DO YOU HAVE A SMOKE ALARM?

At 03:01 hours on the morning of 7^th September 2005 a fire was reported to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service at Newton Road, Whittlesford. Fire Engines from Sawston, Cambridge and Linton attended the incident and found a serious fire in progress on the ground floor and the rest of the building heavily smoke logged.

The fire was swiftly extinguished and an elderly man rescued from an upstairs bedroom by Fire-fighters following a brave attempt by neighbours. Unfortunately, despite all resuscitation attempts, he did not survive.

Why am I informing you of this?

The simple answer is that all of us are at risk from fire, but the risk to the elderly is identified as higher. This person did not have fitted to his home one of the major life saving devices available “A SMOKE ALARM” Early warning saves lives!

If you do not have a smoke detector or have relatives or friends or know of someone that does not have a smoke detector or needs fire safety advice, and are resident in the South Cambs District Council area, please contact your South Cambs Community Fire Safety Team on 01223 376217.

We will arrange for a community safety officer to call and if necessary fit, free of charge, a smoke alarm.

Your safety is our concern

Pat Kilby

District Manager