Washing machine fire sparks advice and launch of the vocal smoke alarm

 

Wiltshire fire and rescue have issued another warning to householders to fit smoke alarms after a blaze in a washing machine caused damage to a house on Friday afternoon.

Two fire appliances from Salisbury attended a kitchen fire in Salisbury. The fire is believed to have started in a washing machine. The kitchen was severely damaged by heat and smoke.

A man was asleep upstairs and had a very lucky escape when he woke up and smelt smoke. No working smoke alarm was fitted in the property. A smoke alarm had been removed a week ago after the battery failed but it had not been replaced.

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A fire and rescue spokesman said: "A smoke alarm is your early warning system, which will detect and alert you to a fire. If there is a fire in your home, a smoke alarm will give you valuable time to escape. The noise of your smoke alarm should alert you even when you are asleep. The majority of deaths in house fires happen between 10pm and 8am. "

Studies in America have recently reported that conventional smoke alarms cannot reliable awaken children under 16, due to their very deep sleeping patterns. In fact university research shows that 2 out of 3 kids will sleep through the sound of a traditional smoke alarm.

PSC are launching the vocal smoke alarm for more details please email paul@pscfiresafety.com we think this is really an incredible improvement in helping saves lives of children in the event of a fire.

When fitting smoke alarms follow the manufacturers instructions.

The best place to put a smoke alarm is on the ceiling, as near to the centre of the room as possible.

The smoke alarm should be placed at least 30 centimeters way from any light or wall.

Don't fit smoke alarms in the kitchen or bathroom where they can be accidentally triggered.

The more smoke alarms you have fitted in your house the better protected you will be.

Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm per level.

The hallway and the landing are ideal locations.

Make sure you look after your smoke alarm Test your alarm once a week.

Change the battery once a year (unless it is a 10-year alarm) Replace your smoke alarm unit every 10 years.