Issued: 13.08.07

At: 10:30am

For immediate release

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE TACKLE THREE HOUSE FIRES IN
LOUGHBOROUGH AREA OVER WEEKEND

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service this weekend received three calls to house fires in the Loughborough area in just over 24 hours.

The first call was received shortly before 9pm on Friday 10 August to reports of a kitchen fire on Charles Hall Close, Shepshed. Crews from Shepshed and
Loughborough attended the scene.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to successfully extinguish the fire. The fire had started after a cooking pan had been left unattended.

Fortunately the property was fitted with a working smoke alarm that alerted the
neighbour to the fire who was then able to call the Fire and Rescue Service. The
kitchen of the property concerned was damaged by smoke and fire.

The second call was received at 11:15am on Saturday 11 August to a flat fire on
Sparrow Hill, Loughborough with reports of people possible trapped inside.

Four crews from Loughborough and Shepshed Fire and Rescue Stations were sent to the incident and found a first floor flat on fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus again entered the property to tackle and extinguish the fire and were able to account for all people living at the property. In this case, the fire was caused by an unattended candle leading to severe damage in the living room of the flat by fire and heat.


The third call was also to a flat on Sparrow Hill, Loughborough. A call was received by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service shortly after 11pm on Saturday 11 August to reports of a fire in another flat. Firefighters again had to wear breathing apparatus to enter the property and extinguish the fire. The fire was caused after a cooking pan had been left unattended. The room where the fire broke out was damaged by heat and smoke.

Kev Pearson, Group Manager for Community Safety in the North West Area,
comments: -

‘I am absolutely horrified at the number of these incidents we have had to
attend this weekend. All three fires were preventable and could have been
avoided if people follow basic fire safety advice.

I remind people to never, ever leave a cooking pan or candle unattended.
Just a momentary lapse of attention can have drastic consequences as
demonstrated in these incidents we have dealt with this weekend. I also urge
people to fit and maintain at least one smoke alarm on each floor of their
property.

Firefighters have been back to the areas of the incidents delivering home fire
safety leaflets and offering free home fire safety checks. We are particularly
keen to target groups more at risk from fire such as the elderly or those living
alone. If you feel you fit into such a group and would like a free home fire
safety check, please call us on 0116 2872241

- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

For more information please contact

Amanda Kelly-Pike

Marketing and Publicity Co-ordinator
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel 0116 287 2241

Email Us Print This Page