Crews fit smoke alarms after two chimney fires
Crews fitted smoke alarms in two homes in Copford after extinguishing chimney fires.
We were called to a semi-detached bungalow in Rectory Road yesterday (Sunday) at 9.18pm.
Firefighters from Colchester extinguished the fire, using chimney rods, and fitted a smoke alarm after finding the property did not have one.
One their way back to the station, at 10.13pm, they spotted a chimney fire at a semi-detached house in London Road.
After extinguishing the fire, using a ladder to reach the chimney, they found the property did not have a smoke alarm either.
Crew Manager Dave Farrant said: "It was pure chance that we spotted the second chimney fire on our way back and we were surprised to find that neither property had working smoke alarms.
"It's so important to have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, to give you an early warning to a fire and give you and your family time to get out.
"As well as fitting the alarms, we gave the residents advice about carbon monoxide safety and the type of wood to use in a log burner."
Do you having working smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers by to a fire in your home if you're not in.
We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them at least once a month.
If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch with our Service. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.
Follow our chimney safety advice
- Get your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood
- Do not stack fires too high and remember to let them burn down well before you go to bed
- Use a fire or spark guard
- Do not place objects on or over the mantelpiece which may cause you to lean over the fire to reach them
- Inspect your chimney regularly, particularly in the roof space, to ensure that it is sound and that sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
- Avoid burning soft woods as resin and soot builds up more quickly
- Buy suitable fuels. Using the wrong type of fuel on a liner will cause corrosion and reduce the life of the liner
