Smoke Alarms Save Lives As Armley Family Can Attest

Friday, 6 May 2016 07:00

A family has had a lucky escape after a substantial fire took hold in their home in Highthorne Grove, Armley, yesterday morning.

The fire has completely destroyed the third storey dorma of a terrace house and has affected five other properties in the street.

The dorma consisted of two bedrooms. A teenager, who was sleeping in one of the bedrooms, was roused by a smoke alarm to the fact there was a fire in the next door bedroom.

The teenager, an adult man and a boy, were all out of the house on the arrival of the Fire Service, who were called at 10.24am.

Fortunately no-one has been hurt by the fire, although Ambulance crews were on the scene.

Four fire engines attended, two from Hunslet, one from Stanningley, one from Leeds and also the aerial appliance from Leeds.

Watch Commander Darrell Hird said: “This family have had a very lucky escape and it is down to the fact they were alerted by a smoke alarm.

“Had this not been the case I fear the teenager could have been trapped by this serious fire on the top floor. She had to pass the fire to get out of the property which must have been pretty scary for her.

“When firefighters arrived, the upstairs windows had smashed and there was an awful lot of heat. When crews in breathing apparatus and protective kit got to the top of the stairs the fire was rolling over their heads.

“The fire was so severe in the room of origin that it has partially burned through the floor. Fortunately it has not spread to the rest of the property and this is due to the efforts of firefighters.”

The fire has affected five properties by charring the timbers in their loft areas.

Firefighters worked quickly to ensure that everyone was out of the neighbouring properties and checked them over before their return.

A Fire Investigation officer has visited the scene and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

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