Smoke Alarm Warning After Narrow Escape

Two women escaped a serious fire at their home after a neighbour alerted them to the blaze in their kitchen.

The women – one in her 30s, the other in her 50s – were asleep upstairs in the property in Rotherham Road, West Melton, when an electrical fault started the blaze. The property was not fitted with smoke alarms and the alarm was raised when the neighbour smelled smoke and woke the occupiers up.

They escaped the blaze suffering smoke inhalation, but didn’t require hospital treatment.

Watch Manager John Dale said: “This incident shows it is imperative that people have smoke alarms fitted and tested to ensure their safety. Fire crews will be returning to this property this afternoon to fit SYFR smoke alarms for free.”

Firefighters from Brampton and Mexborough were called to the blaze at 6.17am on Thursday and used breathing apparatus and hose reels to put the fire out. The kitchen received around 20 per cent fire damage, with smoke damage throughout the rest of the house.

*Any South Yorkshire resident can book a free home fire safety check and, if required, have free smoke alarms fitted by calling (0114) 253 2314.