This week Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have attended two significant property fires, that could have resulted in fatalities had it not been for the installation of working smoke alarms.

On Monday, March 20, at 5:40 am, crews from Swansea Central and Swansea West were called to a property fire in Prince of Wales Road, Swansea.

The fire was confined to a flat within a building and residents alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm.

Firefighters gained access to the flat by forced entry and rescued a male casualty. He was later conveyed to hospital by the Ambulance Service.

The crews extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera. Small gear and a positive pressure ventilation fan were also used by the crews.

The Fire Service left the incident at 06:07am.

Firefighters from Abercrave and Pontardawe were called to a bungalow fire in Ystradgynlais on Thursday, March 23 at 3:05am.

On this occasion the bungalow was heavily involved in fire and all persons able to escape to safety, having been alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm.

A male occupant was treated by the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters extinguished the fire using four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, two positive pressure ventilation fans and two thermal imaging cameras and left the incident at 04:15am.

Head of Community Safety for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Group Manager Karen Jones said, “Both incidents could have resulted in far worse consequences had the occupants not been alerted to the fires by working smoke alarms. I would like to take this opportunity to, again, urge people to install and regularly test your smoke alarms.”

Thankfully, neither incident resulted in a loss of life. However, both properties suffered significant damage as a result of the fires.

Group Manager David Hancock, Head of Business Fire Safety said “In Wales the installation of domestic sprinklers is a mandatory requirement for all new-build domestic properties. Whilst most people will be aware of the presence of sprinklers in commercial, retail and industrial type premises few will be aware of them in the domestic setting. For many years, the benefits of domestic sprinklers have been known and these benefits will now start to be realised by many householders as a consequence of Welsh Government Legislation that came into force earlier this year. Over the last few days the Mid & West Wales FRS has attended two domestic dwelling fires where had sprinklers been present, the extent of damage to the property could have been significantly less and the refurbishment and reoccupation would have taken less time. A domestic sprinkler installation can cost roughly the same as a central heating system and contrary to the Hollywood depiction of them in operation will not flood the home when they operate. Your local Fire & Rescue Service will be happy to provide more information on domestic sprinklers if required.”