After the solar eclipse this morning, what better opportunity to speak about the power of the sun and its rays?
The low winter sunlight is causing accidental house fires across the UK, but how? A home in Croydon was set ablaze by a magnifying make-up mirror that was refracting sunlight.
The above Facebook post is courtesy of London Fire Brigade
Thankfully, the Croydon homeowner was alerted by the smoke alarm, which meant that the blaze could be controlled before spreading further through the house.
Sunlight is causing accidental house fires – Here’s how to avoid it
London Fire Brigade is urging homeowners to rearrange their furniture safely. Mirrors, glass vases, crystal balls and even bottles of water are dangerous to keep on your window sills! Draw your curtains or remove these decorative items from the sunlight.
The video below explains briefly how these objects can refract the light and cause major fires.
Smoke alarms save homes and lives
These tragic and unexpected incidents really do emphasise the importance of a smoke alarm. These homeowners had a smoke detector, imagine what would have been left without one.
Did you know that you should be checking your smoke alarms at least once a week?
Did you also know that you should have a smoke detector fitted on every level of your home?
The number of deaths per year continues to rise due to accidental house fires. Kent fire & Rescue can confirm that around 30 children alone are killed due to house fires each year.