SOMERSET NEWS: Elderly woman talked to safety by Fire Service

AN ELDERLY occupant of a cottage on fire was evacuated to safety while talking to the Fire Service on the phone.

The alarm was raised at just before 12.15pm today (Thursday, June 9, 2016) to the problem at Fons George in Taunton.

Two fire engines from Taunton were mobilised following a call from the elderly person who could see and smell smoke, as well as hearing banging coming from behind one of the walls.

“She was safely able to evacuate the property after being instructed to do so by ourselves at the time of the call,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Shortly after arriving and investigating the scene the firefighters confirmed the source of the fire was an electrical consumer unit.

The incident was brought under control just after 1.45pm. Once the electrics had been isolated the firefighters were able to put out the fire.

The fire, which started deliberately, caused 20 per cent fire damage to the ground floor of the two-storey cottage and 80 per cent by smoke.

“We made the areas safe as well as carrying out ventilation before leaving duty of care with members of the owner’s family,” added the Fire Service spokesman.

Tags:
News.