Family of five escape house fire after being alerted by smoke alarms
Firefighters have issued safety advice after a pan ignited in a family home in Leigh on Sea this morning.
Crews confirmed on arrival that the house was completely smoke logged, after the family of five had been alerted by working smoke alarms. All five managed to get out safely, though three did suffer from the effects of smoke inhalation.
The fire was extinguished by 5.36am.
Chris Seal, Crew Manager at Leigh Fire Station, said: "This incident highlights once again just how important smoke alarms are. Without them, this incident could have been much more serious for this family, who did everything right once they were alerted - they got out, stayed out and called the fire service out.
"We believe this fire was caused after a pan was left on a hob before a power cut. When the power supply returned, the pan was still on the hob which then also came back on - causing the pan to catch fire while this family were asleep. Please, always keep your hob and cooking areas clear and clean - while this incident was unfortunate, it could easily have been avoided."
Not got working smoke alarms in your home? We offer them for free!
We want every home in Essex to be provided with the excellent protection that smoke alarms provide - as seen in this incident, they could make all the difference in alerting you to a fire in time to get you and your family out safely.
If you don't currently have working smoke alarms in your home, get in touch with us - we'll provide them for free.