Smoke alarms alert neighbour to house fire

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after we were called to a house fire in Harlow when neighbours heard smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire downstairs in a house in Kingsland, Harlow.

Crews extinguished the fire by 11:06am. Crews determined that the fire was caused accidentally.

A family of three have been rendered homeless due to the damage to the property.

Crew Manager Will McGrath from Harlow Fire Station said: “This incident really highlights how important it is to have working smoke alarms at home. Please make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them regularly - we recommend at least once a month.

“We’d like to thank the neighbour for calling this incident in and would urge the public to always act when hearing a smoke alarm going off. Please dial 999 if your neighbour’s smoke alarms are going off, don’t assume somebody else has already called. We would rather be called multiple times than not at all.”

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers-by to a fire in your home if you're not home.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms, please get in touch. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.