Free-fit smoke alarm saves lives
AN ELDERLY woman and her two dogs could have died in a fire if it were not for smoke alarms that firefighters fitted for her, a senior crew member has said.
Passer-by 17-year-old Michael Wilsmore heard the alarm going off in King George V Avenue, Lynn, and then spotted smoke and flames coming from the house when a fire started in the kitchen.
It meant firefighters, who fitted the alarm six months earlier, were alerted in time to lead the 78-year-old woman and her two terriers from the building before they were hurt.
Lynn blue watch crew manager Paul Edwards was one of those who fitted the alarm as part of the brigade’s free fire risk-assessment service and was also there for the rescue at 3.40pm on Thursday.
smokelogged
He said: “By the time we got there the fire had taken hold and there was heavy smoke logging. It could have been a lot worse. Our message about smoke alarms really is very simple – they save lives.”
Passer-by Michael, of Popes Lane, Terrington St Clement, said: “To be honest at first I thought the beeping was a lorry turning or something, then I was standing out the front of this house and we looked behind us and there were flames and black smoke coming out.”
we’re grateful
The daughter of the householder said: “We are very grateful to the fire officers for putting the alarm in in the first place and the person who dialled 999. If they hadn’t bothered it could have been an awful lot worse.”
For further information about getting a free smoke alarm fitted, home fire-risk assessments or general fire safety visit the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service website www.norfolkfireservice.co.uk or call freephone 0800 9178137.
louise.brain@lynnnews.co.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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