The moral of the story? Always douse any ashes with water before depositing them in any receptacle as they can retain heat for days and still cause a fire.
Also, avoid putting any ashes in plastic bins – steel doesn’t burn.
The second call on the same weekend involved a bedroom fire in Dunlop Rd believed to have started from a heater.
The bedding caught fire and the two occupants of the house managed to drag the mattress outside, still burning and emitting large quantities of toxic smoke. The brigade arrived and was able to limit flame and water damage to effectively the one bedroom, although the house had filled with smoke.
The two occupants were fortunate that they were able to remove the burning material although both were subsequently taken to hospital due to the effects of smoke inhalation.
The increased use of synthetic materials in modern furniture and building materials worldwide has contributed to an increased fire threat.
In modern buildings, contents are typically made from synthetic polymers, which make cheap, lightweight, and durable alternatives to traditional materials. Examples include polyethylene in television and computer parts, polystyrene in appliance housings, polyvinylchloride (PVC) in vinyl flooring, nylon carpets and polyurethane foam (PUF) in upholstered furniture.
Carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are two major asphyxiant gases present in fires. Whilst CO is present in all fires, HCN is only generated when there are nitrogen-containing fuels present, such as in nylons and PUF.
HCN is more potent than CO and short exposure can rapidly lead to incapacitation.
The message here is that when a fire occurs, get out and stay out.
Call 111 from outside the building – returning inside can be fatal. The two occupants of the house in this instance were very lucky.
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