Man rescued from smoke logged house - cooking left unattended
Firefighters rescued a man from a smoke filled house in Basildon last night (Tuesday 3 January) after the occupant put some food in the oven and fell asleep.
The alarm was raised by neighbours who had heard a smoke alarm and saw smoke filling the house. They called 999 but were unable to see if the occupant was home or not.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house and found a man sleeping in the front room. They lead him outside to safety.
Fire crews found the smoke was coming from the kitchen. Some food had been left unattended in the oven.
Watch Manager Adam Barber, Basildon Fire Station, said:
"This is a great example of how working smoke alarms can alert neighbours and passersby to a fire in your home if you are unable to hear it yourself. We’re urging Essex residents to make sure they have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of their homes, and to test them at least once a month.
"If it hadn't had been for the neighbours hearing the smoke alarm when they did, this could have had a very different ending."
Please follow our safety advice for cooking safely:
- Take care when cooking with oil - it gets very got and can set alight easily
- Don't leave cooking unattended, and never leave the house while the oven or hob is in use
- Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob. Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe
- Make sure saucepan handles don’t stick out – so they don’t get knocked off the stove
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
- Double check the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking
Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
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 home, or are unable to hear it.
If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms, please get in touch. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.
