Cigarette sparks bedroom blaze
9:13am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
FIREFIGHTERS are warning people to dispose of cigarettes properly after a house fire in Bolton.
Fire crews were called to Horace Street, Halliwell, just before 12.30am yesterday.
They spent an hour tackling a blaze in a first-floor bedroom, which was severely damaged.
The fire also caused smoke damage to the landing and other upstairs bedrooms.
Bolton Central Fire Station watch commander Karsten Boyle said: “When we got there, a young lad who lives there said he thought the fire might have started because he put a cigarette in a waste-paper bin near the door in the bedroom.
“The damage shows he was probably right.
“Luckily, he smelt the smoke and the smoke alarm was working and sounded, so the other four people living at the property were able to get out safely before we arrived.
“No one was injured, but it does highlight the need for people to think safe when it comes to putting out cigarettes.
“They need to make sure cigarettes are out and discarded in a safe place, ideally a bucket of sand.”
