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UP IN FLAMES
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| ABLAZE: Fire lights up the sky as it rips through a mansion in Western Avenue, Branksome Park |
A FATHER-of-three has told how he and his family scrambled to safety through a first-floor window in a frantic bid to escape a fire.
The house fire, in Burton, was one of three serious blazes that broke out in a day of drama on Thursday.
A family holidaying in America had to be told on the telephone that their luxury Poole mansion had been gutted by fire.
And a pregnant woman living in Springbourne believes that her pet dog saved her life when her flat block caught fire.
At their home in Burton, Paul Hicks, 28, his partner Cyndi Rostigina, 26, and their daughters Chloe, nine, Paige, six, and Abby, three, were woken by the sound of their two smoke alarms just before 1.45am on Thursday.
Paul jumped 15ft from a window before Cyndi passed the children down to him and then she escaped herself.
He said: "We were woken to thick black smoke and could see barely anything.
"I came running out of the bedroom, saw all the smoke, just forgot everything, went and got the kids.
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| RELIEVED: Paul Hicks, 28, with Chloe, Abby and Paige, who escaped from their Burton home |
"Thank God we had the smoke alarms or I can safely say we wouldn't be here today."
Crews from Christchurch and Ferndown attended the fire at Chestnut Way, Burton, which is believed to have been caused by a cigarette butt which was not properly extinguished, setting the sofa in the lounge alight and damaging most of the property.
Meanwhile, a family of four, holidaying in New York, are devastated after learning their £1.5m Branksome Park mansion has been gutted by fire.
Mark Griffiths, wife Caroline and daughters Chloe, 19, and Charlotte, 13, were due to set sail back to Southampton only hours after taking the phone call.
Mrs Griffiths' brother Eddie Argyle called their hotel at 4am to tell them their home and possessions were all destroyed.
Firefighters, who for long periods at the scene feared the family was trapped inside the plush Western Avenue property, were moments from starting a search for bodies when news of the family's whereabouts was confirmed.
And a pet dog has been credited with saving the lives of a pregnant woman and a toddler after he alerted them to a fire in their block of flats.
Firefighters led six people to safety from the property on Windham Road, Springbourne, Bournemouth, after the fire broke out at around 10.15am on Thursday.
Lauren Butler, 22, who is 28 weeks pregnant, said: "He Tyson the dog was whining at the door and walking around in circles.
"I went to the door. There was smoke pouring through. I put a damp towel at the door. I learned that from the TV."
Lauren had her partner's three-year-old son Malakhai Pitt with her, an eight-week-old kitten called Tigs and Tyson, an eight-month-old Boxer.
She called out of her first-floor window to ask a taxi driver to dial 999.
Firefighters clambered up a ladder through her window while colleagues tackled the blaze on the ground floor.
Lauren's partner Kelly Pitt, 24, was returning home with groceries when she saw firefighters in breathing apparatus tackling the fire under the ground-floor stair.
Kelly, who also has a one-and-a-half-month-old son, said: "If it was not for Tyson who was growling and barking... the dog saved our lives."
6:30am Friday 8th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: oscar99, bournemouth /winton on 11:13am Thu 7 Aug 08
well done to the mother and father of theses lucky kids well done .
well done to the mother and father of theses lucky kids well done .
Posted by: silky, Bournemouth on 2:59pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]oscar99[/bold] wrote:
well done to the mother and father of theses lucky kids well done .[/quote] I agree sensible action, hope they are not too traumatised.
oscar99 wrote:
well done to the mother and father of theses lucky kids well done .
I agree sensible action, hope they are not too traumatised.
Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 7:00pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story
Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story
Posted by: rich on 8:50pm Thu 7 Aug 08
this why every household should have a smoke alarm & a working one as well, so go & test yours now !!! this could have been a more tragic !
this why every household should have a smoke alarm & a working one as well, so go & test yours now !!! this could have been a more tragic !
Posted by: Erica Monk, Australia on 3:50am Fri 8 Aug 08
Oh thank goodness for fire alarms & thank god for the quick thinking & actions of both the parents. Well done both of you, you deserve a medal for your bravery. I'm pleased you are all well.x x
Oh thank goodness for fire alarms & thank god for the quick thinking & actions of both the parents. Well done both of you, you deserve a medal for your bravery. I'm pleased you are all well.x x
Posted by: neil, bournemouth on 7:51am Fri 8 Aug 08
“Hero’s” not likely they put the danger there in the first place if the cause of this fire is true. I hope the parents feel great shame in putting their children at such risk. It is common knowledge that most fires in the home are started this way, how irresponsible they were to smoke in the house with children living there and not checking their cigarette were out let alone leaving it near a sofa. I am glad the children are safe, hopefully the parents will think twice next about the dangers.
“Hero’s” not likely they put the danger there in the first place if the cause of this fire is true. I hope the parents feel great shame in putting their children at such risk. It is common knowledge that most fires in the home are started this way, how irresponsible they were to smoke in the house with children living there and not checking their cigarette were out let alone leaving it near a sofa. I am glad the children are safe, hopefully the parents will think twice next about the dangers.
Posted by: Charlie on 8:52am Fri 8 Aug 08
[bold]Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story[/bold]
There's a problem for some older people in the pitch of the siren in smoke alarms. For instance, my rather-in-law, although not consideredf deaf, had lost the ability to hear higher frequencies (happens to us all in the end). When his smoke alarm was triggered he didn't hear it. So please do test the smoke alarm and check that everyone in the house can hear it.
Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story
There's a problem for some older people in the pitch of the siren in smoke alarms. For instance, my rather-in-law, although not consideredf deaf, had lost the ability to hear higher frequencies (happens to us all in the end). When his smoke alarm was triggered he didn't hear it. So please do test the smoke alarm and check that everyone in the house can hear it.
Posted by: Charlie on 8:57am Fri 8 Aug 08
[bold]Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story[/bold]
There's a problem for some older people in the pitch of the siren in smoke alarms. For instance, my rather-in-law, although not consideredf deaf, had lost the ability to hear higher frequencies (happens to us all in the end). When his smoke alarm was triggered he didn't hear it. So please do test the smoke alarm and check that everyone in the house can hear it.
Well done to both of the parents not panicking glad all the family are safe and thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a differnt story
There's a problem for some older people in the pitch of the siren in smoke alarms. For instance, my rather-in-law, although not consideredf deaf, had lost the ability to hear higher frequencies (happens to us all in the end). When his smoke alarm was triggered he didn't hear it. So please do test the smoke alarm and check that everyone in the house can hear it.
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 9:20am Fri 8 Aug 08
If you know of a relative who is hard of hearing, or as described above. You can obtain smoke alarms that have high strobe fixtures, and vibrating pads to awake those who may not hear the sound alarm. Worth looking into.
If you know of a relative who is hard of hearing, or as described above. You can obtain smoke alarms that have high strobe fixtures, and vibrating pads to awake those who may not hear the sound alarm. Worth looking into.
Posted by: Carl Barron, Dorset on 10:46am Fri 8 Aug 08
Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 7:00pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[bold]Quote [/bold] thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a different story
[bold]Reply [/bold] Well said [bold]hoppity[/bold] .
You never know when fire [bold]will strike.[/bold] I had a [bold]TV burst into flames[/bold] within seconds, an electric blanket short circuited and [bold]ferocious flames[/bold] some two feet tall, soared upwards because they were fuelled by the dam mattress not being fire-retirdent.
There are Fire Alarms in almost [bold]every room[/bold] the place now as a direct result.
[italic]Don't just use one[/italic] Fire Alarm [bold]if it fails you could loose your life,[/bold] So act today and get more than one.
Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 7:00pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Quote thank goodness for a smoke alarm other wise we might be reading a different story
Reply Well said
hoppity .
You never know when fire
will strike. I had a
TV burst into flames within seconds, an electric blanket short circuited and
ferocious flames some two feet tall, soared upwards because they were fuelled by the dam mattress not being fire-retirdent.
There are Fire Alarms in almost
every room the place now as a direct result.
Don't just use one Fire Alarm
if it fails you could loose your life, So act today and get more than one.
Posted by: Maria, christchurch on 11:04am Fri 8 Aug 08
I do understand where Neil is coming from. How many times do we read about fires started by smoking in bed, cigareetes not put out properly or children getting hold of their parents lighters. Yes accidents can happen, but this is irresponsible parenting.
I do understand where Neil is coming from. How many times do we read about fires started by smoking in bed, cigareetes not put out properly or children getting hold of their parents lighters. Yes accidents can happen, but this is irresponsible parenting.
Posted by: lp, christchurch on 11:33am Fri 8 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Maria[/bold] wrote:
I do understand where Neil is coming from. How many times do we read about fires started by smoking in bed, cigareetes not put out properly or children getting hold of their parents lighters. Yes accidents can happen, but this is irresponsible parenting.[/quote] Irresponsible parenting ??? what the hell are you on ? IT WAS A ACCIDENT !! im sure he hardly ment to leave the f'n thing alight a error that will stay with this guy for a very long time im sure.
Maria wrote:
I do understand where Neil is coming from. How many times do we read about fires started by smoking in bed, cigareetes not put out properly or children getting hold of their parents lighters. Yes accidents can happen, but this is irresponsible parenting.
Irresponsible parenting ??? what the hell are you on ? IT WAS A ACCIDENT !! im sure he hardly ment to leave the f'n thing alight a error that will stay with this guy for a very long time im sure.
Posted by: bob the lemming ratclif on 11:51am Fri 8 Aug 08
I do understand where cobber is coming fombut were as he beenwith woh
I do understand where cobber is coming fombut were as he beenwith woh
Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 7:41pm Fri 8 Aug 08
I work with a lady who told me of an incident where their washing machine caught fire whilst they were in the house I now never go out and leave my machine on like I used to.
I work with a lady who told me of an incident where their washing machine caught fire whilst they were in the house I now never go out and leave my machine on like I used to.
Posted by: smiler, bournemouth on 9:49pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Should not be smoking near children. Very irresponsible. Hope the parents are really proud of themselves. Once again, the council or housing association will pick up the pieces. Sorry if im not sympathetic but I think you make your own choices in life. Glad the kids are ok though.
Should not be smoking near children. Very irresponsible. Hope the parents are really proud of themselves. Once again, the council or housing association will pick up the pieces. Sorry if im not sympathetic but I think you make your own choices in life. Glad the kids are ok though.
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