Smoke alarm warning after house fire

Cheshire Fire and Rescue is urging people to ensure that they have working smoke alarms fitted after a family had a lucky escape from a house fire.

Firefighters were called to the address just before 2.00am on June 9th. When they arrived they found that there had been a fire near the front door. This had already been extinguished by neighbours but the Service was called to assist with the Fire Investigation.

Keith Brooks, the Service's Head of Prevention and Protection, said: "The woman and her two children aged three and six had been asleep when the fire broke out. With no smoke alarms in the property the family were unaware of the fire but fortunately the heat caused the glass in the door to shatter, which woke them up and they got out of the house uninjured.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of having a working smoke alarm fitted on every floor of your home- they could save your life one day."

The fire was believed to have been started deliberately. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and has been bailed pending further inquiries by Cheshire Police.

New legislation is expected to come into force later this year that makes it a legal requirement for all landlords to ensure that there are working smoke alarms on all floors of their properties and Carbon Dioxide Detectors where there are fuel burning appliances.

Landlords must check the alarms are working at the start of every new tenancy with potential penalties of up to £5,000 if they don't comply.

To help landlords gear up for the new regulations, the Government has provided Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service with a limited number of free smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms to give away.

For more information including how to apply for some free alarms please visit out website: http://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/news-events/latest-news/alarms4life-smoke-alarms-for-rented-properties

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