WISBECH: Fire service warn about smoking in the home after two people tackle blaze

TWO people required medical treatment for smoke inhalation after battling a fire in a Wisbech home, started by a carelessly discarded smoking material. Firefighters were called to a house in Grosvenor Road at 5.15pm yesterday and, on arrival, found the fi

TWO people required medical treatment for smoke inhalation after battling a fire in a Wisbech home, started by a carelessly discarded smoking material.

Firefighters were called to a house in Grosvenor Road at 5.15pm yesterday and, on arrival, found the fire had been extinguished.

Two occupants had extinguished the fire themselves and, subsequently, required treatment.

Firefighters checked the fire had been completely extinguished, before returning to base.

The fire service issued warnings about smoking in the home, following the blaze.

A spokeswoman said: "Cigarettes can burn with extreme heat, up to 920C when being inhaled. The unstable hot ash can fall in a blink of an eye and go unnoticed until something around you starts to burn.

"However, this can be too late to avoid damage to your home, serious injury to yourself or even death.

"Be aware of the dangers there are while smoking - don't smoke when you're tired, use a sturdy ash tray and make sure cigarettes and cigars are stubbed out correctly before you leave the room.

"If a fire does occur do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself, this can lead to injury. Instead, close the door on the fire, get everyone out the house and dial 999.