Jersey's fire service urges islanders to check smoke alarms after tackling basement fire
The States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service is urging all islanders to check they have working smoke detectors in their homes.
It comes as firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats last night (Wednesday) where none of the individual apartments had working smoke alarms.
Two adults and two children were taken to hospital but were discharged this morning. While another man had to be rescued from a flat on the top floor and protected from inhaling the smoke which had travelled up through the apartments.
Paul McGrath, Duty Station Commander, said: “Smoke and heat alarms save lives. During a fire, more people die from smoke or gas inhalation than burns.
“If working smoke alarms were in place, the residents would have had warning of the fire and been able to evacuate the building, safely, in plenty of time.”
Emergency services were called to the flats on St Mark's Road at 19:50 on Wednesday 8 January.
Three fire engines were dispatched to the address where two firefighters tackled a fire in a electrical cupboard in the basement.
In order ensure your home is safe, the fire service have shared the below advice:
fit a minimum of one working smoke alarm on every level of your home, preferably in a circulation space such as a hallway or landing
fit additional alarms in other rooms that are regularly inhabited and where there could be a risk of a fire starting
do not fit a smoke alarm in your kitchen, bathroom or garage (if used as a garage)
test your alarms at least monthly, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. If the alarm ever starts to beep’ regularly, replace the battery as soon as possible
if you experience a false alarm (and there is no fire), you can silence the alarm by pressing the same test button
after 10 years, replace your smoke alarm
In addition, the service offers the Home Fire Safety Check which gives basic tips to help keep your home fire safe.
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