incident along with officers from Derbyshire Constabulary.