Date: 26th February, 2018
At 2.02am this morning (26 February), fire crews from Springbourne and Christchurch (x2) were called to reports of a property fire in Seaward Avenue, Bournemouth. Crews were on scene within five minutes and on arrival found a fire in a ground floor flat.
Firefighters rescued two people from the flat, believed to be a father and daughter. Both were treated by ambulance service colleagues for smoke inhalation. Six breathing apparatus wearers used three hose reels to extinguish the fire.
Station Manager Richard Coleman, who attended the incident, said: “I would like to thank our crews who did a great job in rescuing two people from the property, and our Fire Control operators who were able to direct crews to locate those who were trapped. There were no smoke alarms in the ground floor flat to alert people to the fire, so this could have turned out very differently. We received the call from a neighbour who did all they could locate the occupants.”
The Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service (FESS), based at Springbourne fire station, also attended this incident and provided care for one of the casualties until relatives arrived.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service recommends that all domestic properties have a smoke alarm on each level and one placed so you will hear it when you’re asleep. Smoke alarms should be tested once a week and the batteries replaced annually – unless you have a mains or ten year alarm.
Dorset Police also attended this incident. Fire crews remained on scene until 5am this morning and Fire Investigation Officer Sean Blizzard returned to the incident this morning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.