Smoke detector helps woman escape fire at Shrewsbury house
A woman who suffered burns and smoke inhalation after a bedroom fire in Shrewsbury was able to escape after being alerted by a smoke detector, firefighters said.
The woman was able to escape from the room on the top floor of a four-storey terraced house before fire crews arrived at Moreton Crescent, off Coleham Head in Shrewsbury.
Flames and smoke could be seen billowing out of the broken windows as crews battled with the flames for an hour.
The woman was treated at the scene for burns and smoke inhalation.
She was then taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by ambulance for further medical attention. Her condition is not thought to be serious.
Police closed the road while firefighters got the flames under control. Crowds watched the operation from behind a cordon.
When the fire was out crews dragged charred furniture out into the street to ensure no embers were smouldering.
They used fans to clear the house of smoke and checked the fire had not spread to neighbouring properties via the roof space, wall cavities or floor boards.
Two fire crews from Shrewsbury used four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, a covering jet and ventilation fans to put out the fire within an hour.
Firefighters said the blaze was an example of the importance of smoke detectors as it has enabled the woman to escape and call 999.
Russ Hales, incident commander with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews were met with smoke and flames from the top floor window.
"Fortunately the occupant was out of the affected room waiting for the fire service to arrive and she was able to direct them to where the fire was, which was a bedroom.
"Fortunately we were able to get into there quite quickly and put the fire out to stop it spreading along the set of terrace.
"The fire was contained to the room where there was some damage to a chair and a wardrobe.
"Crews were there for a good hour afterwards making sure the fire had not spread into the roof space, wall cavities or floor boards.
"There was a smoke alarm fitted in this instance and that activated which helped to alert people.
"So there is a safety message here for all residents to make sure they have a working smoke alarm because they do save lives.
"The cause of the fire is not yet known and the fire investigation officer will continue to work on getting to the bottom of it."
The drama started at around 10.45am yesterday. John Hawker at West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We sent an ambulance and one patient was treated for slight smoke inhalation and burns before receiving emergency treatment at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital."
