Date: 29th January, 2020
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is promoting the availability of specialist smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing following a serious house fire in Trowbridge last night (28 January).
Four crews – from Trowbridge, Warminster, Frome and Corsham – were called to a terraced house in Newtown at 7.37pm and found the roof well alight. An aerial ladder platform also attended from Bath, replaced later in the evening by one from Salisbury.
Although the roof was destroyed, firefighters worked hard to contain the blaze and were able to stop it spreading to the rest of the house and neighbouring properties. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but it is not being treated as suspicious.
The occupier, a woman in her 90s, was rescued by her neighbour just before the arrival of the first fire engine.
Station Manager Richard Humphrey said: “I am in no doubt that the actions of the neighbour saved the occupier’s life, and I was able to thank her in person on the night. We were told that the occupier wouldn’t have heard a smoke alarm as she is deaf, so we do want to remind people that specialist alarms are available for anyone hard of hearing, which use strobe lights and vibrating pads to alert the person to a fire.”
Firefighters will be revisiting Newtown today or tomorrow to give fire safety advice to neighbours in the area and to carry out Safe & Well checks.
To request a free Safe & Well check or to enquire about specialist smoke alarms for the hard of hearing, visit www.dwfire.org.uk or call 0800 038 2323.