Man's lucky escape after fire in bungalow with no smoke alarms
A man was lucky to escape after a log burner caused a fire at his bungalow in Abridge.
We were called to Pancroft today (4 December) at 2.53am and crews from Loughton, Harlow (two) and Hainault (London Fire Brigade) attended.
The occupant was woken by what he thought was the sound of rain, but when he opened his bedroom door he was met with smoke.
He managed to get out and raise the alarm.
Station Manager Kevin Jenner said: "Crews did a fantastic job in extinguishing the fire, limiting the damage and saving the building. They also looked after the casualty and gave him oxygen, as he had breathed in smoke.
"The incident really highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms. If the occupant hadn't woken up when he did, it could have been a very different outcome.
"Please make sure you've got at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them regularly."
Our Service will visit any home in Essex and fit smoke alarms free of charge. To arrange your home safety call 0300 303 0088 or complete an online form.
Crews extinguished the fire by 4.23am. The bungalow was 30% damaged by fire and 60% damaged by smoke.
It is believed the fire was caused when the log burner's flue ignited the wooden roof cladding.
Please follow our safety advice if you are using a log burner:
- Qualified installer - always have your log burner fitted and signed off by a Gas Safe Registered installer
- Flue and chimney - make sure the flue and chimney are installed correctly and meet safety standards to prevent heat from affecting surrounding materials like joists
- Space - maintain adequate space between the log burner and any combustible materials, such as furniture, curtains or wood structures
- Hearth - install the burner on a fireproof hearth to prevent heat damage to flooring and nearby surfaces
- Alarms - fit working smoke alarms on each floor of your home, and install a carbon monoxide detector near the log burner
