Hove nursing home fire prompts warning about smoking

Hove firefighters are warning smokers about the dangers of carelessly discarding cigarettes after a fire at a nursing home in the town.

Three fire engines from Brighton and Hove and the aerial ladder platform from Preston Circus were all sent to Wilbury Gardens at about 10.40am yesterday (Monday 3 September).

When they arrived they found that all the residents had been evacuated and staff had tackled the fire themselves with a fire extinguisher.

The fire had been sparked by a cigarette after the occupant of a flat fell asleep.

Watch Commander Roger Lovewell said: “The nursing home followed the evacuation procedures but in the event of a fire we would always recommend not to tackle the fire, get out, stay out and call the fire service out.

“We would remind smokers to extinguish any smoking materials or matches thoroughly before leaving them, not to overload ash trays and don’t smoke in bed.”

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service would emphasise the need for all householders to have at least one working smoke alarm in their properties.

The fire service said: “Smoking is the biggest house fire killer.

“More people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires caused by anything else.

“Tobacco is manufactured to stay alight, meaning it can remain smouldering and start a fire.

“More than a third of all deaths in fires in the home are caused by cigarettes.