Staffordshire house fire sparked in heater error
A fire started in an elderly woman's living room when she mistakenly plugged in a halogen heater instead of her TV.
Firefighters are now urging residents to look out for vulnerable and older people after the blaze in Charnwood Close, in Lichfield, on Sunday.
When the woman and her husband smelled smoke, they searched for the fire but when they could not find it, called 999.
There were no smoke alarms in the property but firefighters fitted some following the incident.
Fire crews discovered that the heater had caught fire which had then spread to the settee in front of it.
Station manager Graham Mills said: "This couple had a very lucky escape. There were no smoke alarms in the property so if the occupants had not smelt the smoke, the consequences could have been far worse.
"I would urge people to keep an eye on older and vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours. We have a growing population of older people and many of them have physical disabilities or illnesses such as dementia which can put them at a greater risk.
"We have a growing population of older people and many of them have physical disabilities or illnesses such as dementia which can put them at a greater risk. Anyone who is worried about an older person can get in touch with us and we will carry out a Home Fire Risk Check which, as in this particular incident, can involve fitting smoke alarms if there aren't any or replacing ones that are broken."
