West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging residents to close internal doors and use heating appliances safely after a fire in Chichester on 5 January.
Fire crews attended a blaze at a flat on Baxendale Road at 8pm, where an electric blanket on a blow-up bed had overheated, igniting nearby materials. Firefighters quickly contained the fire to a first-floor bedroom, thanks to the occupier closing the door after hearing the smoke alarm.
Anton Mezzone, Station Manager at Chichester, said: “The occupiers of this property perfectly followed every bit of safety advice we recommend in the event of a fire: firstly, they had working smoke alarms, they then closed the doors and swiftly left the property. By following this advice, the damage caused by this fire was kept to a minimum.
“We always recommend closing internal doors at night or when leaving the house, as this can prevent the spread of a fire and toxic fumes by up to 20 minutes.
“Not only does this incident highlight the importance of keeping doors closed, but it also raises awareness of keeping heating appliances away from flammable materials. While electric blankets don’t use naked flames, the risk of fire is still present.”
