Fire probably caused by cigarette

20 July 2012

The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire after a member of the public reported smoke coming from the window of a flat in town. 2 fire engines were dispatched from town headquarters with firefighters from White Watch to a flat in Poonah Road. 

On arrival smoke was seen coming out of a first floor window. 2 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent into the property with a hosereel and thermal image camera. The fire was discovered in the lounge, where a sitting room chair was alight. The most probable cause was careless disposal of a cigarette. 

The fire was extinguished, limiting the damage to the flat. A positive pressure fan was used to clear the smoke and other flats in the building were unaffected.

Jersey Fire and Rescue reminded that cigarettes should always be properly put out and disposed of into a suitable container. This incident also highlighted the importance of having a working smoke detector.