Firefighters issue smoke alarm warning

The warning comes from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service following a fire at a building converted into flats in South Terrace, Littlehampton on Wednesday.

A small fire broke out in a kitchen when an unattended candle set fire to plastic packaging and a microwave at approximately 1 am. The fire alarm sounded but was quickly silenced by an unknown resident. The occupier of the flat, who had been alerted by the fire alarm, was able to extinguish the fire himself.

No one phoned 999 to alert the Fire Service when the fire broke out.

Firefighters were only made aware of the incident when another resident reported a smell of burning shortly after 9am. The smell was found to have been caused by the earlier fire.

Chris Bishop, the Fire Service District Commander for the Littlehampton area, said routinely silencing alarms was both dangerous and reckless.

"Sooner or later someone will die simply because the alarm was silenced and the fire service not called. If the occupier of this flat had been trapped by smoke, rescuers would not have arrived until too late.

"Imagine yourself being trapped waiting for rescuers that aren't coming.

"You are also putting yourself and everyone else at risk because if the fire is not tackled it will spread '“ possibly trapping everyone else in the building.

"If you have problems with 'nuisance' fire alarms please contact your local fire safety centre for advice. Don't let someone die because you couldn't be bothered to check"

For fire safety advice in the Littlehampton area phone 01243 837785. To find the nearest fire safety centre elsewhere in West Sussex phone West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service HQ on 01243 786211 or visit the website www.westsussex.gov.uk