Issued: 23.07.07

At: 12:30pm

For immediate release

HOUSE FIRE AFTER CHILD PLAYS WITH LIGHTER

At Approximately 8:25pm, on Friday 20 July, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service received a call to a house fire on Alan Moss Road in Loughborough.

Two crews from Loughborough Fire and Rescue Station attended to find the first floor bedroom alight. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to extinguish the fire using a hose reel jet. One person was given oxygen therapy by a paramedic.

The fire was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter. The rear of the first floor bedroom was severely damaged by fire and smoke and the rest of the property was affected by smoke damage.

Kevin Pearson, Community Safety Manager for the north of the county, said:

‘I strongly urge all parents to keep matches and lighters out of the way of children. Please think about all of the potential risks in your home and put child locks on cupboards that have anything in them that children could use to start a fire. Never ever leave a child alone in the house.

I would also encourage parents to talk to their children about fire and have a plan that the children know about as to what they should do in the event of a fire.

Please ensure that you have at least one working smoke alarm fitted on each floor of your house. They are cheap and easy to get hold of and could save your life.’

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service offers a Firecare programme which involves Fire and Rescue Service staff working one to one with children in their home to deter them from playing with fire. If you would like more details of this service, please contact Tina Illston on 0116 287 2241.

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