Two people taken to hospital after serious house fire

PROPERTY WAS NOT FITTED WITH SMOKE ALARMS, SAY FIREFIGHTERS

AN investigation into a serious house fire which left two people in hospital has found the property was not fitted with smoke alarms.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in Church Hill, Etwall, at 3.20am, on Friday

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

The two occupants, who were already out of the detached property on the arrival of fire crews, were handed into the care of East Midlands Ambulance Service to be taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

The results of a joint fire investigation between Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and Derbyshire police have now been revealed, determining the fire as being “accidental”.

Station manager Lee Williams said: “Firefighters attended a house fire in the early hours of Friday morning 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.”

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

Mr Williams spoke about the importance of smoke alarms.

He said: “Working smoke alarms really are lifesavers. 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.”