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Search forSaved Waltham firefighters spring into action as family's home burns
Friday, November 07, 2008, 09:00
Praise has been given to the village fire service by the occupants of a house badly damaged by fire.
The home of Mark Smith, on Danesfield Avenue, was left burnt out after a fire believed to have been sparked by an electrical socket underneath the computer desk.
The blaze happened at 1.15am yesterday, as the family slept. They were awoken by their smoke alarms.
Mr Smith believes the alarms saved him and his family – including his six, 12 and 16-year-old children – from an even bigger disaster.
He said: "I cannot stress the importance of having smoke alarms fitted enough – they saved our lives.
"We are devastated by this and in complete shock. I couldn't tell you how much damage has been caused but the place is ruined.
"It is going to be thousands of pounds worth of damage that has been caused."
As reported, Humberside fire authority rejected proposals by Humberside Chief Fire Officer Frank Duffield, to axe the station and its 18 firefighters in July.
Mr Smith said: "This shows it was the correct decision to keep it open, and we can only thank them for reacting so quickly."
Glenn Ramsden, from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, revealed the fire is being treated as an accident.
He said: "A working smoke alarm will give you the best chance of survival in a fire at home."
The house in Danesfield Avenue, Waltham. Inset, Mervin Dove who praised the work of the fire crew.
Grim find
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