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Resident had been burning tea light candles and then fell asleep

7:51am Friday 12th March 2010 in


A Southampton tower block resident is lucky to be alive after a candle fire broke out in his flat which did not have a working smoke alarm.

Fire crews were called to Hampton Towers in Weston following a 999 call just after 9.30pm last night.

The resident had been burning tea light candles and then fell asleep and the flames then caught some flammable material, in turn setting the sofa alight.

A total of 26 firefighters, using an aerial ladder platform, were sent to the scene in International Way to tackle the fire in the lounge of the third floor flat.

The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service was called to the scene and took care of the occupant who was a man aged in his 40s.

Hightown Watch Manager Al Smith said: "It would appear that the occupant had been burning tea light candles and then fell asleep. At some point a candle set fire to some flammable material when then set fire to the sofa. Fortunately the occupant woke up and was able to get out and call the fire service.

"But this incidents does highlight the importance of insuring all candles are blown out before you go to sleep. This household did have a smoke alarm, but it was no longer working and once again we want to remind householders to check their smoke alarms at least once a week."

The stop message was received at 23:36 stating that four breathing apparatus and two jets had been used. Crews in attendance were from Hightown, St Mary's and Hamble fire stations along with Redbridge's aerial ladder platform.

Comments(14)

Condor Man says...
8:41am Fri 12 Mar 10

It time SCC took stronger action against tenants and occupiers of flats.

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G0Rf says...
9:31am Fri 12 Mar 10

Bet they had fun trying to manouver all those fire engines around there.

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silent one says...
9:59am Fri 12 Mar 10

Yeah maybe they should, maybe then I will get a good nights sleep..

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wattsy1612 says...
12:16pm Fri 12 Mar 10

The fire was quite serious the smoke filled the whole building even my flat on the 12th floor. My hallway in my flat was full of smoke. settee filled the whole tower block in smoke, Imagine if more had burnt then the smoke fill would of been even worse the stairs were black you could not even see them the smoke was that thick in both stairwells it would of been impossible to get out unaided. i think the council should move all people young and old with kids out of towers blocks but im sure that will never happen !

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movedawaythankgod says...
1:18pm Fri 12 Mar 10

wattsy1612 wrote:
The fire was quite serious the smoke filled the whole building even my flat on the 12th floor. My hallway in my flat was full of smoke. settee filled the whole tower block in smoke, Imagine if more had burnt then the smoke fill would of been even worse the stairs were black you could not even see them the smoke was that thick in both stairwells it would of been impossible to get out unaided. i think the council should move all people young and old with kids out of towers blocks but im sure that will never happen !
Or instead of the council moving people out, how about the tennants take a bit more responsibility and ensure their smoke alarms are working.??
Much easier solution to the problem. Not sure that will ever happen either though!.

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Big Mac says...
1:19pm Fri 12 Mar 10

I think SCS has still got a sale on if you hurry

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shilo says...
1:49pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Big Mac wrote:
I think SCS has still got a sale on if you hurry
Or DFS...by the way do these sofa shops ever NOT have a sale on??

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Brite Spark says...
2:06pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Is it normal practice for men who live on their own to burn tea light candles in the lounge? Maybe he was trying to create a romantic atmosphere for himself.

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Big Mac says...
3:48pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Brite Spark wrote:
Is it normal practice for men who live on their own to burn tea light candles in the lounge? Maybe he was trying to create a romantic atmosphere for himself.
Maybe it was a case of the neighbors getting on his wick?

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tamara1983 says...
9:30pm Fri 12 Mar 10

movedawaythankgod wrote:
wattsy1612 wrote: The fire was quite serious the smoke filled the whole building even my flat on the 12th floor. My hallway in my flat was full of smoke. settee filled the whole tower block in smoke, Imagine if more had burnt then the smoke fill would of been even worse the stairs were black you could not even see them the smoke was that thick in both stairwells it would of been impossible to get out unaided. i think the council should move all people young and old with kids out of towers blocks but im sure that will never happen !
Or instead of the council moving people out, how about the tennants take a bit more responsibility and ensure their smoke alarms are working.?? Much easier solution to the problem. Not sure that will ever happen either though!.
Living in a tower block in weston myself I donor understand why the smoke alarm was not working they are all mains electric so no battery to check

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OSPREYSAINT says...
9:45pm Fri 12 Mar 10

"Doctor I keep thinking I am a sofa",

"Oh how do you feel at the moment?"

"Quite comfortable thank you".

I'll settle fot that.

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checkoutchick says...
11:44pm Fri 12 Mar 10

after reading some of theses comments how stupid some peoples comments are i agree with wattsy ! these flats should be condemed they are not safe ! and i feel for him and his children living on the 12 floor i feel southampton council are not helping there residents at all they dont seem to give a toss really who in there right mind would put very young children in a tower block how dangerous i would be scared the council can make as many excuses as they like but yes fire alarms are electric and also smoke rises its not the fire that kills you but the smoke . if i lived there and thankfully i dont i would be very stressed worried and living on a knifes edge i live in telford shropshire and i think southampton should learn a thing or to theres no children or elderly in flats here at least they have got something right . if the council can not move them out why the bloody hell they put a single bloke in the third floor and a family with2 children on the 12 floor insaine or what and waiting for a desaster to happen i think its about time southampton council took some responsibility

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Brite Spark says...
12:05am Sat 13 Mar 10

Hi checkoutchic ... ...

I am not certain but I think that a lot of girls who live in Southampton's council flats are single mothers, and that the council do a grand job in giving them homes for them and their children. 99 per cent of the time these mothers don't have to pay much in the way of utility bills, the council pays for them as well. A large percentage of the women who are housed by the council get pregnant deliberately - and don't give a monkey's whether the father hangs around or not, (if they know who he is) in order to get accomodation from the council, paid for by my taxes (and by many other's who get a job, then have children as opposed to making the life choice of living on benefits as opposed to doing things for ones' self and finding a job and paying for things that way). Given that so much is done for them, and that they do very little to stand on their own two feet, which transmits to their children who grow up with the same mentality, well, given that, I think that it would be a bit cheeky for them to demand exactly which floor they wish to live on.

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Brite Spark says...
12:07am Sat 13 Mar 10

tamara1983 wrote:
movedawaythankgod wrote:
wattsy1612 wrote: The fire was quite serious the smoke filled the whole building even my flat on the 12th floor. My hallway in my flat was full of smoke. settee filled the whole tower block in smoke, Imagine if more had burnt then the smoke fill would of been even worse the stairs were black you could not even see them the smoke was that thick in both stairwells it would of been impossible to get out unaided. i think the council should move all people young and old with kids out of towers blocks but im sure that will never happen !
Or instead of the council moving people out, how about the tennants take a bit more responsibility and ensure their smoke alarms are working.?? Much easier solution to the problem. Not sure that will ever happen either though!.
Living in a tower block in weston myself I donor understand why the smoke alarm was not working they are all mains electric so no battery to check
"I donor understand!"

There is thick, and there is tamara 1983.

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