Man rescued from house fire

Firefighters rescued a man from a house fire in Stafford earlier this week.

At 7.50pm on Wednesday (15 February) we were called to reports of smoke and flames at a property on Tixall Road.

Crews from Stafford, Rising Brook and Stone attended, and used hose reel jets and breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze.

Firefighters helped a man from the building and two people were treated at the scene by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

A man suffered burns to his feet and was taken to hospital for further treatment.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by smoking materials.

Station Manager Tim Hollingworth said: "If you smoke in your home, it's absolutely vital that you are cautious and ensure your cigarette is completely out when you've finished smoking it.

"If you don't, you risk causing a fire which could not only destroy properties but also cost you your life.

“This is the second house fire we’ve attended this week which has been caused by smoking materials, so it’s really important that the public are aware of the be aware of the potential fire risks and follow our safety advice.”

1. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and carefully disposed of.
2. Never smoke in bed – you could easily doze off and set your bed on fire.
3. Always use a proper ashtray which is made of material which can’t burn or tip over.
4. Take extra care when you’re tired, are taking any sort of drugs/medication or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning.
5. Keep matches and lighters away from children – consider buying child resistant lighters and match boxes to reduce the risk.