Three fire crews were sent to the fire in Rue du Douet at around 10.30 pm after the occupants discovered the fire in a first-floor airing cupboard. A bulb had set light to linen. The pair tried to put it out themselves before calling 999.
Jason Betts of the Fire and Rescue Service said that the smoke detector nearest the fire did not have a battery so had failed to go off.
He added: ‘If the couple had not discovered the fire, it could have taken hold – causing major damage to the property and threatening the lives of the occupants. A £5 smoke detector can be bought from any good hardware store and could save the life of you or your loved ones.’
Firefighters spent an hour dampening down the fire. Mr Betts said that the householders were lucky to have discovered it before they went to bed.
