Latest news with #smokealarm
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
1 person escapes as afternoon fire destroys single-family home in Long River, P.E.I.
A single-family home in a rural community in P.E.I.'s Queens County was destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon. Chief Scott Mintie of the New London Fire Department said the department responded to a report about a fire in the Long River area at about 2 p.m. When firefighters got there, the house was already fully engulfed in flames. "There were high winds from the south-southwest. They're estimated about 35 km/h, and this did contribute to the rapid spread of the fire," Mintie said. "This is a strong reminder that emergencies can escalate quickly, especially in windy conditions." One person was inside the home at the time but managed to get out safely. That person was taken to hospital as a precaution to be checked for smoke inhalation. A vehicle in the driveway was also damaged, and a small spot fire caused by flying embers was quickly extinguished. Crews were able to bring the blaze under control by 3:15 p.m. The Kensington Fire Department was also called in to help. No injuries were reported among responding fire crews, Mintie said. "It's critical that every home has a working smoke alarm and a fire escape plan that the whole family understands and practises," he added. "[In] situations like today, seconds do matter. The occupant's ability to quickly exit most likely prevented a far more tragic outcome."
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Insurance man set off smoke alarm on flight to Dublin
An insurance broker triggered a smoke alarm on a London Stansted – Dublin flight after aggressively ignoring cabin crew and going to the toilet just before take-off on Sunday, a court has heard. Father of two, William Horn, 29, of Stone Rings Lane, Harrowgate, England, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges under the Air Navigation and Transport Act following his arrest on Sunday at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport. Advertisement Airport-based Garda Sandip Shrestha told Dublin District Court he charged the accused with offensive behaviour on the Ryanair flight and setting off the smoke alarm, and the accused replied, 'You are chatting shit'. Judge John Brennan noted that day-tripper Horn, who came to Ireland for a birthday party, was pleading guilty to the charges. Garda Shreshta said on June 1st, he received a call from cabin crew about 'a disruptive passenger' on the flight. Garda Shreshta learned that Horn was in the toilet, and 'a plume of smoke set off the smoke alarm inside the plane'. The captain also confirmed to the garda that the alarm was also activated in the cockpit. Advertisement Judge Brennan heard that it started just before taking off in Stansted when the aircraft was taxiing to the runway. The seatbelts signs were activated but Horn 'ignored the cabin crew's instructions and went to the toilet, and walked by the cabin crew in an aggressive manner'. Defence solicitor Edward Bradbury told the court his client, who remained silent during the hearing, was pleading guilty and from his perspective, it had been 'somewhat an ordeal and in his own mind a misunderstanding'. The garda agreed with Mr Bradbury that the aircraft was about to take off when Horn decided to go to the toilet. Advertisement The accused had no prior convictions in Ireland. Mr Bradbury said his client has been 'chastened' by this ordeal, was held in custody overnight, and missed his birthday party. The court heard there was no evidence of intoxication, and Horn insisted he was not smoking in the toilet. However, the solicitor acknowledged that, at the very least, the issue had a smattering of recklessness all over it. The solicitor said it happened when the aircraft was taxiing for take-off, which was aggravating circumstances for the flight attendants. Judge Brennan said it happened in a confined environment where people were vulnerable, but on the scale of these offences, it ranked at the lower end. He said that if Horn donated €500 to a Dublin charity which has assisted people affected by homelessness and addiction, he would receive the Probation of Offenders Act and be spared a criminal record. The judge warned that failure to pay would result in recorded convictions and fines totalling €800. Horn was released on €300 bail and excused from attending when the case resumes next week.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Elderly couple died in house fire after 999 operator did not hear smoke alarm
An elderly couple died in a house fire after the smoke alarm was not heard by the operator during a 999 call, an inquest heard. Bernard and Caroline Cleall, both in their 70s, perished in the blaze at the detached property in Addiscombe, near Croydon, south London, on the evening of Jan 5 2022. Mrs Cleall, who suffered from health issues including limited mobility, had been discharged from hospital months earlier with an alarm call button to be worn on a pendant all day. On the day of their deaths, Mrs Cleall pressed the alarm but was not able to communicate sufficiently as she was stuck in the room where the fire took hold and Mr Cleall was already incapacitated by the smoke. A smoke alarm was sounding in the same room but this was not heard by the call operator. Ivor Collett, the assistant coroner, said: 'The operator caused Careline responders to attend, but the fire brigade were called only once the responders arrived and discovered the fire. 'By that time it was too late to save the two occupants of the house.' At an inquest in April, their cause of death was given as 'inhalation of smoke'. Four fire engines and 25 firefighters were called to the cul-de-sac at 8.08pm and the blaze was under control by 8.59pm. Mr Collett raised concerns that Mrs Cleall was not given the enhanced alarm package, which includes a smoke detector. When triggered, the smoke alarm would have sent an urgent signal to the call operator without the need for the pendant button to be pressed. That automatic feature would have resulted in the London Fire Brigade being notified of an emergency immediately, the coroner said. 'A kind old couple' Mr Collett issued a Prevention of Future Death report on May 9 raising further concerns about the assessment of which alarm package patients should be given. There was no evidence in this case of the content of any assessment, discussion or advice as to the appropriate level of alarm package for Mrs Cleall, he said. He also raised concerns that Croydon social care services was not able to access the record of assessments carried out at Croydon Hospital, depriving it of the ability to review patients' needs properly following discharge into the community. After their deaths, one neighbour said: 'They are a kind old couple ... The woman could barely walk. I know the son visits sometimes, but I don't think he was in.' Another neighbour said: 'They seemed like a sweet couple who always liked pottering around in their garden with their dogs. It looks like they lived there for a long time.'
CBC
07-05-2025
- General
- CBC
2 fatal Halifax-area house fires started with electronic devices
Fire officials say in both January fires, neither home had a working smoke alarm. Gareth Hamphire has the story.
