Issued: 20.7.07

At: 10:30am

For immediate release

MAN RESCUES SELF AND FAMILY FROM FIRE AFTER

RECEIVING FIRE SAFETY VISIT

 

At approximately 12:40am today, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service received a call to a house fire in the Braunstone Park area of Leicester with reports of around six people trapped inside the property.

Crews from Western and Southern Fire and Rescue Stations attended to find a semi-detached property well-alight but all the occupants of the property had managed to escape.

The occupants of the property were woken by smoke alarms that had been fitted by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters had previously visited the family and carried out a free home fire safety check which included the fitting of two free smoke alarms and the giving of advice as to what to do if a fire breaks out. The owner of the property, Nigel Cooper, had followed fire and rescue service advice and had formulated a fire escape plan that he put into action once he was woken by the smoke alarms.

The fire started in the front porch area of the property, so Mr Cooper led his family to the front bedroom of the property and put a damp towel at the bottom of the door to keep smoke out. Mr Cooper then smashed the bedroom window and with the help of a neighbour, was able to lead his family to safety onto the roof of a front bay window and down a ladder.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to fight the fire and rescued the family’s pet German Shepherd.

All six people rescued were treated at the scene by the fire service and paramedics for smoke inhalation before being conveyed to hospital by ambulance.

The ground floor of the property has been severely damaged by fire and the first floor of the property has been severely damaged by smoke and heat. The cause of the fire is still under joint investigation by the Fire and Police Services

John Ong, Western Fire and Rescue Station Manager said:

‘This family were very lucky to escape this fire with their lives; it could have been a lot worse if they had not been woken to the fire by their smoke alarms that had been fitted for them by firefighters from Western Fire and Rescue Station.

I was very pleased to find that this family had followed the advice given to them and had worked out an escape plan and used this plan to help them escape with their lives.

I strongly urge everyone to fit and maintain at least one working smoke alarm on each floor of their property and to prepare an escape plan for emergency situations. Smoke alarms cost as little a five pounds and, as can be seen in this case, they really do save lives.

Home fire safety checks can help you to establish potential risks in the home and we are particularly trying to target the more vulnerable groups in the community. For more information about home fire safety checks please call 0116 287 2241
- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

To request an interview with the Station Manager involved with this incident, please use the details below.

Please be aware that, although Mr Cooper, the occupant of the property, is happy for his name to be released, he is at this time, too distressed to undertake any interviews/photos etc.

Email Us Print This Page