ISLANDERS are being reminded that smoke detectors “save lives” after four people were hospitalised following a fire which broke out in a block of flats with no working fire alarms.
Emergency services were called to the property at around 8pm on Wednesday as the blaze, which started in an electrical cupboard, spread smoke through the building on St Mark’s Road.
Jersey Fire and Rescue said three fire engines had attended, with firefighters in breathing apparatus entering the building and tackling the fire.
A spokesperson said that one resident had been rescued from the top floor of the building. Two adults and two children were subsequently taken to the Hospital. All patients were discharged yesterday morning.
Duty station commander Paul McGrath said: “If working smoke alarms were in place, the residents would have had warning of the fire and been able to evacuate the building, safely, in plenty of time.”
Mr McGrath added: “Smoke and heat alarms save lives.
“During a fire, more people die from smoke or gas inhalation than burns.”
Recent data showed that although 98% of local households had smoke detectors installed, only 19% tested them monthly as is recommended.
The statistics also revealed that 13% of Jersey households admitted they never test their alarms at all.
The Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey gathered insights from 1,200 Islanders, also uncovered differences in testing habits across different housing types and locations.
Residents in bedsits showed the highest compliance with monthly testing at 46%, while house dwellers recorded just 13%. St Helier parishioners were also more likely to test their alarms monthly (23%) compared to those in rural parishes (14%).
In a statement, the Fire Service said: “You are ten times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home.
“Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.”
