An elderly man had a lucky escape from a fire caused by a cigarette in his flat thanks to a sprinkler system.
Sutton firefighters were called to a fire at the residential care home in Mickleham Gardens in Cheam on 23 November. Luckily the man had already escaped the flat and his sprinkler system had put out most of the flames. He was treated for shock on the scene and taken to hospital as a precaution.
Sutton fire station manager Richard Field said: “This close call shows just how vital sprinklers are in care homes and sheltered accommodation – they not only stop fires from spreading, they save lives.
People living in sheltered accommodation and extra care facilities are often very vulnerable to fire. They may have limited mobility or a disability which makes it difficult for them to notice a fire and react quickly. If it wasn’t for the flat’s sprinkler system this fire could have had a very different outcome.
It is extremely fortunate that no-one was injured in this fire.”
Fire engines from Sutton and New Malden fire stations attended the incident.
