Candle blamed for fire at home which had no smoke alarms fitted
ALL three emergency services attended a house fire in Derby yesterday, which was caused by an unattended candle in the bathroom.
Three fire crews, police and paramedics were sent to Chesterton Avenue, in Sunny Hill, after the fire service first received a call at 7.52am.
The fire was in the first-floor bathroom of the property, which did not have any smoke alarms fitted.
When the firefighters from Derby’s Kingsway, Ascot Drive and Nottingham Road stations, arrived all occupants were out of the property.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to extinguish the fire, which was fully out by 8.34am.
An investigation has concluded that the fire started accidentally due to an unattended candle in the bathroom.
Station manager Julia Smith, who was the officer in charge, said: “I would like to remind people of the dangers associated with leaving candles unattended in the home. Thankfully, on this occasion, one of the occupants was up and about and heard banging and popping coming from the bathroom – this alerted them to something not being right.
“On investigation they discovered the fire, and the occupants were able to evacuate the property and call 999. This could have been a different story if they hadn’t heard the noises coming from the bathroom as there weren’t any smoke alarms fitted that could have provided vital early warning of the fire.”
Two adults were treated at the scene by East Midlands Ambulance Service for the effects of smoke inhalation.
At around 9am yesterday, one fire engine remained at the scene, as well as a police car and an ambulance.
When a Derby Telegraph photographer visited the scene, the windows were open upstairs at the property and ambulance crews and police officers were talking to residents outside.
One of the occupants... heard banging and popping coming from the bathroom.
Station Manager Julia Smith