West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service recommends that residents keep their internal doors closed to prevent fires from spreading.
This advice comes after a fire incident in Chichester on at 8pm on 5th January. Two fire crews were dispatched to a blaze in a block of flats on Baxendale Road.
Upon arrival, firefighters entered the building and extinguished a fire in a first-floor bedroom caused by an overheating electric blanket on an inflatable bed.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue says the fire and 90% of the smoke damage was contained in the room of origin because the occupier closed their bedroom door after hearing the smoke alarm.
The occupiers then safely evacuated the building, and firefighters were able to swiftly extinguish the fire.
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.”
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