Woman's life saved by fire alarm

Fire chiefs today reissued a warning about the importance of smoke alarms following two serious house fires in Shropshire in just two days.

Officers said neighbours hearing a smoke detector and calling the fire brigade had saved the life of 20-year-old Katie Mycock, who was dragged from a property in York Road, Harlescott Grange, Shrewsbury, after a fire broke out there while she was sleeping on Tuesday night.

Neighbours raised the alarm at about 10.30pm after hearing the smoke detector going off in the house.

Miss Mycock was treated at the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Deputy chief fire officer John Redmond today said if it had not been for the smoke alarm Miss Mycock may have died.

It comes after it was revealed a 61-year-old woman, who died when a blaze ripped through her home in Market Drayton on Monday, had no working smoke alarms fitted in the property.

The woman, named locally as Jennifer Jones, died in the fire in Maer Lane, when two smoke alarms failed to activate as the batteries had been removed.

Mr Redmond said: "The comparison between these two fires is quite stark.

"In one a woman tragically died when there were no working smoke alarms.

"In this latest incident on the lady survived because the alarm was raised due to the smoke alarm.

"Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service along with brigades from all over the UK campaign tirelessly to get people to install smoke alarms in their homes because we know they save lives. They are cheap to buy and easy to install. Just do it. It is a lifesaving choice."

"We also would like family, friends and neighbours to ensure that vulnerable and elderly people that they know do have smoke alarms."

Referring to the fire in Shrewsbury, watch manager Phil Davies, of Red Watch at Shrewsbury, said: "Initially it wasn't clear how many people may have been in the property but our crews got in, carried out a thorough search and found the young lady before it was too late."

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